Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft control – Pilot operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-06-26
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft control
Pilot operated
C244S00100R, C070S198000, C070S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250589
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to locking devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved apparatus for securing the control surfaces of a stick controlled aircraft against wind loads by rigidly interlocking the control stick of the aircraft with the rudder pedals of the aircraft.
2. Description of Related Art
Certain types of small aircraft employ two pedals for controlling the rudder of the aircraft and a control stick for controlling the aileron and elevator control surfaces of the aircraft. When such aircraft are parked outside, the control surfaces are often subjected to high wind gusts. Gusts of wind can place significant loads on the rudder, the ailerons, and the elevators so as to cause them to flap and crash against their limit stops. Such flapping is undesirable in that it will prematurely wear or damage the control cables, the control linkages, and the control surfaces.
Additional damage can be incurred to the aircraft as a result of high winds passing over the control surfaces so as to cause all or portions of the aircraft to be lifted from the ground. For example, with most aircraft, if the elevators are in an up position, a gust of wind passing over the tail will have a tendency to cause the tail of the aircraft to drop thereby causing the nose of the aircraft to be lifted. Such movement of the aircraft can cause excessive damage to the aircraft, as well as other aircraft parked nearby.
Tail wheel type aircrafts are commonly referred to as a “conventional” or “tail dragger” because a portion of the landing gear includes a wheel extending downward from the tail of the aircraft, if the elevators are in a down position, a gust of wind passing (from the nose to the tail) and under the tail will have a tendency to cause the tail of the aircraft to be lifted thereby forcing the nose of the aircraft toward the ground which can result in substantial damage to the aircraft.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for interlocking the control stick and rudder pedals of an aircraft to secure the control surfaces of the aircraft against wind loads. The apparatus includes a control stick clamp assembly rigidly connected to one end of a first lever arm and a rudder pedal retaining assembly rigidly connected to another end of the first lever arm. A second lever arm has one end connected to the rudder pedal retaining assembly. The second lever arm is moveable between a collapsed position and an extended position wherein another end of the second lever arm is engageable with a support surface such that the second lever arm is able to support the rudder pedal retaining assembly in engagement with each of the rudder pedals and thereby cause, upon the control stick clamp assembly being secured to the control stick, the first lever arm to support the control stick in a selected position.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1531062 (1925-03-01), Barravecchia
patent: 2035231 (1936-03-01), Haberstro, Jr.
patent: 3298242 (1967-01-01), Smith
patent: 3330504 (1967-07-01), Lewis
patent: 3550409 (1970-12-01), Pariser
patent: 3690131 (1972-09-01), Davis
patent: 3833190 (1974-09-01), Gaio
patent: 3898823 (1975-08-01), Ludeman
patent: 4208026 (1980-06-01), Reynolds
patent: 4475366 (1984-10-01), Marneris
patent: 5129603 (1992-07-01), Wippler
patent: 5713539 (1998-02-01), Russ et al.
patent: 5724838 (1998-03-01), Alicea
patent: 5911391 (1999-06-01), Russ et al.
Four catalog pages showing various types of locks for use on aircraft, source unknown, not dated.
Russ Richard T.
Williams Thomas C.
Best Christian M.
Dunlap Codding & Rogers P.C.
Jordan Charles T.
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