Aircraft Throttle Quadrant Visual Indicators for Clear Engine Status

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft throttle quadrant systems lack intuitive visual indicators to clearly communicate engine status and auto-throttle engagement, leading to ambiguity and increased weight due to unnecessary mechanical components.

Innovation Solution

Integration of activatable visual indicators, such as LEDs or OLED displays, into throttle handles that respond to engine data for real-time status and health feedback, eliminating dedicated reverse thrust levers and fuel cutoff switches, and using a multi-function switch for simplified operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate handles for reverse thrust are retained, then mechanical cable control is maintained, but weight and size of the throttle quadrant system increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical control reliabilityVSAvoidthrottle quadrant system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes unnecessary mechanical components (separate reverse thrust handles and fuel cutoff switches) from the throttle quadrant system, retaining only the essential throttle controls. This extraction of non-essential mechanical elements reduces system weight while maintaining core functionality through electronic controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical cable-based control systems with electronic control and communication via digital bus. This substitution eliminates the need for physical mechanical linkages between the throttle quadrant and engine controls, significantly reducing weight while maintaining or improving control reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If traditional throttle quadrant assembly is used, then mechanical structure is simple, but visual indication of engine status and auto-throttle engagement is ambiguous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrottle quadrant structure complexityVSAvoidengine status information clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates visual indicator elements (such as LEDs or display elements) into the throttle control handles that can change color or illumination state to clearly indicate engine status and auto-throttle engagement. These visual cues provide unambiguous information to the flight crew without adding complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates multiple functions into the throttle handles, including not only thrust control but also visual indication of engine status and auto-throttle engagement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate indication mechanisms, maintaining structural simplicity while improving information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate controls are retained, then individual control functions are maintained, but ease of operation and crew awareness are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol function versatilityVSAvoidthrottle quadrant operation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple control functions and indication functions into integrated throttle handles. The visual indicator elements are combined with the thrust control mechanism, allowing the handles to provide both control and status indication functions in a single unified interface, thereby improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates real-time visual feedback through the indicator elements that respond to engine status and control system state. This feedback mechanism provides immediate visual confirmation to the crew of system status and engagement state, enhancing operational ease without sacrificing control versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 crew awareness and reduces weight by providing clear visual cues for engine status and auto-throttle mode, simplifying operations, and automating thrust control, thus improving user convenience and system efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

throttle handle having an activatable visual indicator integrated therein

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS12258138B2Aircraft throttle quadrant assembly with integrated visual indicator feature

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP

AI summary

A throttle quadrant system for an aircraft includes: a first throttle handle to control a first engine of the aircraft, the first throttle handle having a first activatable visual indicator integrated therein; a second throttle handle to control a second engine of the aircraft, the second throttle handle comprising a second activatable visual indicator integrated therein; and at least one controller to control activation and operation of the first activatable visual indicator and the second activatable visual indicator. The at least one controller responds to first engine data related to operating status of the first engine to selectively activate the first activatable visual indicator. The at least one controller also responds to second engine data related to operating status of the second engine to selectively activate the second activatable visual indicator.