Patent Publication Number: US-2013240663-A1

Title: Under swash leveling tool for radio controlled helicopters

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/612,060, filed Mar. 16, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to radio controlled (RC) helicopter accessories and, more particularly, to an under swash leveling tool (USLT) for RC helicopters available for each size main shaft. 
     Swash leveling tools traditionally could only be used after removing the head from the helicopter, which takes time and effort. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved swash leveling tool that may be quickly and easily used without requiring the user to remove the head from the helicopter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a swash leveling tool comprises a member having an opening to removably retain a main shaft of a radio controlled helicopter therein; and reference plane on the member providing a surface normal to the main shaft for leveling a swash of the helicopter, wherein the member can be attached to and removed from the main shaft without removal of a head from the helicopter. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a swash leveling tool comprises a member having an opening to removably retain a main shaft of a radio controlled helicopter therein; a reference plane on the member providing a surface normal to the main shaft for leveling a swash of the helicopter; and a plurality of contact points disposed about a central region of the member, wherein the main shaft snaps in place between the plurality of contact points, wherein at least one of the plurality of contact points protruding into the opening; and the member can be attached to and removed from the main shaft without removal of a head from the helicopter. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, a swash leveling tool comprises a member having a central hole and for receiving a main shaft of a radio controlled helicopter therein and a slot communicating the central hole with an exterior of the member; a cover removably fitting over the slot; a reference plane on the member providing a surface normal to the main shaft for leveling a swash of the helicopter, wherein the member can be attached to and removed from the main shaft without removal of a head from the helicopter; the slot has a width equal to a diameter of the main shaft and the central hole has a diameter equal to the diameter of the main shaft; and the cover has angled sides mating with angled sides of the slot. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a swash leveling tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the swash leveling tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of swash leveling tool according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the swash leveling tool of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a swash leveling tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, installed on a helicopter shaft and removed from the helicopter; 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed perspective view of a swash leveling tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, installed on a shaft; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a two-piece swash leveling tool according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the two-piece swash leveling tool of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the swash leveling tool of  FIG. 7  in an assembled configuration; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the swash leveling tool of  FIG. 7  in an assembled configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a swash leveling tool for radio controlled (RC) helicopters that can fit onto the main shaft under the swash plate to provide a level reference plane. Unlike conventional swash leveling tools that require removal of the head, the swash leveling tool of the present invention provides a level reference plane for the swash without having to take the time to disassemble portions of the helicopter. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  may clip onto a main shaft  22 , under a swash plate  26  of a helicopter  24 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  of the present invention provides a stable level reference for leveling the swash plate  26 . In some embodiments, the swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  can include a plurality of main shaft contact points  14  spaced apart for the main shaft  22  to fit between the main shaft contact points  14 . The swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  can be slid onto the main shaft  22  through a slot  12  cut therein. In some embodiments, one or more main shaft contact points  14  can protrude into the slot to permit the swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  to snap in place on the main shaft  22 . 
     The swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  can be formed with three main shaft contact points  14  protruding into a hole in a central region of the swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1 . A plurality of openings  16  can be disposed through the swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  to permit axial flexibility to allow the swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  to snap in place on the main shaft  22 . Depending on the size of the swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1 , different sizes and shapes of the slot  12  and the openings  16  can be provided. For example,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show swash leveling tool  10  having a first design of the slot  12  (which may be useful in, for example, a swash leveling tool for a 3.5 mm shaft), while  FIGS. 3 and 4  show a swash leveling tool  10 - 1  having a second design of the slot  12  (which may be useful in, for example, a swash leveling tool for shaft diameters that are larger than 3.5 mm). 
     The swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1  of the present invention may include a plurality of reference points  20  protruding from one side of the tool. The reference points  20  can be disposed in holes  18  formed in the tool. The reference points  20  may help with the leveling process. In some embodiments, there may be three reference points  20 , disposed at about 120 degrees apart from each other, on the tool, as shown in  FIGS. 3 through 6 . The reference points  20  may be made from the same or different material from the tool itself. In some embodiments, the reference points may be metal, such as steel, aluminum or the like. In some embodiments, the reference points may threadably engage into the body of the tool, allowing the user to use the tool with or without the reference points. 
     While the Figures (see  FIGS. 1-6 , for example) show the swash leveling tool having three points of contact with the main shaft, with a particular cut out design, the swash leveling tool may be of any shape and design, for example, having more or less contact points with the main shaft. So long as the swash leveling tool may fit onto the main shaft to provide a reference plane normal to the main shaft, various sizes and shapes of swash leveling tools are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Typically, the swash leveling tool will have contact points to allow the tool to clip onto and be removed from the main shaft by hand or through the use of simple hand tools (such as pliers). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 through 10 , a swash leveling tool  10 - 2  can be designed without contact points  14 , as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , but, instead, with a central circular cutout  36  that communicates with the outside of the swash leveling tool  10 - 2  through a slot  38 . The slot  38  can have a width that is the same as the diameter of the cutout  36 , which itself is the same diameter as the main shaft  22  on which the swash leveling tool  10 - 2  is to be used. A cover  30  can then fit into the slot  38 . The cover  30  can have an angled edge matching the arc of the cutout  36  and operable to rest along the main shaft  22  when the swash leveling tool  10 - 2  is in place on the main shaft  22 . The cover  30  can have a sloped side  32  that fits into slopes  34  on sides of the slot  38  to help retain the cover  30  in the slot  38  when in use. 
     Similar to the swash leveling tools  10 ,  10 - 1  described above, the swash leveling tool  10 - 2  can include a plurality of holes  18  for placement of reference points  20  as may be desired. Like the above described swash leveling tools  10 ,  10 - 1 , the reference points in the swash leveling tool  10 - 2  can be formed integrally with the body of the tool of may be a separate member to be added onto the body of the tool. 
     The swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1 ,  10 - 2  may be made from various materials. For example, the swash leveling tool may be made from plastic, such as Lexan®, using a computer numerically controlled (CNC) routing mill. Because flex is not required to snap the swash leveling tool  10 - 2  in place on the main shaft, the swash leveling tool  10 - 2  can be made from a greater selection of materials, including metals, plastic, composite, or the like. When the tool is made according to this process, the reference points  20  may be later installed on one surface of the tool. Other processes may be used to make the swash leveling tool. For example, the tool may be made from injection molding. In this embodiment, the reference points may be made integral with the tool. 
     The swash leveling tool  10 ,  10 - 1 ,  10 - 2  of the present invention may be made to fit various sized main shafts  22 . Typical shaft sizes include 3.5 mm and 4-16 mm. Of course, the swash leveling tool of the present invention may be adapted to fit any diameter shaft. The thickness of the swash leveling tool may be any desired thickness, provided that sufficient thickness is available to provide an inside surface to retain the tool against the main shaft, providing the level reference plane. The thickness may be, for example, between about 1 mm and about 6 mm. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.