Patent GB-1259393-A (GB)
IPC: B64C13/18
Filed: 1969-01-21
Abstract: 1,259,393. Airspeed control systems. SPERRY RAND CORP. 21 Jan., 1969 [22 Jan., 1968], No. 3303/69. Heading G4G. An airspeed command system for an aircraft provides a reference airspeed V RF  which exceeds the stall speed V s  by a desired margin depending upon lift characteristics determined by flap settings, by deriving from airspeed and angle of attack data a signal proportional to the weight of the aircraft, and from a set pro. gramme a signal representing a reference angle of attack, the reference airspeed being derived from the two signals. Basically, the reference airspeed V RF  is derived by solving the equation: W/¢# 0 SV RF =C Lα (α RF -α 0 )cos#..(1) the terms of which are explained below. Under steady conditions (unit load factor), the gross weight W of the aircraft and the lift can be expressed in terms of calibrated airspeed V by: W=L=C L ¢# o V<SP>2</SP>S . . (2) where # 0  is air density, S is wing area and C L  is lift characteristic. The variation of C L  with angle of attack α for various flap settings is shown in Fig. 2 and the thick segmented line.is the graph of a program for α RF . This determines values of V RF  (and hence C LRF ) which, for given flap settings, exceed V s  (stall speed) by a desired margin. The broken lines indicate loci of different constant values of V/V s  and the programme may follow one of these or jump from one to the next for a change in flap setting. The air-data computer (Fig. 3a) is used to derive an actual angle of attack signal αcos# where # is the bank angle of the aircraft and αcos# = # L -γ L  # L  is pitch angle sensed by a vertical gyro 15 and γ L  is flight-path angle. The latter is generated from a vertical rate (h) sensor 10 and an airspeed (V) indicator 11 using γ L =Kh/V which is solved in computer 12. The term αcos# is derived in a summing circuit 14. The programme for α R#  is derived in programmer 20 shown in detail in Fig. 4. It is fed with a flap signal γ F  the level of which is detected by one of a number of voltage level detectors 25-28. An appropriate one of the switches 30-33 is actuated and an appropriate one of the impedance networks 34-38 energized. This supplies two signals C La α o  and C Lα α RF  over leads 39, 40 where α o  and α RF  are respectively zero and reference angle of attack (see Fig. 2) and C Lα  is the slope of the appropriate lift characteristic. The two outputs are summed and multiplied by cos# in multiplier 24 to provide a signal representing C La (α RF -α o )cos# on lead 22. The signal on lead 39 is combined with the αcos# signal on lead 16 to provide a signal representing C La (α-α o )cos# on lead 21. This is fed to the winding of a functional (square law) potentiometer 75 whose cursor is driven by a signal proportional to V, whereby a multiplier V<SP>2</SP> is applied. The product is equal to W/¢# o S by equation (2). After transmission through a gust filter (low pass) 74 the signal is fed to a further potentiometer 76 whose wiper is driven by the V RF  cursor of airspeed indicator 61 whereby the signal is multiplied by 1/V<SP>2</SP> RF . The output of the potentiometer is a signal on lead 77 representing the LHS of equation (1). The RHS of this equation appears on lead 22 (see above). The algebraic sum of the two signals is fed over lead 78 to servo amplifier 45 which drives cursor motor 46 and shaft 70 in a direction and to an amount necessary to zero the input of amplifier 45 and to put cursor 63 and potentiometer 76 in positions corresponding to V RF . The instrument 61 also includes a pointer 62 indicating actual airspeed V, this being driven by a shaft 68 which also actuates the wiper of potentiometer 75. The shaft is driven by a generator 67 forming part of a servo loop 64, 65, 66 which is fed with a signal V from the airspeed computer 11 and (over lead 69) with a further signal which is the direct output of the airspeed transducer, whereby the response of the instrument is improved. The cursor 63 may be set to a desired V RF  manually by actuating a clutch 48. This also sets a control transformer 44 connected back-to-back with the control transformer 64 in the servo loop of the airspeed pointer shaft 68. A signal #V representing the difference between V and V RF  is generated on lead 71 and fed through amplifier 79 to the throttle control whereby the power is adjusted to equalize the actual and the set speeds.