MECHANISMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING RUDDER CONTROL ASSIST DURING SYMMETRICAL AND ASYMMETRICAL THRUST CONDITIONS

摘要

Rudder assist mechanisms and methods are capable of being operably connected to an aircraft's rudder control system. The rudder assist mechanisms have over-the-center spring biasing functions so as to cause either substantially no spring force (i.e., when the linkage is over the spring-bias center) or substantially all spring force (i.e., when the linkage is left or right of the spring-bias center) to be exerted on the rudder control system. The rudder assist mechanism may include a control spring assembly, and a linkage assembly which operably connects the control spring assembly to the rudder control assembly. The linkage assembly is moveable between a null position wherein substantially no spring force of the control spring assembly is transferred to the rudder control system by the linkage assembly and right and left spring-biased positions wherein right and left spring forces of the control spring assembly are transferred to the rudder control system, respectively.