Control Stick Soft Stop Gradient for Mechanical Self-Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft flight control systems lack effective mechanisms for providing tactile or haptic feedback and self-centering capabilities while maintaining weight, cost, and size considerations, which are essential for operational safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A self-centering joystick controller design featuring a pivot member, elongate member, retainer bracket, force bracket, and bias member, which provides varying force profiles and tactile feedback through constrained movement and angular displacement, urging the controller back to a center position with a predetermined torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a self-centering mechanism with haptic feedback is added to the flight control system, then tactile feedback and self-centering capabilities are improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bias member (spring) automatically provides centering force without requiring external power or control systems. The spring is pre-loaded to exert a restoring torque that naturally returns the control stick to its neutral position, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for electronic self-centering mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic haptic feedback systems with a purely mechanical solution using a spring-loaded bias member. This mechanical substitution provides tactile feedback through physical resistance and restoring force, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, and control electronics while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a self-centering mechanism with haptic feedback is added to the flight control system, then tactile feedback and self-centering capabilities are improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bias member (spring) automatically provides centering force without requiring external power or control systems. The spring is pre-loaded to exert a restoring torque that naturally returns the control stick to its neutral position, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for electronic self-centering mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic haptic feedback systems with a purely mechanical solution using a spring-loaded bias member. This mechanical substitution provides tactile feedback through physical resistance and restoring force, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, and control electronics while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a self-centering mechanism with haptic feedback is added to the flight control system, then tactile feedback and self-centering capabilities are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bias member (spring) automatically provides centering force without requiring external power or control systems. The spring is pre-loaded to exert a restoring torque that naturally returns the control stick to its neutral position, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for electronic self-centering mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic haptic feedback systems with a purely mechanical solution using a spring-loaded bias member. This mechanical substitution provides tactile feedback through physical resistance and restoring force, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, and control electronics while maintaining reliability.
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 system offers multiple levels of force feedback, passive mechanical components, and efficient self-centering, enhancing operator control and safety by providing distinct haptic cues and centering forces, while addressing weight, cost, and size constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a bias member configured to urge movement of the force bracket in the second direction
Implementation Method 2
The force bracket and the retainer bracket can be configured such that contact between the force bracket and the gimbal and angular displacement of the elongate member beyond the one or more predetermined angles urges tension of the bias member
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a control apparatus includes a first mounting member, a pivot member defining an axis, an elongate member configured to pivot about the axis and having a first elongate portion configured as a first lever arm extending away from the pivot member in a first direction, a second elongate portion extending away from the pivot member in a second direction opposite the first direction, a retainer bracket affixed to the second elongate portion, a gimbal moveably affixed to the first mounting member between the pivot member and the retainer bracket, a force bracket moveably affixed to the second elongate portion by the retainer bracket, and a bias member configured to urge movement of the force bracket in the second direction.