Aircraft Control Stick Magnetic Brake for Backup Force Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft pilot sticks lack a reliable mechanical backup for force feedback in case of electrical faults, leading to potential loss of feedback and increased mass, space, and power consumption, with existing active force feedback systems being complex, bulky, and reducing dynamic performance.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic brake system integrated into the pilot stick, utilizing a magnetizable element and a magnetic transmitter to provide a resistive force through magnetostatic interaction, which can be activated as a backup or replacement for force feedback motors, reducing the need for bulky components and maintaining feedback even in fault conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active electromechanical force feedback systems are used, then force feedback is provided to the pilot, but the device becomes bulky, complex, and consumes significant power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force feedback function from complex electromechanical systems (motors, clutches, gears) and implements it using a simple magnetic brake system with a magnetizable element and magnetic transmitter. This removes unnecessary components while maintaining the essential force feedback capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical electromechanical force feedback system with a magnetic field-based system. Instead of using motors and mechanical transmissions, a magnetic transmitter generates a magnetic field that interacts with a magnetizable element on the control lever, providing force feedback through magnetic attraction/repulsion without mechanical contact.
2Reliability
If mechanical backup channels are added to prevent total loss of force feedback, then reliability improves, but mass and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic brake system serves multiple functions: it provides force feedback during normal operation and acts as a mechanical backup in case of electrical faults. This single system replaces the need for separate backup mechanisms, avoiding additional mass and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the magnetic brake system based on system status. During normal operation, the magnetic transmitter is activated to provide force feedback. In case of electrical faults, the system automatically switches to magnetic brake mode, where the magnetizable element interacts with residual magnetic fields or permanent magnets to maintain force feedback without requiring additional power or components.
3Force
If gears are introduced in force feedback systems, then force transmission is achieved, but dynamic performance decreases and ergonomics are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates gears and mechanical transmissions by substituting them with a direct magnetic field interaction system. The magnetic transmitter generates magnetic fields that directly act on the magnetizable element attached to the control lever, providing force feedback without any intermediate mechanical components. This maintains dynamic performance and ergonomic quality while achieving effective force transmission.
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
The magnetic brake system offers a reliable, low-maintenance, and space-efficient solution for maintaining force feedback during electrical faults, reducing the pilot stick's mass and power consumption while ensuring continuous feedback and improved durability.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic transmitter opposite to the magnetizable element while being freely rotatable about the first axis relative to the magnetizable element, said magnetic transmitter having an activated state, in which the magnetic transmitter is supplied with current and generates a magnetic field at a volume occupied by the magnetizable element
Implementation Method 2
the magnetic transmitter is supplied with current and generates a magnetic field at a volume occupied by the magnetizable element, and a deactivated state in which the magnetic transmitter is not supplied with current and does not generate a magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a force application device for a control stick of an aircraft, wherein the control stick comprises a control lever (1) rotating a shaft (A1) about a first axis (A), the device comprising a magnetic brake (5a) which comprises a magnetisable element (50a) mounted on the shaft and a magnetic transmitter (51a) which is opposite the magnetisable element and free to rotate about the first axis relative to the magnetisable element, the magnetic transmitter having an activated state in which the magnetic transmitter is supplied with current and generates a magnetic field in a volume occupied by the magnetisable element, and a deactivated state in which the magnetic transmitter is not supplied with current and does not generate a magnetic field, so as to prevent the magnetisable element from rotating about the shaft relative to the magnetic transmitter.