Abstract:
The stick of a joystick type control device is rigidly affixed to a carrier plate that extends normal to it. The plate is gimbal mounted on a fixed base and has four reaction receiving elements equidistant from the stick axis, arranged two along each gimbal axis, at opposite sides of the stick. Four springs react, all in the same direction, between the fixed base and the plate, one against each reaction receiving element. When the stick is in a normal position the springs exert equal forces.
Abstract:
AN ENDWISE SLIDABLE ROD, SUCH AS A BRAKE ROD, IS RELEASABLY LOCKED AGAINST SLIDING IN ONE DIRECTION BY A DISC-LIKE ANNULAR CATCH COAXIALLY SURROUNDING THE ROD AND HAVING ITS PERIPHERY ENGAGING AN ANNULAR SEAT THAT HOLDS THE CATCH AGAINST BODILY AXIAL DISPLACEMENT. THE CATCH IS FRUSTOCONICAL, CONVERGING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND HAS SLITS RADIAL ITS CENTRAL APERTURE, DEFINING SPRING SEGMENTS THAT FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE ROD. A SLEEVE AROUND THE ROD, HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATABLE IN SAID OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DISENGAGES THE SPRING SEGMENTS FROM THE ROD TO RELEASE THE ROD FOR MOVEMENT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION.