Compact Cyclic Stick Assembly for Space-Saving Rotorcraft Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary wing aircraft flight control systems occupy valuable space in the cockpit due to the hardware required for assisted actuation and tactile feedback, limiting the compactness and ease of installation/maintenance of cyclic stick components.
Innovation Solution
A cyclic housing integrates stick actuators and force sensors as a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU), allowing for compact mounting and easy installation/swapping, while maintaining existing mechanical connections, thereby freeing up space and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stick actuators and force sensors are mounted separately in the cockpit, then assisted actuation and tactile feedback features can be implemented, but valuable cockpit space is occupied and installation/maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple flight control components (stick actuators, force sensors, and related mechanisms) into a single integrated cyclic housing assembly. This merging of previously separate components into one unified structure enables assisted actuation and tactile feedback features while occupying significantly less cockpit space, as the integrated assembly can be mounted in a compact configuration within the existing mechanical framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclic housing assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the cyclic stick, houses the pitch and roll actuators, accommodates force sensors for tactile feedback, and facilitates assisted actuation. This multi-functionality allows the same physical assembly to deliver multiple advanced flight control features without requiring separate dedicated spaces for each function in the cockpit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple advanced flight control components are installed individually, then assisted actuation and tactile feedback are enabled, but installation and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating stick actuators, force sensors, and related mechanisms into a single cyclic housing assembly, the patent enables the entire flight control system to be installed or maintained as one unified unit. This eliminates the need for separate installation procedures for each component and allows maintenance personnel to service the entire system through a single access point, significantly reducing both installation and maintenance time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclic housing assembly is designed as a modular Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) that can be independently removed and replaced as a complete assembly. This segmentation of the flight control system into discrete, self-contained modules allows for rapid installation and maintenance operations, as the entire integrated assembly can be swapped out in one operation rather than requiring disassembly and reassembly of individual components.
3Area of stationary object
If compact configuration is achieved by integrating components, then cockpit space is maximized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclic housing assembly employs a nested arrangement where pitch actuators and roll actuators are housed within concentric or adjacently positioned compartments of the same structural assembly. Force sensors are integrated within the actuator housings, and mechanical linkages are contained within the same structural envelope. This nesting of components within a unified housing achieves compact configuration while managing complexity through hierarchical organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclic housing structure serves as a universal platform that simultaneously supports multiple functions: structural mounting, actuator housing, sensor accommodation, and mechanical linkage integration. By designing a single multi-functional assembly rather than separate dedicated structures for each function, the patent achieves compact configuration while actually reducing overall system complexity through functional integration.
4Ease of repair
If Line Replaceable Unit configuration is used, then installation and maintenance are simplified, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclic housing assembly is designed as a discrete Line Replaceable Unit with standardized mounting interfaces and connection points that enable it to be manufactured as a separate module and then installed as a complete unit. This segmentation into a self-contained LRU with defined boundaries and standardized interfaces simplifies manufacturing by allowing specialized fabrication of the integrated assembly independent of the aircraft structure, while still providing the ease of installation and maintenance associated with modular replacement.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for compactly mounted cyclic flight control for a rotorcraft. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a stick base assembly coupled with a cyclic stick and configured to rotate with respect to a mounting frame to control a pitch and a roll of the rotorcraft. A cyclic housing is pivotably coupled with the mounting frame for rotation about a pitch axis to control pitch, and coupled with a pitch actuator having a pitch force sensor to measure its resistance to rotation. The cyclic housing supports the stick base assembly for independent rotation of the stick base assembly about a roll axis to control roll, and the stick base assembly couples with a roll actuator having a roll force sensor to measure its resistance to rotation.