Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US2833496A/en
Timestamp: 2020-06-04 22:10:19
Document Index: 514695355

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 10', 'arts 40', 'arts 19', 'arts 52', 'arts 22', 'art 50', 'art 27']

US2833496A - Flight control system - Google Patents
US2833496A
US2833496A US474888A US47488854A US2833496A US 2833496 A US2833496 A US 2833496A US 474888 A US474888 A US 474888A US 47488854 A US47488854 A US 47488854A US 2833496 A US2833496 A US 2833496A
US474888A
Duane T Mcruer
Richard J Kulda
Alvin R Vogel
1954-12-13 Application filed by Northrop Grumman Corp filed Critical Northrop Grumman Corp
1954-12-13 Priority to US474888A priority Critical patent/US2833496A/en
1958-05-06 Publication of US2833496A publication Critical patent/US2833496A/en
y 6, 1958 D. T. MCRUER ETAL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13. 1954 y 8 D. T. MCRUER ET AL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 13, 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1958 D. T. MQRUER ET AL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM prefix/re ,ee/z/rlz y 1958 o. T. MQRUER ET AL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 13, 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 6, 1958 D. 1-. MCRUER ETAL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 13, 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 1958 D. T. M RUER ET AL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL. SYSTEM Filed Dec. 13, 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 y 1958 D. T. MCRUER ET AL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 13. 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet "r f Z 'g. 11
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FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec.
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM l4 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. l3, 1954 mn'aurJn-I: Dun/lo I M leer Ill-44rd 1201/4 y 1958 D. T. MCRUEIIR ETAL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 13, 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 y 1958 D. T. M RUER ET AL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 13, 1954 D. T. M RUER EI'AL FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM May 6, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Dec. V13, 1954 D. T. MCRUER ET AL 2,833,496
FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM May 6, 1958 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Dec. 13. 1954 May 6, 1958 Filed Dec. 13, 1954 fi Z'gdZ T. M RUER ETAL FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM '14 Sheets-Sheet 14 United States Patent ruonr CONTROL SYSTEM Duane T. McRner, Los Angeles, Richard J. Kulda, Redontlo Beach, and Alvin R. Vogel, Los 'Angeles, Calif., assignors to Northrop Aircraft, Inc., Hawthorne, Califl, a corporation of California Application December 13, 1954, Serial No. 474,888
12 Claims. (Cl. 244-77) The present invention is generally related to systems of automatic and manual aircraft flight control and, more particularly, to a flight control system especially designed for jet-propelled combat aircraft in which the manual and automatic modes of control for all axes are integrated into a single composite system in order to increase the tactical effectiveness of this type of craft.
The primary purpose of a fighter type aircraft is to serve as a tactically elfective weapon, and it is therefore the fundamental aim of every component part of such a weapon to enhance this principal purpose. Modern demands in combat craft maneuverability under conditions of flight which encompass greatly extended speed and altitude limits, have had a marked effect not only on airframe design but also on all system configurations involving the control of such craft. Design and mechanization of flight control systems have proceeded not merely on the basis of the performance of individual units but also on the basis of the effect of their behavior on adjacent elements and on the overall system. The well founded concept that a flight controller must be tailored to a particular aircraft has been extended to a careful planning of manual system configurations which must be compatible with automatic flight controllers selected for one and the same type of aircraft. A system design procedure which aims to satisfy all of these requirements, by necessity, involves close examination not only of the statics but also of the dynamics of conventional control systems, and implies that the airframe and even the pilot be included as dynamic blocks in the overall dynamic system.
In due recognition of these modern requisites, the flight control system which forms the subject matter of the present invention has been evolved with the paramount and ultimate objective to improve the tactical effectiveness of jet-propelled combat craft of the all weather type currently produced by the assignee under the general designation of P89. This increase in tactical effectiveness is the result of a novel type of unification achieved through the integrated design of all control installations, through proper component packaging and elimination of unnecessary duplication. The significance of this unification and integration lies in the unique features embodied therein which constitute an important forward step in. the state of the art of overall airframe controller design, manifested by the improved system performance, by the increased system simplification and by the saving achieved in both weight and overall power consumption.
In subordination to the above stated pro-eminent objective, the present flight control system offers many features of improvement whose overall purpose may be collectively expressed in the form of the following outstanding objectives, namely:
(a) to automatically improve the inherent stability characteristics of the class of aircraft herein considered;
(b) to provide automatic means of performing flight control functions wherever human control is inadequate, such as during approach and fire control tracking;
(c) to provide automatic relief flight control so that the pilots attention may be diverted to functions other than flight control;
(d) to provide a method of fully powered control which yields a uniform ratio between control stick deflections, stick force (:artificial force feel at the control stick), and aircraft response irrespective of the flight condition.
Referring to the objective cited under (a), above, the improvements in stability characteristics have been attained through so-called inboard augmentation. Inboard augmentation as used herein is defined as the art of minimizing aircraft displacement and acceleration along any axis of the craft at such times as the latter is subject to full automatic controls which act to hold displacements and accelerations in any axis to a minimum while the craft is under completely automatic control and which improve the flying qualities and tactical effectiveness of the craft while under manual control.
The phenomena of instability which are known to exist for the type of craft under consideration and the methods of automatic stabilization successfully employed in the present flight control system can be briefly stated as follows:
Lateral stability axis (rudder c0ntr0l.)In the lateral stability axis of the airplane, a rolling-yawing-sideslipping oscillation about the flight path, known as Dutch roll, may be created when the airplane is disturbed in roll or heading. This oscillation may be sensed by the pilot, or may be observed on the bank and turn indicator. An experienced pilot can, with some concentration, use these indications to determine the manner in which the rudder must be deflected to oppose this oscillation.
The rudder axis control of the present flight control system automatically opposes the Dutch roll oscillation by deflecting the rudder in accordance with the signals from a sensing element which is basically identical in function to the ball of the bank indicator but whose sensitivity of response is far superior to that of the latter. Since the equivalent of ball deflection is used to control the rudder, the problem of coordinating a turn is also eliminated, and the airplane is essentially two-control. (Reference is here made to assignees copending patent application Serial No. 342,256 of Thomas A. Feeney et al. entitled, Sideslip Stability Augmenter, dated March 13, 1953, in which the preferred method of lateral stability augmentation advocated for use in the present flight control system is described in greater detail. Lateral stability augmentation as used herein is defined as the art of minimizing aircraft displacement and acceleration along the Y axis of the craft at such times as the latter is subject to full lateral automatic control.)
Longitudinal stability axis (elevator c0ntr0l.)In the longitudinal stability axis, there are two separate vertical oscillations about the flight path which may exist when the airplane is disturbed in pitch due to gusts or due to elevator deflections. One of these oscillations (the phugoid) is of very low frequency and requires an appreciable period of time to decay to a negligible value. An experienced pilot will, in the absence of external visual references, use his airspeed indications in determining the elevator motion needed to oppose this deviation from the desired flight path. In a similar manner, but automatically, the elevator axis of control in the present flight control system opposes this oscillation by deflecting the elevator in accordance with the signals from an airspeed sensing element.
The second of the above mentioned oscillations in pitch is known as the Short Period and is of relatively high frequency and short duration. This oscillation is characterized by large changes in the pitch response. of the airplane to elevator deflections as the airplane changes altitude and airspeed. Because of these variations, the
pilot has some difficulty in rapidly establishing desired changes in pitch or climb angle at the different flight con-- ditions. These undesirable variations are reduced to negligible values in the present flight control system by controlling the elevator with signals from a sensing element which indirectly measures the changes in angle of attack accompanying the Short Period oscillation. (The methods of longitudinal stability augmentation herein advocated are described in greater detail in assignees copending patent application Serial No. 371,758 of Mc- Ruer et al. entitled, Longitudinal Stability Augmenter, dated August 3, 1953.)
Roll and heading stabilization (aileron control).- Roll stabilization is achieved through conventional control signals froma vertical gyro (roll reference) and from a roll rate gyro (for damping). Heading stabilization is achieved through a tie-in with a directional compass system. The methods of stabilization here used take advantage of certain stabilizing effects achieved in the rudder axis system, chief factor being the elimination of sideslip through the automatic rudder control system which has greatly simplified the synthesis of the aileron stabilization system. Stated in plain terms, this means that the automatic aileron axis stabilization system is predicated upon the satisfactory functioning of the sideslip stability augrnenter in the rudder axis control system. The advantages of simplification gained by this depend ence of one control system upon another can be classified as a typical example of system integration. While it is true that the automatic aileron control system relies upon the automatic rudder control system, this form of dependence does not constitute a limitation of the effectiveness or usefulness of the aileron control system as a whole, since in the case of failure of the sidelip stability augmenter, manual aileron control as well as manual rudder control are at all times instantly available to provide the necessary emergency control.
The successful integration of the above outlined methods of stabilization in the rudder, elevator and aileron channels into a composite streamlined dynamic system is, in part, based upon the following combination of outstanding mechanization features:
(1) A series servo installation in the elevator control system providing automatic longitudinal stability augmentation throughout flight while simultaneously permitting manual or automatic navigation control, a single servo controlling the functions of a stability augmenter as well asof a conventional autopilot;
(2) The series servo under 1), above, favoring the packaging of an improved artificial feel producer in the longitudinal control system in combination with a trim actuator with variable speed trimming as a function of displacement error from neutral, and further combined with a standby link which also serves as a gear backlash eliminator;
(3) Locating the combined mechanization features of (1) and (2), above, to the rear of the craft in proximity of the surface actuating system and thereby making possible a single cable installation which eliminates an entire elevator cable run of earlier forms of installation;
(4) A parallel servo installation in the aileron control system permitting the direct use of the conventional control stickfor aileron command signals during autopilot control, thereby eliminating the conventional autopilot cockpit controller;
(5) A series servo installation in the rudder control system providing automatic lateral stability augmentation throughout flight and permitting simultaneous manual rudder control, a single servo controlling the functions of stability augmentation, of a conventional autopilot as well as of a trim actuator;
(6) Locating the mechanization features of (5), above, as well as the'rudder force feel mechanism to the rear of the aircraft in proximity of the surface actuating system, thereby making possible a single cable installation '4' which eliminates an entire rudder cable run of earlier forms of installation.
(7) Hydraulically powered linear servo actuators in all three axes, precisely controlled by electrical transfer valves, operating on the principle of position error, not force error, and containing only one moving part. Weight of each servo: approximately four pounds.
NoTa.The design of satisfactory artificial feel producers for the class of high speed fighter type aircraft herein discussed has played a significant role in the successful development of the present flight control system. This applies particularly to the longitudinal force feel system wherein improvements of the stick force characteristics for the critical speed ranges above Mach number .78 as well as for landing speeds have been highly desirable in order to enhance the longitudinal handling characteristics of this type of craft. The present specification, however, will be limited to the showing of a prototype force feel system as well as of a preferred form ofmechanization thereof in each control channel. In a similar manner, the description of the electro-hydraulic servo actuators used in the present system will be limited to a more detailed analysis of a prototype servo actuator of this class and to the presentation of preferred methods of installation thereof in each control channel whereas such modifications as a variable authority servo in the elevator control channel which ties in with further refinements in the elevator control subsystem will be likewise omitted from the present specification.
The above cited objectives and mechanization features constitute in part a continuing development of primary flight control systems, i. c., of component block of the overall system, Whose design has thus far been established along more or less conventional lines with standard provisions for adaptation to various types of aircraft. Conventional installation practices for incorporation of: autopilot servos, for instance, consisted in providing an extra cable groove in a convenient quadrant of a particular subcontrol system in order to allow that system to be driven in its entirety in a parallel fashion. Series installations which permit both, the pilot and the servos, to operate simultaneously, have not been a part of the concept of either the primary systems referred to above, or of the servo to be installed therewith. Thus, the possi- F bility of providing such desirable modern products of automatic servo control as stability augmentation, decreased control sensitivity, tuck under correction, and improved force feel and handling characteristics, all of which are based on the series installation system, has been precluded in these conventional designs since the present day conventional servos cannot be adapted to handle series installations even if the primary control system were so arranged. In the case of the present flight control system, both the series and parallel servo installations are specifically designed to accomplish their function for a particular directional axis. In addition. these servos function equally well with either type of installation. Truckunder as used throughout this application refers to aircraft stability and control denoting the tendency of an aircrafts nose to drop as the speed of the aircraft increases without accompanying forward movement of the control column. This characteristic normally occurs as the aircraft passes through the transonic flight region.
The above referred to continuing development of established primary flight control systems in the present flight control system applies also to navigation devices and firecontrol system components as well as to other equipment components destined to facilitate maneuverability of the aircraft during approach and tracking phases thereof.
Most of these devices and systems have thus far been designed on the more or less conventional premise of their contemplated general applicability to various existing systems for manual or automatic control of a general class of aircraft. The novelty of aspects in the present flight control system development comprises in this case the integration of these established primary control systems into an overall system in such a fashion that their individual functions may be utilized and amplified at will either under a manual or under an automatic mode of control of the overall system. For example, navigational equipment known commercially as the (Sperry) AZ-Zero Reader has been selected for integration into the present overall flightcontrol system so as to enhance the formers operational capacity within a highly automatized navigation and approach system. The selector switch or" the conventional zero reader has been converted into a system selector switch which permits switching operations that establish various patterns of flight control under a manual or automatic control-mode of the overall system.
The adaptation of a fire control system for use in conjunction with the present flight control system is another example of this type of system integration.
The wide range of functional features of the present flight control system as presented above in terms of some of its outstanding objectives, can be summarized in the following brief description of the general operation of the system:
The present system is so mechanized that throughout every phase of flight, including cruising, attack, approach, and landing procedures under automatic modes of control, the pilot is always free to manipulate his controls without having to be concerned about manually switching the system from manual to automatic control or vice-verse, the automatic control portion being provided by an ag gregate of system components superior in scope to that of a conventional autopilot and obviating the use of the latter. Automatic control functions in this composite system are performed at all times about all axes and are solely interrupted in the aileron channel whenever the pilot actuates the control stick laterally in order to deflect the ailerons, the automatic aileron control mode being re-established upon lateral release of the control stick. Return to automatic operation after release of the control stick is performed in a smooth manner, i. e., without producing any violent airframe reactions. Automatic stability augmentation results in limited rudder and elevator control surface deflections which are not rellected into the pilots controls. Manual rudder and elevator control preserves its authority over automatic coutrol at all times, but is limited to Within dynamically safe deflection ranges and rates by an effective force feel system plus added safety devices. The extent of automatic aileron control surface deflection, in turn, is not limited in this composite system, thus permitting full utilization of automatic aileron control functions in fire control-, approachand landing-procedures for roll and directional stabilization in conjunction with the lateral and longitudinal stability augmentation features cited above, the manual mode of aileron control being, however, instantly rte-established whenever the pilot actuates the control stick laterally.
Further objects, advantages and details of operation of the preferred embodiment of this invention will be more fully understood as the description proceeds, reference now being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a preferred layout of the present flight control system in a simplified signal flow diagram in which the sensing elements of the stability augmenter installations as Well as most of the various navigational control units are represented in block form in the left portion of the diagram, the right portion thereof illustrating essential mechanization features that have been adopted for integration of manual and automatic modes of control surface actuation.
Figure 2 is a schematic of an F89 type fighter plane equipped with the flight control system installations of Figure 1, showing the simplified layout of cable connections used in the present system.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of the hydraulic servo actuator loop inserted in each of the three control surface power actuator channels of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a detailed schematic sectional view of the prototype servo actuator unit used in the present flight control system, showing layout of electrically driven hydraulic valve, output shaft and feedback potentiometer.
Figure 5 represents in a perspective schematic a more detailed view of the integrated overall elevator control linkage of the present system in one preferred form of execution. (This is essentially an enlarged replica of linkage portion E of Figure 2.)
Figure 6 is a partially sectional schematic profile view of the forward portion of the linkage system of Figure 5 as seen in the direction of arrow ar5 of Figure 5, details being simplified in order to clearly illustrate basic operational features.
Figures 7a and 7b show operational phases of the linkage system of Figure 6.
Figure 7c is a geometric sketch explaining details of the operational displacement of component parts of the linkage of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred form of the forward portion of the overall aileron control linkage used in the present flight control system. (This is essentially an enlarged replica of linkage portion Ai of Figure 2.) t
Figure 9 is a plan view of the schematic of Figure 8 as seen in the direction of arrow ar8 of Figure 8 comprising a preferred form of anchorage assembly.
Figure 10 represents a detailed, partly sectional schematic profile view of the preferred anchorage assembly of Figure 9 as viewed in the direction of arrow ar9 of Figure 9.
Figure 11 shows a preferred execution of the overall rudder control linkage of the present flight control system in a simplified schematic perspective view. (This is essentially an enlarged replica of the linkage portion R of Figure 2.)
Figure 12 shows details of the force spring assembly FS of Figure 11 on an enlarged scale. (This is a schematic plan view of the assembly FS as seen from the top of Figure 11 in a direction downwards along the axis of shaft sh15, quadrant 71 and associated linkages having been omitted from the drawing.)
Figure 13 is an enlarged partly sectional plan view of essential components of the overall linkage system of Figure 11 as seen in the direction of arrow ar14 of Figure 11.
Figure 14 is a simplified schematic lateral sectional view of control stick 22 of Figure 1 taken in a vertical plane oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft in which the control stick is mounted. (Lower portion of control stick column broken away in order to show preferred form of handgrip base on enlarged scale.)
Figure 15 presents a sectional view of the preferred form of stick force switch assembly, taken in the direction of arrows ar17 against the plane Y-Y of Figure 14.
Figure 16 shows a simplified wiring diagram of the stick force switch of Figure 15 illustrating a preferred form of circuit connections to pertinent system control elements.
Figure 17 represents a sketch of the front panel of the flight selector switch used in the present system.
Figure 18 is a simplified wiring diagram illustrating the preferred switching and relay-circuitry associated with the flight selector switch of Figure 17.
Figures 19, 20, and 21 represent the simplified overall circuitry of the present flight control system, broken up into three convenient sections which, together with Figure 18, illustrate a preferred form of overall organiza- ;tion of system controls. i t
R er in fi s to F re 1,. this simp i a fl diagram is representative of an integrated flight control system which comprises the essential features of the prescht invention in a preferred form of execution. The drawing is so arranged as to picturize in a more or less symbolic manner:
i (a) the distribution of all the essentially automatic airborne signal or error sensing devices of this integrated system (see left portion of the diagram) in their relation .to the three principal airframe surface control channels of a hypothetical aircraft whose airframe proper has been omitted from the drawing, the feedlines in each control channel converging on a hydraulically operated servo actuator; and
(b) the method of tie-in of the individual hydraulic servo actuators into the manual control system in each of the three principal surface control channels (see right portion of drawing).
For a general factual description of Figure 1, the systern here presented is suitably divided into the subsystem of elevator control, the subsystem of aileron control, and the subsystem of rudder control. (It is evident that functionally or aerodynamically, these systems cannot be truly separated in this fashion.) In each of these subsystems, component elements are provided whose functions are to automatically derive suitable signals which identify a given relationship of the crafts behavior in flight to that hi the craft in stable or equilibrium flight. Expressed more specifically, these elements essentially serve to deliver error signals.
(a) whenever the craft departs unilaterally from an established pattern of stabilized flight, in which case the error signal is instrumental in automatically returning the craft to that pattern of flight and in holding it thereto;
(12) whenever a previously established pattern of flight has been changed intentionally during that flight so that the error signal now becomes instrumental in steering the craft into a new pattern of flight and in stabilizing it thereto; or
whenever the craft tends to oscillate. in some characteristic manner about a stable flight path while the airframe surface controls are normally in neutral. In the case of these periodic flight path deviations, the error signals identify specific conditions of inherent dynamic instability of the airframe and become instrumental in damping out these undesirable oscillations, thereby acting to improve the stability chracteristics of the craft.
Other essential component elements in each of these subsystems serve to function as so-called equalizers. An equalizer can here be defined as an auxiliary system element whose inclusion in a control system provides suitable externaP means of modifying the performance of internal system elements for the purpose of achieving satisfactory overall system performance. A rate network inserted in an error signal channel can be classified as such an equalizer.
Electronic and mechanical instrumentation means represent further essential component elements in each of these subsystems. These elements include amplifiers and other electronic devices which transform the before mentioned error signals into control voltages of suitable shape, phase and power to actuate control mechanisms whose. ultimate objective is to deflect the airframe control surfaces in the desired manner. These latter mechanisms (hydraulic servo actuators, power cylinder actuators, etc), as well as the methods and means of tiein of manual deflection controls (series and parallel connections) and numerous other control elements constitute an additional group of essential mechanization means.
Referring first briefly to thesubsystem of elevator control shownin thetop portion of the diagram of Figure l, the signal detecting means allocated to this control channel are divided into sensors pertaining to the particular 8 system of longitudinal stability augmentation herein enaployed, and sensors pertaining to the various systems or modes of automatic navigational control. Mach sensor 1 and normal accelerometer 2 form part of a longitudinal stability augmenting system which has been described in the introductory text and whose analysis and synthesis is outlined in greater detail in the previously cited reference (assignees patent application Serial No. 371,758). Zero reader 4 (see introductory text to this succification) is here collectively represented as a single set device which, under a specific mode of navigation control (i. e., under control from glidepath receiver 46 which is connected into the system by a special selector switch to be referred to further below), delivers error signals into the elevator control channel (via an approach coupler 445A) Whenever the path actually followed by the craft digresses from the prescribed glidepath during landing procedures. (The actual modes of operation of zero reader 4 will not be described in detail, but interconnections thereof with other component units under various control patterns of the present system will be shown in somewhat greater detail with reference to Figures 20 and 21.) Altitude sensor 3 serves as an altitude reference which may be switched into the system at the discretion of the pilot. (See Figure 17.) The error signal from this unit is proportional to the amount of deviation in the crafts altitude from the reference altitude which prevailed at the moment of switching unit 3 into the system. A pitch signal from vertical gyro 6 serves here merely to counteract certain undesirable signals from normal accelerometer 2 (see Figure 19).
The signal components in channel 13 from the above cited sensors or pick-offs" undergo various processes of equalization (shown in somewhat greater detail in Figure 19). in the present drawing, box 8 collectively represents these equalization processes, the equalized composite signal in channel 14 undergoing successive stages of amplification, culminated by power amplifier 9 which delivers a control signal of adequate power via path 15 to hydraulic servo actuator 10. The various amplifying circuits are of advanced design but will not be further discussed herein.
Pitch signals from fire control coupler 7 (via separate equalizer 7a) provide necessary elevator correction signals during target tracking procedures for which unit 7 must, however, be separately switched into the system circuitry. (See Figure 18. Further description of unit 7 is omitted from the present specification.)
Servo actuator 10 consists essentially of a hydraulic valve (contained in the body of actuator 10 but not shown in the present figure; see more detailed description of prototype hydraulic servo actuator given the reference to Figure 4) whose positional variations are directly controlled by an electrical input signal from channel 15, and of output shaft 23 driven by this valve in exact proportion to these electrical signals. Output shaft 23 is displaced relative to the body of part 10 whenever signals are received from channel 15 but may, for the present, be considered held in a fixed position so that body 10, instead, changes its position relative to shaft 23. Body 10 is connected through linkage 18 (the latter here symbolically represented as being pivoted about a fixed shaft 13a) to control rod 19 and valve 12 which, in turn, serves to drive power shaft 11a of hydraulic power cylinder 11, the latter units providing in a well known mannor the necessary torque power for deflecting elevator control surface 17 in accordance with the control signals received. (The method of control surface deflection about fixed axis 17x, provisions for mechanical follow-up, and other Well known features in the art are based on essentially identical principles in all three control surface actuating systems shown in the present drawing. See related remarks with reference to the rudder control subsystem described further below.) A potentiometer arm 24. attached to output shaft 23 of servo actuator 10 serves to displace a potentiometer tap (not shown) in accordance with the displacements of shaft 23, thereby providing the required electrical follow-up signal of the servo system which is fed back to power amplifier 9 via channel 16., (See Figures 3 and 4. The prototype hydraulic servo actuator shown in Figure 4 is applicable to the elevator-, aileron-, and rudder-control channels of the present system. As stated in the introduction to this specification, the presentation of the subject matter has been simplified by omitting certain modifications in the elevator servo actuator which are recommended in order to further improve performance of the systems.)
Control stick 22 (see aileron control subsystem in midportion of Figure 1), forward quadrant 20 (inclusive of parts between stick 22 and quadrant 20 which are partly broken away or omitted from the drawing; see Figure 5), cables 21 and quadrant 20a constitute the forward portions of the so-called series linkage employed in the elevator control subsystem, servo actuator here being inserted in series between these forward portions and the aft portions of the overall linkage system constituted by linkage 18 and the control surface power actuating system. Further details regarding this series linkage system will be given with reference to Figures 5 and 6. In the present drawing, output shaft 23 of servo actuator 10 can be visualized as being anchored against quadrant 20a, the latter being backed up by the torque resistance of a force spring (not' shown) which tends to hold the quadrant in a fixed rotary position. Manual actuation of control stick 22 overpowers the torque resistance of this spring and displaces shaft 23 and actuator 10 as a rigid unit as if the latter constituted a single series connecting rod or link in the manual elevator control linkage. (See later remarks referring to the analogous series linkage system in the rudder control subsystem.) Simultaneous automatic control (i. e., automatic control superposed on manual control) under any of the navigation control modes referred to above results from the varying effective length of this connecting rod (through motion of output shaft 23 relative to actuator housing 10) which acts to add to, or subtract from, the amount of elevator deflection issuing from manual elevator deflection alone, since the back-up torque of the above-cited force spring presents at all times a greater load to servo actuator 10 than the load consisting of linkage 18, valve control rod 19 and valve 12, an additive or subtractive translational motion being thus superposed onto actuator housing 10. This algebraically added automatic elevator motion is restricted to well-defined limits. As a further result of the back-up action of the force spring, any added or subtracted elevator motion in response to automatic signals fed into actuator 10 is not reflected into the pilots controls (as a fore or aft motion of stick 22).
Referring now to the subsystem of aileron control shown in Figure 1 beneath the elevator control subsystem just described, it will be recognized that the error signal sensing elements employed in this control channel are solely concerned with the various modes of automatic navigational control already mentioned with reference to the elevator control subsystem. No aileron axis stability augmentation system equivalent to the system associated with longitudinal axis control is used, and as a consequence, preference has been given to a so-called parallel linkage system for aileron control which has favored a novel form of integration of manual and automatic control modes while permitting full utilization of the available automatic navigation control signals.
The individual signal detecting elements or sensors which contribute in establishing the various automatic flight control modes in the aileron control subsystem are the I-Z-Compass system 26, the roll rate gyro 28, the vertical gyro 6, the omnirange receiver 44, and the localizer receiver 45. The distribution of signals from these. units is controlled by a flight selector switch (not shown in the present drawing; see. Figure 17). The desired navigation mode is selected by the proper setting of this switch, whereupon the pertinent signal detecting elements deliver error signals (if present) into the assigned channel(s) while the remaining sensors stay disconnected therefrom.
Roll signals from fire control coupler 7 are delivered into the aileron channel via line 56 under a switching control (not shown) which is independent from the above cited selector switch. (See switches in Figure 18.) An electric aileron trim signal from potentiometer knob 27 may further be provided via channel 47 whenever needed.
The functions of equalizer 29 and power amplifier 32 are analogous to those mentioned in connection with the corresponding units 8 and 9 in the elevator channel, boxes 29 and 32 here likewise representing lumped units. (Boxes 25 and 30a represent a heading synchronizer and an aileron synchronizer, respectively, whose functions Will be explained further below.) The above mentioned analogy applies also to the basic structure and functions of hydraulic aileron servo actuator 33 to which the power signal from unit 32 is delivered via line 31. (See prototype hydraulic actuator illustrated in Figure 4.) However, the method of linking this servo actuator with the manual aileron control system differs from the previously described linkage system employed for elevator control. It is a parallel linkage inasmuch as any motion of output shaft 37 of actuator 33 is reflected into control stick 22 as well as into aileron control surface(s) 43 (viz., any motion of shaft 37 results in a lateral displacement of stick 22 as indicated by the direction of arrows left and right in the drawing, while at the same time producing an up or down deflection of the left aileron 43 shown in the drawing, and a down or up deflection, respectively, of the right aileron which has been omitted from the drawing). These simultaneous or parallel automatic deflections of control stick and ailerons are due to the fixed anchorage provided for the housing of actuator 33 during any of the automatic control modes of the system, as well as due to the form of linkage established between output shaft 37 and control stick 22 on one hand, and between output shaft 37 and aileron(s) 43 on the other.
Under automatic system control, an anchorage release mechanism which preferably comprises a coupling in the form of a clutch (the release mechanism here being symbolically represented by parts 40) remains sensitized, causing the coupling (not shown) to provide an inflexible support for the housing of servo actuator 33. (One preferred form of actual execution of this mechanism 4-0 will be described in greater detail with reference to Figures 8, 9, and 10). Displacement of output shaft 37, under these conditions, results in a torque applied to shaft 51 via bracket 50, the latter forming a connecting link between these two shafts that is firmly attached to shaft 51. Since bracket 49, which links shaft 51 with push rod 35 and stick 22, is also fixed to shaft 51, the torque on the latter shaft can b seen to be converted into a pushing or pulling lever force that acts on the lower end of stick 22 in a lateral direction, thereby rotating stick 22 about a longitudinally oriented pivotal axis 54. Pulleys 34 and 48 are likewise firmly attached to torque shaft 51. Pulley 48 is here shown to be linked to the left aileron 43 via 'a cable-and-push-rod system collectively represented by parts designatedwith numerals 36and 52, via valve control rod 53, valve 41 and power cylinder housing 42, power shaft 42a here being shown supported against fixed structure 42b. Functions of these latter parts (53, 41, 42, 42a, 42b) are analogous to those of parts 19, 12, 11, 11a, and 1811, respectively, of the elevator control system previously described, the pivotal axis for aileron rotations being represented by line 43a. (The actual aileron operating mechanism differs in detail from that sketched in the present figure).
Pulley 34 is similarly linked to the right aileron (not shown) by parts omitted from the present drawing which 1 1 correspond to parts 52, 53, 41, 42, 42a, 42b of the left aileron linkage system. Broken-E cables 55 suggest portions. of the right aileron cable-and-push-rod system which is rigged to produce a sense of aileron deflection opposite to that of aileron 43.
The magnitude of automatic aileron deflections in response to the various control signals fed to actuator 33 (i. e., the magnitude of displacement of shaft 37 relative to actuator housing 33) is not subjected to limitations (in contrast to automatic elevator control and, as will be shown, also in contrast to automatic rudder control) so that the full amount of permissible aileron deflections can be utilized in any one of the available modes of automatic control.
Under manual aileron control, viz., under lateral actuation of control stick 22 (see below), the above cited clutch coupling of anchorage mechanism 40 becomes desensitized, whereby the rigid support for the housing of actuator 33 is released and replaced by a spring support (spring not shown, but pertaining to mechanism 40; see Figure At the same time, shaft 37 of actuator 33 is returned to its null or trim position. These actions (executed through the aid of relays not shown) effectively convert the aileron servo actuator (i. e., housing 33 and output shaft 37) into a passive resilient retaining link of unit length which is added to the overall linkage essentially made up of parts 22, 54, 35, 49, 51, 50 and anchorage mechanism 40, the spring support of the latter mechanism providing the necessary resilience which permits stick 22 to be laterally displaced by manual means and, at the same time, furnishing the pilot with a lateral force feel or deflection load at the control stick. that is proportional to stick deflection from neutral. It is clearly seen that such manual stick deflections also lead to aileron deflections, while the parallel linkage member made up of actuator 33 and shaft 37 merely follows through a translational motion, differences in the overall spacing between part 50 and the anchorage point of the retaining spring being taken up by the resilience of this spring. Clutch disengagement results from action of a force switch built into the top portion of stick 22 (not shown in the present drawing) which is turned on whenever a minimum lateral pressure of one pound is exerted upon the stick grip. This switch and the relay actions associated therewith will more fully be described with reference to Figures and 18. The spring support for actuator 33 force spring for manual control) will be shown in its preferred form of actual execution as part of the anchorage mechanism 40 represented in Figures 9 and 10. In conjunction with the above cited Figures (15,
18, 9, 10), several additional features relating to the role of the aileron servo actuator, of the stick force switch,
the anchorage retaining spring and of boxes 25 (headingsynchronizer) and a (aileron synchronizer) during manual and automatic control will be duly explained. Release of control stick 22 (deenergizing of the above cited force switch) normally returns the aileron controlsystem to the mode of automatic control to which the beforementioned selector switch happens to be set. This transfer from manual to automatic control or, vice versa, the transfer from automatic to manual control, is seen not to require any conscious switching action on the part of the pilot and will not produce any noticeablereaction on the airframe, barring extreme conditions of maneuver. In order to sustain the manual control mode during phases of flight which call for rapid changes in aileron deflections, re-engagement of the clutch in anchorage mechanism 40 is delayed by a timing relay (not shown) so that the pilot may change from a left control stick deflection to a right control stick deflection and vice versa-which in both cases involves a temporary release of lateral pressure during changeover and consequent opening of the force switch-without intermittent return of. the system to theautomatic control. mode in force.
This time relay is shown in the wiring diagram of Figure 16. (For additional features of transfer from automatic to manual control, and vice versa, see text accompanying Figures 18-21).
An illustrative example of the integration of manual and automatic control modes in the aileron control subsystem can now be given. Let it be assumed that the hypothetical craft of Figure l is cruising along a chosen course and that the beforementioned flight selector switch has been turned to a position which establishes the necessary control signal flow for automatically maintaining this mode of flight. (Switches 17b and 17a of Figure 17 in their respective positions auto and normal. For the present illustrative example, no further description of this flight selector switch will be required, nor is it deemed necessary to account for a number of relays omitted from Figure l which are associated with the operation of this switch and whose functions will be later briefly explained with reference to Figure 18.) Under this assumed mode of fright, the clutch in anchorage mechanism 40 ofFigure 1 holds aileron servo actuator (housing) 33 in a fixed position relative to the crafts structure so that displacements of shaft 37 in response to control signals from channel 31 result in corresponding corrective aileron deflections. No control signals will, however, be present in channel 31 as long as the craft maintains its level flight along the established course (except for a constant trim signal from part 27, if aileron trim has been applied). A rate signal from roll rate gyro 28 and a roll error signal from vertical gyro 6 will develop if the craft is laterally disturbed from level flight. Any departure from the correct heading; will generate a heading error signal which will originate either in heading synchronizer 25 or in zero reader 4, depending on which of the two available automatic heading control modes the pilot has previously selected when he decided upon his present course. (Heading control through the heading selector knob 5 of zero reader 4 has been retained in the present system for reasons of convenience. This facility represents a duplication of control not essential to the satisfactory operation of the system under discussion since the same facility is here available through direct control stick operation aswill be seen presently.) Assume that the craft originally has been heading east and that the pilot has turned the craft manually to its present northerly heading. In doing so, ii e., when actuating stick 22 for a manual left turn, the pilot not only had unconsciously cut off the automatic mode of aileron control (in the manner already briefly described above), but he had also affected the mode of operation of heading synchronizer 25 inasmuch as the latter, through the instrumentality of the beforementioned stick force switch, had been commanded to track the compass heading signal from unit 26 as the turn proceeded, while previously, i. e., under automatic cruising control, this same unit 25 had acted to measure the difference between its, own fixed or locked" heading and thatlofthecompass unit 26. As a consequence, when the pilot had, releasedv stick 22 upon completion of the desired, heading change, heading synchronizer 25 meanwhile hadtracked thecompass heading from unit 26 to its present northerly heading. Release of stick 22 has returned the present system to its previously selected automatic mode, of control. This automatic and unconscious switch-over to automatic flight control has involved not only the previously explained return to fixed anchorage for aileron servo unit 33 but also an operational changeover for heading synchronizer 25 to its automatic control mode in which the newly acquired northerly heading is. held in afixed position as a new reference. Thus, if henceforth the craft deviates from its new heading, the compass heading signal from unit 26 also deviates from the heading of unit 25, giving origin to a heading error signal in channel 25a30-31 that acts upon servo shaft.
37 to introduce a corrective aileron deflection.
As an alternative mode of control, the pilot might have chosen to utilize the facilities of zero reader 4 (i. e.,
US474888A 1954-12-13 1954-12-13 Flight control system Expired - Lifetime US2833496A (en)
US474888A US2833496A (en) 1954-12-13 1954-12-13 Flight control system
US2833496A true US2833496A (en) 1958-05-06
ID=23885358
US474888A Expired - Lifetime US2833496A (en) 1954-12-13 1954-12-13 Flight control system
US (1) US2833496A (en)
US4129049A (en) * 1977-02-03 1978-12-12 Societe Francaise D'equipements Pour La Navigation Aerienne (S.F.E.N.A.) Power jack incorporating stress-responsive components
FR2427250A1 (en) * 1978-06-02 1979-12-28 Sperry Rand Corp Mechanism for automatic stabilizing systems for controlling aircraft
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US2707085A (en) * 1949-02-23 1955-04-26 Honeywell Regulator Co Automatic pilots
1954-12-13 US US474888A patent/US2833496A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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