Yoke installation protection assembly with integrated inclinometer portion

Yoke alignment assemblies, aircraft, and rigid covers are provided. An aircraft includes a yoke alignment assembly. A yoke alignment assembly is provided for aligning an aircraft yoke with a column. The yoke alignment assembly includes a rigid cover and a flexible cover. The rigid cover defines a protective portion configured to protect the yoke. The inclinometer portion is configured to hold an inclinometer. The flexible cover is secured to an upper part of the protective portion and is configured to protect the yoke.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates generally to aircraft manufacturing and yoke installation devices, and more particularly relates to a device and method for protecting and aligning a yoke during installation on an aircraft.

BACKGROUND

Assembly of aircraft components occasionally results in damage to surfaces of the components. For example, technicians installing aircraft yokes on steering columns may inadvertently scratch surfaces on the yoke. Scratches and other damage to the surfaces may require removal and replacement of the yoke. Removal and replacement of the yoke imposes undesirable costs in the form of technician time and part replacement.

As such, it is desirable to provide an assembly to reduce damage to components during installation on an aircraft. In addition, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

Various non-limiting embodiments of a yoke alignment assembly, an aircraft, and a rigid cover are disclosed herein.

In a first non-limiting embodiment, a yoke alignment assembly for aligning an aircraft yoke with a column includes, but is not limited to, a rigid cover, a flexible cover, and an inclinometer. The yoke alignment assembly includes a rigid cover and a flexible cover. The rigid cover defines a protective portion configured to protect the yoke. The inclinometer portion is configured to hold an inclinometer. The flexible cover is secured to an upper part of the protective portion and is configured to protect the yoke.

In a second non-limiting embodiment, an aircraft in a partially completed manufacturing state includes, but is not limited to, a steering column, a yoke, and a yoke alignment assembly. The yoke is configured to attach to the steering column. The yoke alignment assembly is secured to the yoke. The yoke alignment assembly includes a rigid cover, a flexible cover, and an inclinometer. The rigid cover defines a protective portion and an inclinometer portion. The flexible cover is secured to an upper part of the protective portion. The inclinometer is disposed in the inclinometer portion of the rigid cover.

In a third non-limiting embodiment, a rigid cover for protecting an aircraft yoke during installation includes, but is not limited to, a protective portion and an inclinometer portion. The protective portion defines an interior surface configured to conform to and cover an outwardly facing surface of the aircraft yoke. The inclinometer portion is configured to hold an inclinometer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various non-limiting embodiments of yoke alignment assemblies, aircraft, and rigid covers are disclosed herein. The yoke alignment assemblies protect a front and aback of the yoke from damage while retaining the ability of the yoke to rotate and reset a position of the yoke for installation. In general, a rigid cover protects a front of the yoke while a flexible cover protects a back part of the yoke and the steering column. The yoke alignment assemblies further include an inclinometer portion configured to hold an inclinometer in a position required for alignment and installation of the yoke on the steering column. A greater understanding of the aircraft component and aircraft may be obtained through a review of the illustrations accompanying this application together with a review of the detailed description that follows.

FIG. 1is a simplified diagram of a prior art aircraft100for use with a yoke alignment assembly discussed below. In the example provided, aircraft100is a transport category aircraft. It should be appreciated that aircraft100may be any type of vehicle, such as an airplane, a helicopter, a submarine, and the like without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Aircraft100includes a steering column110and a yoke112. Steering column110extends out from an instrument panel111of aircraft100to transmit steering inputs from yoke112to a flight system of aircraft100, as will be appreciated by those with ordinary skill in the art.

Yoke112is configured to attach to the steering column. Crew members flying aircraft100interact with yoke112to manipulate control surfaces and provide other flight guidance to aircraft100. Yoke112includes an alignment feature113, handles114, buttons116, and an exposed surface118. Alignment feature113indicates a portion of yoke112configured to be used for alignment of yoke112on steering column110. In the example provided, alignment feature113is a line at a bottom center of yoke112to be aligned with an alignment feature on an inclinometer, as described below and illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2B.

Handles114are configured to be grasped by crew members of aircraft100to assist with moving yoke112for flight guidance. Buttons116are disposed on distal portions of handles114to provide trim input, autopilot disconnect inputs, and the like to aircraft100. It should be appreciated that other configurations of a yoke may be utilized, such as a single inceptor, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Exposed surface118is an outwardly facing surface that is visible to crew members during flight of aircraft100. Exposed surface118is occasionally damaged during installation and alignment of yoke112on steering column110during conventional installations of yoke112. For example, technicians charged with installation of yoke112may place objects on top of yoke112or may scratch yoke112while moving about the flight deck. Yoke112is often replaced when exposed surface118is damaged. Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to a yoke alignment assembly that protects exposed surface118and provides an integrated inclinometer holding portion.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A-D, and with continued reference toFIG. 1, components of a yoke alignment assembly119are illustrated in various views. Yoke alignment assembly protects exposed surface118and includes beneficial inclinometer holding and alignment features. Yoke alignment assembly119includes a rigid cover120, a flexible cover122, and an inclinometer124.

Rigid cover120defines a protective portion130and an inclinometer portion132. In the example provided, rigid cover120is created using additive manufacturing techniques, such as fused deposition modeling. Protective portion130defines an interior surface140, button apertures142, handle portions144, a snap fit portion146, and an upper part148. In the example provided, interior surface140is a continuous surface that conforms to and substantially completely covers outwardly facing exposed surface118of yoke112.

Button apertures142are disposed at distal portions of handle portions144and are aligned with buttons116of yoke112to expose buttons116for testing during installation of yoke112. Handle portions144are configured to cover handles114.

Snap fit portion146cooperates with handles114of yoke112to resist removal of yoke alignment assembly119from yoke112. For example, snap fit portion146may have a reduced width relative to a widest part of handles114. Accordingly, to remove rigid cover120from yoke112, snap fit portion146must flex outwardly to clear handles114.

Flexible cover122is a flexible material secured to upper part148of protective portion130. As used herein, the term “flexible” means the material offers little to no resistance to bending. In the example provided, flexible cover122is leather. In some embodiments, flexible cover122is nylon, wool, cotton, carbon fiber, or any suitable fabric. Flexible cover122may be secured to protective portion130by any suitable attachment arrangement. In the example provided, flexible cover122is riveted to upper part148. In some embodiments, flexible cover122is adhered, melted into, screwed, clamped, or otherwise fastened to protective portion130.

Inclinometer124measures angles of inclination of inclinometer124. Inclinometer124is disposed in cavity150of inclinometer portion132of rigid cover120. A top of inclinometer124opposes a bottom of yoke112when yoke alignment assembly119is installed on yoke112. In the example provided, inclinometer124is held in cavity150by zip ties154. In some embodiments, inclinometer is held in cavity150by snap portions defined by inclinometer portion132or by other fasteners.

Inclinometer124includes an alignment feature156on a bottom portion of inclinometer124. In the example provided, alignment feature156is a line on a housing of inclinometer124. Alignment feature156is visible through alignment aperture152to assist with alignment of alignment feature156with alignment feature113of yoke112.

Referring now toFIG. 3, and with continued reference toFIGS. 1 and 2A-C, a method300of aligning a yoke on an aircraft column is illustrated in flow diagram form. In the example provided, method300uses yoke alignment assembly119to align yoke112with steering column110.

Task310installs a yoke on a steering column. For example, a technician may place yoke112on steering column110. Task312snaps a cover onto the yoke. For example, the technician may snap rigid cover120onto yoke112. Task314installs an inclinometer in the cover. For example, the technician may put inclinometer124into cavity150of inclinometer portion132of rigid cover120.

Task316aligns the inclinometer with the yoke. For example, the technician may line up alignment feature156of inclinometer124with alignment feature113of yoke112through alignment aperture152of inclinometer portion132of rigid cover120.

Task318aligns the yoke using the inclinometer. For example, the technician may read the angle of inclination of inclinometer124, rotate yoke112, and adjust a position of yoke112to align yoke112with steering column110. Task320tests buttons on the yoke. For example, the technician may press buttons116through button apertures142and confirm receipt of any appropriate signals on computers of aircraft100.

Task322removes the cover from the yoke. For example, the technician may pull snap fit portion146to release rigid cover120from yoke112and may pull rigid cover120away from yoke112to complete the yoke alignment procedure and end method300.