US 7,461,812 B2
Rotorcraft control system with stepped mixing linkage
Carlos A. Fenny, Arlington, Tex. (US); and Duane Hicks, Marietta, Okla. (US)
Assigned to Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Forth Worth, Tex. (US)
Appl. No. 10/528,906
PCT Filed Sep. 19, 2003, PCT No. PCT/US03/28974
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Feb. 10, 2006,
PCT Pub. No. WO2004/028901, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 08, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0186262 A1, Aug. 24, 2006
Int. Cl. B64C 27/52 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 244—17.25  [416/23; 416/24; 416/112; 244/83; 244/17.11] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control system for a rotorcraft comprising:
a cyclic for receiving pilot input commands;
a torque tube pivotally coupled to the cyclic;
a forward-aft output link pivotally coupled to the torque tube for transmitting forward-aft pilot input commands to a main rotor;
a stepped mixing linkage pivotally coupled to the torque tube;
a ground link pivotally coupled between the stepped mixing linkage and a grounded structure;
a lateral output link pivotally coupled to the stepped mixing linkage; and
a left-right output link pivotally coupled to the lateral output link for transmitting left-right pilot input commands to the main rotor;
wherein the stepped mixing linkage, the ground link, and the lateral output link are configured to generate a selected lateral sinusoidal output, a selected rotation of the sinusoidal output, and a selected ramped output in response to each forward-aft cyclic input command.