Three-Axis Control Stick With Nested Gimbal Joint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional three-axis control systems for vehicles, such as aircraft, become increasingly complex and difficult to use as they incorporate more control capabilities, requiring improved intuitive and simplified designs to ensure safe operation.

Innovation Solution

A control system assembly featuring a first shaft, a second shaft, and a gimbal mechanism with a nested joint, where the joint's origin of rotation coincides with the gimbal mechanism's origin, allowing independent torque transmission and rotation about multiple axes, including a universal joint with forked hinges connected by a cross shaft, to control pitch, roll, and yaw intuitively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If control capabilities are incorporated into a single three-axis control stick, then control integration is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol integrationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The joint is nested within the gimbal mechanism, with the joint's origin of rotation coincident with the gimbal mechanism's origin. This nesting arrangement allows multiple control capabilities to be integrated into a single control stick while maintaining a compact structure that does not significantly increase overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If control capabilities are incorporated into a single three-axis control stick, then control integration is improved, but usability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol integrationVSAvoidusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control stick is segmented into distinct functional components: a gimbal mechanism providing two degrees of freedom and a joint providing a third degree of freedom with independent torque transmission. This segmentation allows each axis of control to be independently optimized for intuitive operation while maintaining overall integration, thereby improving usability despite the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a joint is nested within the gimbal mechanism with coincident origins of rotation, then device complexity is reduced, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidcontrol stick weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The joint is nested within the gimbal mechanism with coincident origins of rotation, creating a compact integrated structure. This nesting eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and reduces the overall number of components, thereby reducing structural complexity and offsetting the additional weight of the joint mechanism itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Device complexity

If a joint is nested within the gimbal mechanism with coincident origins of rotation, then device complexity is reduced, but volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidcontrol stick volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The joint is nested within the gimbal mechanism with coincident origins of rotation, utilizing the existing structural space of the gimbal mechanism. This nesting arrangement allows the joint to be accommodated within the gimbal's volume rather than requiring additional space, thereby reducing structural complexity without significantly increasing the overall volume of the control stick.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 solution enhances usability and reduces complexity by allowing intuitive control of aircraft dynamics, minimizing inertia and weight, while freeing up cockpit space by integrating control functions into a compact, intuitive control stick.

Implementation Method 1

a gimbal mechanism; wherein the joint is nested within the gimbal mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGimbal: Gimbal

Implementation Method 2

the joint may be rotated relative to the gimbal mechanism about a longitudinal direction of the joint (e.g., corresponding to twist of the first shaft), to transmit torque from one end of the joint to the other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorque transmission: Torque

Data Source

PatentUS11305868B2Three-axis control stick

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 RATIER FIGEAC SAS

AI summary

There is provided a control stick module (10) comprising: a first shaft (100); a second shaft (110); a joint (140) connecting the first and second shafts; and a gimbal mechanism (120); wherein the joint is nested within the gimbal mechanism. The gimbal mechanism provides axes of rotation (201, 202) for the first shaft (100) and the joint provides axes of rotation (203, 204, 205) for the first shaft (100); and the axes of rotation (201, 202) provided by the gimbal mechanism intersect at a point corresponding to a point of intersection of the axes (203, 204, 205) provided by the joint.