DESC:1. Title of invention
Title of Invention: Aircraft modular rudder pedal assembly.
2. Field of invention
The present invention relates to aircraft mechanical system in general and more particularly to aircraft flight controls.
3. Background of invention
Flight Control System of an aircraft has a pilot inceptor for providing the pilot input in the directional channel. The mechanism of the pilot inceptor in the prior art involves assembly of parts with complicated design. The drawbacks of the prior art are as follows:
a. the mechanism involves more number of parts;
b. it occupies larger volume in the cockpit of the aircraft;
c. the parts need to be assembled inside the aircraft cockpit;
d. it does not have locking mechanism; and
e. It does not cater for a higher range of adjustment for cockpit ergonomics.
The US Patents 4470570 dated Sept. 11, 1984 and 2610006 dated Sept 9, 1952 involve a large number of mechanical components and they are not modular in design. The prior invention is used for reversible flight controls were the Rudder Pedal Assembly is connected to the surface by mechanical linkages. Figure-21 and Figure-22 disclose the aforementioned inventions at US Patents 4470570 and 2610006 respectively.
4. Summary of invention
The present invention is a pilot inceptor for providing pilot inputs in the directional channel which in turn operates the rudder flight control surfaces of an aircraft. It is also used for steering the nose wheel on ground. It has a brake sensing unit which is toe operated for controlling the wheel brakes. This pilot inceptor can be used on the aircraft which have mechanical linkages or power assisted or fly by wire controls. The present invention finds application in all types of aircraft which require pilot inceptor for directional control. The mechanism is modular in construction with lesser number of parts and hence it occupies lesser volume inside the cockpit. The locking of the pilot inceptor is part of the mechanism. The present invention caters for the required adjustments for cockpit ergonomics.

5. Brief description of drawings
Fig-1: shows the isometric view of the torque tube (1).
Fig-2: shows the isometric view of the rudder pedal (2).
Fig-3: shows the isomeric view of pedal mount (3)
Fig-4: shows the isometric view of the lever – actuator mounting end(LH) (5)
Fig-5: shows the isometric view of the lever – actuator mounting end(RH) (5)
Fig-6: shows the isometric view of the Lever – actuator eye end (6)
Fig-7: shows the isometric view of the pedestal (7)
Fig-8: shows the isometric view of the AFU (artificial feel unit) lever (8)
Fig-9: shows the isometric view of the lever (9)
Fig-10: shows the isometric view of the pedal arm (10)
Fig-11: shows the isometric view of the parallel arm (11)
Fig-12: shows the isometric view of the control-rod (12)
Fig-13: shows the isometric view of the artificial feel unit(AFU) (13)
Fig-14: shows the isometric view of the actuator (14)
Fig-15, 16 & 17: show the assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the neutral position.
Fig-18: shows the Sectional View R-R with the following information:
(a) attachment of the Lever – actuator mounting end(LH) (4), lever – actuator mounting end(RH) (5), lever – actuator eye end (6), lever – actuator eye end (9) by torque tube (1) with pedestal (7)
(b) attachment of the AFU lever (8) with pedestal (7)
Fig-19: shows the Sectional View S-S for the attachment of the pedal mount (3) with pedal (2).
Fig-20: shows the Sectional View N-N with the following information
(a) attachment of the actuator (14) with lever-actuator mounting end(RH) (5) and lever – actuator eye end (6).
(b) attachment of control-rod (12) with lever (9) and AFU lever (8)
(c) attachment of control-rod (12) with Lever (9) and lever-actuator mounting end(RH) (5)
(d) attachment of AFU (13) with AFU lever (8) and pedestal (7)
Fig-21: shows the assembly of prior art described in US Patents 4470570
Fig-22: shows the assembly of prior art described in US Patents 2610006
6. Detailed description of invention
Pilot inceptor mechanism is an essential part of the flight control system of manned aircraft. Occupying reduced volume inside the cockpit and reduced complexity in design and installation are key requirements in the pilot inceptor design for all aircrafts. Suitable locking mechanism is required for pilot inceptor to carry out the calibration checks and rigging. The prior arts are having certain drawbacks like, a greater number of parts are involved in the assembly which are to be assembled inside the cockpit; occupying more volume in the cockpit; and lacking the mechanism for locking. Also, the range of adjustment to cater for ergonomics requirement is higher. This has led to the present inventions of aircraft rudder pedal assembly for overcoming the drawbacks of the contemporary aircrafts. The present invention describes a simpler mechanism involving a smaller number of components described in the para mentioned below.
Refer Fig-1 to Fig- 14 for the isometric views of the individual parts which are part of the present invention. Refer Fig-15 to Fig-17 for the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the neutral position. Fig-18 to Fig-20 are indicating the section views of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present invention consists of a pedestal (7) that has pedal arm (10), a lever-actuator mounting end-LH (4) connected to a torque tube (1) on one side of the pedestal (7) and the pedal arm (10), a lever - actuator mounting end-RH (5) connected to the torque tube (1) on the other side of the pedestal (7). One actuator (14) is connected to the lever-actuator mounting end-LH (4) and lever actuator eye end (6); and another actuator (14) is connected to the lever-actuator mounting end-RH (5) and lever actuator eye end (6). One control-rod (12) is connected to the lever-actuator mounting end-LH (4) and to the AFU (Artificial Feel Unit) lever (8); and another control-rod (12) is connected to a lever - (9) and to the AFU Lever (8). Two parallel arms (11) are formed by connecting the lever (9) to the torque tube (1) on both sides of the pedestal (7). The parallel arms (11) ensure the face of the pedal (2) to remain parallel to the pilot feet during the operation. The mechanical stops (15) on the lever-actuator mounting end-LH (4) and lever-actuator mounting end-RH (5) are used to restrict the movement of the AFU – Artificial Feel Unit (13). The pedestal (7) has the locking holes (16) and rigging pin (16) for locking the assembly in the neutral position. ,CLAIMS:Claims
We claim:
1. An aircraft modular rudder pedal assembly used as a pilot inceptor, comprising
- a pedestal (7) that has a pedal arm (10);
- a lever actuator mounting end -LH (4) connected to a torque tube (1) on one side of the pedestal (7) and the pedal arm (10);
- a lever actuator mounting end -RH (5) connected to the torque tube (1) on the other side of the pedestal (7);
- a plurality of actuators (14) such that one actuator (14) is connected to the lever actuator mounting end-LH (4) and the lever actuator eye end (6); another actuator (14) is connected to the lever actuator mounting end-RH (5) and the lever actuator eye end (6);
- a plurality of control rods (12) such that one control rod (12) is connected to the lever actuator mounting end-LH (4) and to an AFU (Artificial Feel Unit) lever (8); and another control rod (12) is connected to a lever (9) and to the AFU lever (8);
- two parallel arms (11) formed by connecting the lever (9) to the torque tube (1) on both the sides of the pedestal (7), such that the parallel arms (11) ensure the face of the pedal (2) to remain parallel to the pilot feet during the operation;
- a plurality of mechanical stops (15) on the lever actuator mounting end-LH (4) and the lever actuator mounting end-RH (5) to restrict the movement of the AFU- artificial feel unit (13); and
- a plurality of locking holes (16) and rigging pins (16) in the pedestal (7) for locking the pedal (2) assembly in the neutral position.
2. The aircraft modular rudder pedal assembly, as claimed in claim-1, wherein the assembly uses lesser number of parts and occupies lesser volume inside the cockpit for pilot inceptor applications.