Control Stick Detent Alignment With Ball-Ramp Haptic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Control sticks in aircraft lack tactile feedback for pilots to determine the relative position of the elevator control stick with respect to predefined detent positions, leading to confusion and potential operational errors during flight operations.
Innovation Solution
A detent alignment mechanism assembly that provides haptic feedback through a ball ramp alignment mechanism, featuring a detent element and corresponding pockets, which offer increasing and decreasing resistive forces as the control stick moves between detent positions, informing the pilot of the correct alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pin-tooth assembly is used to establish predefined detent positions, then the control stick can only set certain flight conditions, but the pilot receives no tactile feedback to know the relative position of the control stick with respect to detent positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ball ramp alignment mechanism that provides tactile feedback to the pilot. As the control stick moves between detent positions, the ball travels along a ramp surface that creates increasing and decreasing resistive forces, giving the pilot tactile cues about the relative position of the control stick with respect to the predefined detent positions established by the pin-tooth assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball ramp alignment mechanism acts as an intermediary between the pin-tooth assembly and the pilot's hand. While the pin-tooth assembly establishes the detent positions, the ball ramp mechanism translates these positional constraints into tactile feedback through resistive forces, mediating the information transfer from the mechanical detent system to the pilot's sensory system.
2Ease of operation
If the control stick is designed with a lift mechanism for unlocking, then the pilot can manipulate the control stick freely, but the pilot has no way of knowing where the control stick is relative to detent positions during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The ball ramp alignment mechanism provides continuous tactile feedback during the movement of the control stick. As the pilot manipulates the control stick freely using the lift mechanism, the ball's interaction with the ramp surface generates resistive forces that vary with position, giving the pilot real-time position awareness without restricting the ease of operation provided by the lift mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If no alignment mechanism is provided, then the control stick can move freely, but the pilot experiences confusion and distraction without tactile cues for proper alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The ball ramp alignment mechanism introduces tactile feedback that makes position detection easy through the pilot's sense of touch. The increasing and decreasing resistive forces as the ball moves along the ramp create distinct tactile cues that indicate proper alignment with detent positions, solving the difficulty of detecting position while maintaining control freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The interaction between the ball and the ramp surface creates mechanical vibrations and tactile sensations that provide position information to the pilot. These vibrations occur as the ball moves along the inclined surfaces of the ramp, creating detectable tactile cues that guide the pilot to proper alignment without restricting control freedom.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances pilot awareness of control stick position relative to detent positions, improving operational precision and reducing pilot confusion by providing clear tactile cues for proper alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element configured to bias the detent element toward the tooth formation
Implementation Method 2
provides haptic feedback through a ball ramp alignment mechanism, featuring a detent element and corresponding pockets, which offer increasing and decreasing resistive forces
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A detent alignment mechanism assembly is provided and includes a shaft (40), a lock mechanism (50) configured to selectively occupy an unlocked position at which the shaft (40) is movable and a locked position at which the shaft (40) is immovable, a detent mechanism (60) coupled to the shaft (40) and formed to define detent positions for the shaft (40) to assume and move between and a detent alignment mechanism (70) configured to provide to an operator of the shaft (40) feedback and assistance corresponding to assumptions of the detent positions by the shaft (40) during movements thereof by the operator.