Patent ID: 8353484

Claim:
A cockpit rudder control mechanism for an aircraft comprising: a carriage releasably attached to the aircraft; a first depending member extending downwardly from and pivotally attached to the carriage at a first end of said first depending member; a second depending member extending downwardly from and pivotally attached to the carriage at a first end of said second depending member; a first rudder pedal and a second rudder pedal, each attached to a second end of the first and second depending members, respectively; a shaft rotatably attached to the aircraft wherein the shaft extends between the first and second depending members; a collar slidably mounted on the shaft with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof; a first link pivotally connected between a first mount point on the first depending member and a first pivotal mount on the collar; a second link pivotally connected between a second mount point on the second depending member and the collar; wherein the collar is fixed to the shaft with respect to rotation thereof; wherein translation of the first and second rudder pedals translates the first and second link and rotates the collar and the shaft around its longitudinal axis; and wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft is substantially parallel to the direction of translation of the first and second rudder pedals; and wherein the rudder of the aircraft is translated based upon the rotation of the shaft.