20.01.2013 Views

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

316 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Helicopter</strong><br />

Fig. 7.51 Autopilot interlock. <strong>The</strong> autopilot cannot be engaged unless all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> necessary conditions are<br />

present.<br />

make a constant rate turn. Note that a hazard could exist if <strong>the</strong> autopilot were to be<br />

engaged with <strong>the</strong> control knobs inadvertently set away from neutral. Accordingly <strong>the</strong><br />

control knobs have centre detents that operate interlock switches so that engagement<br />

is impossible unless <strong>the</strong> control knobs are in a safe position.<br />

Figure 7.51 shows an illustrative autopilot interlock. A number <strong>of</strong> conditions must<br />

be met before power can reach <strong>the</strong> engage relay. All necessary power must be present,<br />

flight directors must be <strong>of</strong>f, <strong>the</strong> gyros must be erected and <strong>the</strong> control knobs must be<br />

neutral before <strong>the</strong> engage switch receives power. <strong>The</strong> engage switch is spring biased to<br />

return to <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>f position, but if all <strong>the</strong> interlock conditions are met it will be held in <strong>the</strong><br />

engage position by a solenoid. When <strong>the</strong> engage switch is operated this feeds power to<br />

a relay which applies power to <strong>the</strong> solenoid, holding <strong>the</strong> switch in <strong>the</strong> engaged position.<br />

If <strong>the</strong> interlock conditions are not met <strong>the</strong> engage switch will return to <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>f position<br />

as soon as it is released.<br />

<strong>The</strong> relay has fur<strong>the</strong>r contacts which bypass <strong>the</strong> control knob centre switches so that<br />

<strong>the</strong>se can subsequently be moved. Power is also fed to <strong>the</strong> autopilot solenoid in <strong>the</strong><br />

actuator to enable <strong>the</strong> EHV. If while <strong>the</strong> autopilot is engaged any autopilot interlock<br />

condition fails, <strong>the</strong> holding current to <strong>the</strong> engage switch will be interrupted and <strong>the</strong><br />

switch will spring back to <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>f position. <strong>The</strong> pilot may also disengage by pressing a<br />

button on <strong>the</strong> control column to break <strong>the</strong> holding current.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> modern AFCS, <strong>the</strong> control knobs have been dispensed with. Instead <strong>the</strong> autopilot<br />

reference can be changed intuitively using <strong>the</strong> normal controls. When <strong>the</strong> autopilot<br />

is engaged, in a traditional system <strong>the</strong> manual controls are locked and any attempt to<br />

move <strong>the</strong>m would be met by <strong>the</strong> rigidity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> actuator. However, if a force sensor is<br />

fitted in <strong>the</strong> control stick or in a pushrod it is possible to sense that <strong>the</strong> pilot is trying<br />

to move <strong>the</strong> stick. Figure 7.2 showed that <strong>the</strong> stick force signal can be used to modify<br />

<strong>the</strong> AFCS reference attitude so that <strong>the</strong> AFCS acts to implement <strong>the</strong> new attitude. In<br />

doing so, <strong>the</strong> AFCS moves <strong>the</strong> pilot’s stick. When all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> parameters are correctly<br />

set, <strong>the</strong> pilot’s stick moves by virtually <strong>the</strong> same amount for a given manoeuvre with

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!