ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROL STICK TILTABLY MOUNTED ON A SUPPORT BY A FLEXIBLE ROD WITH A FIXED END

摘要

A fly-by-wire control mechanism for a rotorcraft, the mechanism comprising a stick (1) hinged to tilt in multiple directions on a support (2), detector means (6) for detecting the tilting position of the stick (1) and generating electrical signals (7), and force feedback means providing the pilot with a sensation of forces (12) opposing tilting of the stick (1). The stick (1) includes a rod (13) having its distal end held in fixed manner in the support (2), while providing a movable mount for the stick (1) on the support (2). Causing the stick (1) to tilt leads to flexing of the rod (13) from its anchor zone (16) in the support (2), with the resistance of the rod (13) to flexing deformation serving to develop the opposing forces (12) and also being measured in order to generate the electrical signals (7).

主权项

1. A fly-by-wire control mechanism for a rotorcraft to vary the pitch of blades of at least one rotor of the rotorcraft, the mechanism comprising:
a stick hinged on a support to tilt in multiple directions about a center of motion of the stick on the support, the stick including an axially elongate rod provided at its proximal end with socket means for receiving a handle and at its opposite, distal end with means for movably mounting it on the support; detector means for detecting the tilting position of the stick, said detector means generating electrical signals depending on the tilting position of the stick, which signals are used by calculation means for generating commands to be executed by at least one actuator that causes said blades to pivot about their pitch axes so as to vary their pitch; and force feedback means generating opposing forces countering the human forces applied to tilting the stick so as to provide the human with a sensation of said opposing forces via the stick; wherein the stick is mounted to move on the support to tilt in multiple directions by having an anchor zone of the rod provided at its distal end held in fixed manner in the support, tilting movement of the stick giving rise to overall flexing of the rod from its anchor zone towards its proximal end, the force feedback means comprising the intrinsic resistance of the rod to deforming in flexing, said opposing forces being developed by the rod opposing being deformed in flexing.