Abstract:
For use in an aircraft warning system which measures the descent below a radio glideslope and compares it with the aircraft's altitude above ground to generate a warning when the descent below glideslope exceeds predefined limits for a particular altitude, circuitry is provided to generate an advisory warning above a predefined altitude and a hard warning, or command to take immediate action, below the predetermined altitude.
Abstract:
In a system that compares the rate of descent of an aircraft with its altitude above ground and generates a warning signal when the sink rate exceeds a predetermined limit for a particular altitude, the maximum warning time is limited to a specified value in order to minimize nuisance warnings at higher altitudes. At a descent rate above a certain value, the excessive sink rate warning signal is inhibited for combinations of descent rates and aircraft altitudes which would provide a warning greater than a selected time to impact, such as 30 seconds.
Abstract:
In a terrain warning system wherein the rate of the aircraft's closure to the terrain is compared to the aircraft's altitude above the terrain in order to generate a warning signal for excessive closure rates, a circuit is provided to inhibit the warning signal when the aircraft begins to climb in response to the warning signal and to measure the altitude gained by the aircraft resulting in the reactivation of the warning signal if the aircraft has leveled off before gaining a predetermined amount of altitude. The circuit includes: a memory element to indicate that a warning signal has been generated; a circuit to generate a climb signal in response to a barometric rate of change signal indicating the aircraft is climbing; and an integrating circuit responsive to the barometric rate signal to determine the amount of altitude the aircraft has gained while climbing. If the aircraft has not gained the predetermined amount of altitude before leveling off, as indicated by the climb signal, the memory element will reactivate the warning signal.
Abstract:
In a system where the aircraft''s distance below a radio glide slope is compared with the aircraft''s altitude above ground to generate either an advisory voice warning or a command voice warning depending upon the aircraft''s altitude and distance below the radial glide slope beam, the repetition rate of the advisory voice warning is varied as both a function of distance below the radio glide slope beam and of altitude in order to generate advisory warnings at a rate reflecting increasing danger to the aircraft. This is accomplished by integrating the glide slope deviation signal over time and comparing it with a radio altitude signal so as to generate a signal for triggering the advisory warning as a function of the glide slope deviation and the radio altitude thereby generating the advisory warnings as a function of decreasing radio altitude and increasing deviation from the glide slope.
Abstract:
A collimated head up display of pitch related information for an aircraft operator. A generated pitch signal combines a gyroscope signal referenced to the airframe with an inertial signal referenced to the head up display or combiner screen. A pitch error signal representing the difference between the generated pitch signal and the inertial pitch signal is limited and integrated to develop a pitch correction signal which is added to the gyroscope signal. Reference of the inertial signal to the combiner screen of the display eliminates static alignment errors. The pitch correction signal may be selected for display during alignment of the combiner screen.
Abstract:
An apparatus for displaying collimated images including an ellipsoidal mirror having a focal surface and means for generating a bar and scale image for the mirror in the focal surface. The means generating a scale image includes an elongated strip of film or tape containing indicia which is positioned intermediate an elongated light source and the mirror to display a scale image on the mirror, and the means generating the bar image includes a transverse bar which reflectively defines a bar image on the mirror intersecting the scale image. The generating means includes means for moving the tape strip to modify the scale image and means for moving the bar to displace the bar image on the mirror and modify the position of intersection between the bar and scale images.
Abstract:
A piezoelectric pressure transducer particularly adapted for measuring fluid pressure up to and above ballistics levels of the order of 75,000 pounds per square inch with an accurate, linear response over a wide pressure range. The piezoelectric sensing element is housed in a cylindrical sleeve which is threaded into a wall of the chamber within which the pressure to be measured is developed. An end wall extending across the end of the sleeve is exposed to the pressure and deflects, compressing the piezoelectric element to generate an electric signal representing the pressure. A supporting wall for the end wall is located between the sensing element and the housing sleeve. Two flexure zones are formed in the end wall, one between the piezoelectric element and the supporting wall and the other between the wall and the sleeve. The supporting wall is connected with the end wall through a third flexure zone. The compliance of the supporting wall is less than the compliance of the piezoelectric element but greater than the compliance of the housing sleeve. Deformation of the housing sleeve, as by pressure on the mounting threads, is accommodated by the flexure areas and error creating stress on the piezoelectric element is minimized.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the velocity of a fluid flow stream. A fluid jet source is disposed opposite a pair of fluid pressure detectors so that the jet stream equally intersects both detectors when the velocity of the fluid flow stream is zero. Means are provided for relatively laterally displacing the jet with respect to the detectors, and for sensing the pressure difference at the detectors, in order to indicate the velocity of the moving fluid flow stream.
Abstract:
A stall warning indicator having no moving parts is mounted on a leading edge of an aircraft wing, near the point of stagnation of airflow when a stall condition occurs. The indicator includes a transmitter emitting transmissions, as a continuous acoustic wave or a jet airstream, which are received by a pair of detectors connected to a differential sensor. When the stagnation point passes the axis of the transmissions, the differential sensor produces a signal to warn of an impending stall.
Abstract:
Warning systems for aircraft that provide a warning to the pilot of an excessive altitude loss or an excessive descent rate after take-off as long as he is flying below a predetermined altitude have the problem that they require a valid radio altitude signal for proper operation, and tend to generate nuisance warnings when used in low flying aircraft. This problem is solved by comparing the accumulated altitude loss after take-off (12, 14, 62, 34) with the product of a barometrically derived altitude and the length of time the aircraft has been flying (12, 14, 30, 32, 34). A warning is generated if the altitude loss is excessive for the accumulated time-altitude product after take-off (38, 40). Thus, the system is more sensitive immediately after take-off and becomes less sensitive as flight time is accumulated to permit low level maneuvering without generating false or nuisance warnings, and does not require a valid radio altitude signal to generate a warning.