Patent GB-955597-A (GB)
Title: Aircraft take-off monitors
IPC: G05D1/00
Filed: 1960-06-17
Abstract: 955, 597. Electric signalling systems; indicating-apparatus. SPERRY RAND CORPORATION. June 17, 1960 [June 29,1959], No. 21447/60. Headings G1J and G1N. [Also in Division B7] In a system for monitoring the performance of an aircraft during the take-off run, two signals are produced and compared; the first signal represents a function of the forward acceleration (or, in some cases, the average forward acceleration) and the distance to go before take-off; the second signal represents the difference between a function of the take-off speed and a function of the instantaneous speed of the craft. It is shown that a successful takeoff can be made when 2a (Sg-St) # is equal to or greater than (Vto-Vw)<SP>2</SP>+Va-Vw)<SP>2</SP>; where a = forward acceleration; Sg = take-off distance from start; St = instantaneous distance from start; # = prevailing air density ratio; Vto = take-off velocity; Va = instantaneous air-speed; Vw = speed of prevailing head-wind. As shown, Fig. 1, forward acceleration is measured by a linear accelerometer 10 the output signal of which is filtered and passed to a multiplying network 12. The accelerometer output is also double-integrated to produce a signal representing distance travelled (St) which is compared in a summing network 15 with a signal, put in manually from a potentiometer 20, representing take-off distance (Sg). The output (Sg-St) from network 15 is applied to the multiplying network 12. A signal representing density ratio (#) is produced by a transducer 22 responsive to prevailing static pressure and temperature conditions, and passed to multiplying network 12. An air-speed transducer 25 produces a signal representing instantaneous air-speed (Va) which is compared with the output of a manually set potentiometer 30 representing speed of headwind (Vw),the difference between them being squared in a squaring circuit 26. A signal representing take-off velocity (Vto) is produced by a manually set potentiometer 33 and is compared with Vw, the difference being squared in a squaring circuit 34. The outputs of squaring circuits 26, 34 are compared in a summing network 32, the output of which, (Vto-Vw)<SP>2</SP>-(Va-Vw)<SP>2</SP>, is passed to a summing network 23 wherein it is compared with the output of multiplying network 12, (i.e. 2a (Sg-St)#). The output of the summing network 23 constitutes a control signal which energizes a meter mechanism 39 which is connected by a shaft 40 to a pointer 41 of a take-off monitor display instrument 42. The latter comprises a disc 44 on which are painting abutting indicia 50, 51 in contrasting colours, separated by a line 52. When the output from summing network 23 is zero or positive,pointer 41 registers with line 52 or indicium 51, indicating that performance is adequate for take-off; if the output is negative, the pointer registers with indicium 50, indicating that the take-off should be aborted. The instantaneous distance from start of the craft is indicated by a lubber line 60 which co-operates with a rotatable distance card 45 rotated through a clutch 54 and gearing 55 by a servo-system 53 responsive to the signal St. The position of the check line, at which the pilot must decide whether to take-off or not, is indicated on the card 45 by an index 46 which is manually set through gearing by a knob 61 and is thereafter rotated with the card 45. In aircraft in which the acceleration characteristics decrease appreciably due to changes in aerodynamic drag and engine thrust with increasing air-speed, the average acceleration is used instead of the instantaneous acceleration in the computation. Average acceleration is given by a - ¢ K/W (qto-qa) where K = dynamic pressure compensation factor for the craft; W = gross weight of the craft; qto = value of dynamic pressure at takeoff; qa = instantaneous dynamic pressure. Fig. 2 shows a computer 70 in which the qto term, which is put in manually via potentiometer 72, and qa, which is measured by a dynamic pressure transducer 74 comprising potentiometer 76, are compared in summing resistor 86, and the potential representing qto-qa modified by a factor representing 2W put in manually to potentiometer 81, is applied across the resistor of a potentiometer 83, the wiper of which is positioned manually in accord ance with the K factor. The output of computor 70 is connected to a summing network 87 in opposition to the filtered accelerometer output a. The output from the network 87 is applied to the multiplier 12. Specification 820,434 is referred to.