Control System for Pre-Inflation of Pilot's G-Suit

The present invention relates to pressurized protective wear for pilots, and more particularly to a control system for pre-inflating a G-suit.

For many years, pilots have worn protective pressurized suits, known as G-suits which exert pressure upon a pilot's lower extremities during severe maneuvers around the pitch axis. This is necessary because lack of such protection causes a pilot's blood to "pool" in his lower extremities, due to severe G forces exerted on his body during such maneuvers. In the past, the inflation of a conventional G-suit has been achieved by mechanical means that are responsive to the G forces exerted on the aircraft. Usually, such mechanical devices include G-suit valve actuators which include springs that are responsive to the G forces. However, as will be appreciated, a lack of response is inherent with such mechanical actuators. As a result, during severe, high speed maneuvers around the pitch axis, the "pooling" of a pilot's blood may occur before inflation of his G-suit is effected. Then blood is drained from the pilot's head thereby making blackouts a distinct possibility. Further, with the utilization of the prior art mechanical valve actuators, the inflation occurs after pooling results and as a result of pressure on the lower extremities, the pilot's blood cannot be redistributed to the brain. The concept of pre-inflation, that is rapid inflation of a G-suit, was developed by others, in years past. However, the applicant is unaware of any successful control systems for accomplishing pre-inflation of a G-suit in direct response to pilot control manipulation so that a pilot's G-suit may be inflated prior to the time that an aircraft completely responds to the control manipulation.

The present invention is directed to the instrumentation of a control system for a G-suit that accomplishes pre-inflation of the suit while a pilot manipulates his controls, and prior to a complete response of an aircraft to such manipulation. The invention utilizes commercially available components that have been arranged in a novel and simple combination for maximizing reliability and minimizing cost. Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in terms of electronic components, it is to be emphasized that the system may be implemented, in accordance with the abilities of one of ordinary skill in the art, with conventional and available fluidic components.

The above-mentioned objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the electrical control system for the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a series of timing diagrams relating to the system illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to the figures, and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof, the present invention utilizes a conventional aircraft control stick 10 that is mechanically linked (12) to a conventional rotational potentiometer 14 for developing an analog signal along line 16 that represents the angular position of the control stick 10. The analog signal along lead 16 drives a Schmitt trigger 18 for developing a logic output along the output line 20, thereof when the voltage along line 16 exceeds a preselected threshold level. When the Schmitt trigger 18 is activated, a binary 1 logic level will appear at the input 24 of OR gate 22. As a result, a binary 1 output appears at line 25 for actuating a conventional valve 26 which may be classified as a solenoid valve. The valve 26, upon actuation by the input at 25 permits the passage of gas flow through the output of the valve, at 27. This gas flow is utilized to inflate a conventional and commercially available G-suit 28.

Thus, by sensing the position of a control stick, and determining when the position is indicative of a severe maneuver about an aircraft pitch axis, pre-inflation of the G-suit 28 occurs thereby preventing the pooling of blood in the lower extremities of a pilot.

The remainder of the system, as depicted in FIG. 1, is directed to a dynamic detection, namely, the detection of a rapid speed of movement of the control stick, again indicative of a severe maneuver about the pitch axis.

A second line 30 is connected to the output of potentiometer 14 for providing analog information of the position of the control stick 10 to the input 32 of a conventional analog differentiator 34. The output 36 of the differentiator provides the derivative of angular information or the speed of movement of the control stick 10. This information is furnished to a second Schmitt trigger 38 which provides an input, along line 40 to a flip-flop 42. Upon exceeding a preselected threshold level for the Schmitt trigger, the flip-flop 42 is set and provides a binary 1 logic level, along line 44 to the previously mentioned OR gate 22. This then effects the pre-inflation of the G-suit 28 as previously described. Thus, by either or simultaneous inputs to the OR gate 22 from Schmitt trigger 18 or flip-flop 42, the G-suit will undergo pre-inflation.

Referring to FIG. 2, the timing diagrams for the dynamic situation are shown and will be discussed. The plot for a typical position change of control stick 10 is generally indicated by reference numeral 54. The derivative of the positional plot 54 is indicated by reference numeral 58. A threshold level is preselected and corresponds with points 60 and 64, for driving the Schmitt trigger 38. Thus, when the timing is such that point 60 is reached, the Schmitt trigger 38 is actuated and a binary 1 level occurs, as indicated by reference numeral 62. When point 64 is reached, the threshold for the Schmitt trigger 38 is not being met and therefore the logic level changes to zero for the output of Schmitt trigger 38. However, flip-flop 42 will remain set, as indicated by 72 in FIG. 2. This maintains the inflation of the G-suit 28 until the control stick 10 is returned to a neutral position.

Referring once more to FIG. 1, the angular information derived from potentiometer 14 is also fed to a third Scmitt trigger 48 along input line 46. The Schmitt trigger 48 is responsive to a threshold level of the positional plot 54 (FIG. 2) at points 56 and 68, toward opposite extremes of the plot. An inverter 50 inverts the logic levels from the output of Schmitt trigger 48. The output from the inverter 50 furnishes a reset input at 52 to the flip-flop 42. Thus, referring to FIG. 2, the reset line 52 maintains a binary 1 logic level up to the point that the plot 54 reaches the threshold level, as evidenced by point 56, on the plot. When this threshold point is reached, the Schmitt trigger is actuated and the logic level is inverted by 50 so that the inverted signal from the Schmitt trigger 48 is maintained at a binary 0 value (reference numeral 66) until the second threshold point 68 is reached on the plot 54. When this occurs, the inverted Schmitt trigger output, furnishes a reset along line 52 to the flip-flop 42. This portion of the timing diagram is indicated by reference numeral 70. As will be evidenced, the flip-flop output 72 returns to a binary 0 state when the threshold point 68 of the plot 54 has been arrived at. At this point, the output from the OR gate 22 will be in a binary 0 condition, assuming that the Schmitt trigger 18 is not actuated, and therefore the valve 26 will allow the G-suit to vent.

Although the present invention has been described in one particular embodiment, utilizing electronics, it is to be emphasized that indentical pre-inflation operation of the G-suit 28 may be obtained by utilizing fluidic components. In this case, fluidic analogues are employed to effectuate equivalent functions of the corresponding electronic circuits. In the event that fluidic components are utilized, the valve 26 would be of a different type than the solenoid valve previously discussed. If fluidics were utilized, the valve 26 would be a fluidic interface valve such as manufactured by Northeast Products, Inc. The G-suit 28 would be of the type previously mentioned and inflatible by gas, preferably air.

Accordingly, in view of the aforementioned discussion, the advantages of the present invention, and the novelty thereof will be appreciated.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described herein for obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

The following claims include certain claims with breadth intended to cover a fluidic system that is analogous to the electronic system described in the preceding embodiment.