Pilot Lever Haptic Alert With Overridable Spring Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current haptic alert mechanisms for aircraft pilots are complex and lack simplicity, making them less effective in providing clear tactile feedback when operating limits are exceeded, particularly in situations where visual monitoring is not possible.
Innovation Solution
A haptic alert mechanism featuring a movable stopping piece with a pre-stressed torsion spring and adjustable resilient stop, which generates a resistive force when the operating limit is exceeded, allowing the pilot to feel the limit while still enabling its override, and is anchored to a structure via a support or directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a haptic alert mechanism is implemented to provide tactile feedback to the pilot, then pilot awareness of operating limits is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the haptic alert function from complex electronic systems and implements it through a simple mechanical stopping piece with spring-loaded finger that directly contacts the control linkage, providing tactile feedback without requiring sophisticated electronics or control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The stopping piece acts as a mechanical intermediary between the control linkage and the pilot's hand, transmitting force feedback through the spring-loaded finger to alert the pilot of approaching operating limits without requiring direct electronic communication or complex signal processing
2Reliability
If a stopping piece is used to provide haptic feedback, then tactile alert is achieved, but the ability to exceed limits when necessary is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stopping piece is designed with dynamic characteristics through the spring-loaded finger that can be overridden with sufficient force, allowing the system to adapt between providing gentle tactile warning and allowing deliberate limit exceeding when the pilot applies adequate force to overcome the spring resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The spring constant and pre-load of the spring-loaded finger can be adjusted to change the force threshold required to override the stop, allowing optimization between providing strong tactile feedback and maintaining ease of operation for legitimate limit exceedances
3Reliability
If the haptic mechanism generates strong resistive force, then alert effectiveness is improved, but the power generation speed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded finger is pre-loaded to generate resistive force before the pilot actually exceeds the limit, providing progressive tactile warning that builds up gradually, allowing the pilot to feel the approaching limit without sudden strong resistance that would require high power generation speed
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 mechanism provides a simple, effective means for pilots to recognize and safely exceed operating limits, enhancing safety by offering clear tactile feedback without obstructing movement, and is mechanically robust with a slow power generation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring box provided with an enclosure inside which a pre-stressed torsion spring is arranged
Implementation Method 2
said spring box being mounted to be movable in rotation about said axis of rotation... said torsion spring extending from a first end that is secured to the enclosure to a finger, said finger passing through an elongate orifice in said front flank and extending in part outside the enclosure by forming a movable, resilient stop
Data Source
AI summary
A haptic alert mechanism. The mechanism includes an actuator. At least one arm of a movable stopping piece is connected to the actuator. A spring box is provided with an enclosure containing a pre-stressed torsion spring, said spring box being mounted to be movable in rotation about the axis of rotation. The enclosure includes at least one lug that is mounted to be movable in rotation about said axis of rotation. A finger of the torsion spring passes through an elongate orifice in a front flank of the enclosure to form a movable, resilient stop that is overridable.