Abstract:
Instrument for measuring the distances of points from a plane or a straight line defined by means of the instrument. The instrument may also be used in marking out points on a plane or a straight line. The instrument functions by forming at least two mirror images (1, 2) of a measuring object (7) in such a manner that these images are differently oriented when viewed. This is accomplished in the simplest embodiment of the instrument by means of a prism 8 whose front face (6) is semi-reflecting whereas the other faces (4, 5) are perpendicular to each other and totally reflecting. If the measuring object is not on the defined plane or line (10) this will show up as a displacement of the differently oriented mirror images in relation to each other. The substantial novelty of the instrument is that all the images the relative displacement of which are employed for the read-out are mirror images of the measuring object and are formed without the need for focussing optical components such as lenses and concave mirrors.
Abstract:
A warning device, for a helicopter with a tail rotor and a mechanical protection device (15) therefor, for giving warning if the helicopter tail approaches too closely the ground or an obstruction. The warning device comprises a height-finder (11) with a transmitting/receiving antenna (26) mounted at the helicopter tail to produce a height-finding beam backwards and obliquely downwards. Height signals are processed by computing means (12) to determine the sink rate of the tail and in dependence upon this sink rate and the instantaneous height, a warning signal is initiated if this corresponds to a predetermined relative relationship. The higher the sink rate the greater is the height at which the warning signal is initiated and vice versa. In the preferred arrangement the beam is directed substantially along or parallel to the axis of the mechanical protection device (15).
Abstract:
A device for providing one or more signals that are functions of a sensor module's altitude relative to a reference body of a liquid. The sensor module has one or two hydrostatic pressure transducers (10) which transducers are linked to the bodies of liquid (2) by respective liquid-filled elongated flexible conduits (8). The first two embodiments have only single transducers (10) each connected by a single conduit to a single body of liquid (2). In each case, the body of liquid (2) is under ambient atmospheric pressure plus added pressure to maintain a positive pressure with respect to ambient pressure. In a third embodiment, a differential transducer (10) has one port linked to the body of liquid (20) and a second port linked to a pressurized gas (26) which also applies pressure to the body of liquid.
Abstract:
A terrain advisory system (10) utilizes stored data (18) representative of terrain and other obstacles in predeterminded geographical areas of interest to provide advisory warnings of the proximity of terrain, obstacles and restricted areas as they are approached. When used in a vehicle such as an aircraft, the system monitors (12, 13) the position, altitude, ground speed, ground track and the vertical speed of the vehicle and provides advisory indications of the position and path of travel of the vehicle with respect to obstacles and terrain. Such advisory indications may take the form of voice warnings (26) describing the nature and position of any obstacles, or a visual display (34, 36) showing the position of the obstacles and terrain with respect to the vehicle.
Abstract:
A device for indicating a definite direction, comprising a screen located in front and a screen located behind, which comprise opaque lines (3) separated by transparent interstices (4), whereby a moiré pattern arises when the device is viewed. The screens (8, 9) have different division. The opaque lines (3) have the same width in both screens (8, 9). According to the invention the device is characterized in that one of the screens (9) is provided with only one opaque line less than the other of the screens (8), that in said one screen the width of a transparent interstice plus the width of an opaque line (3) is greater than or about equal to 1,5 times the width of the opaque line, but smaller than 1,9 times said width, preferably 1,5 times to 1,8 times the width of the opaque line. The two screens, further, are positioned symmetrically in relation to each other so that a central opaque line of one of the screens symmetrically overlaps a central transparent interstice of the other screen. Hereby a moiré pattern with only one, relatively narrow interference strip is obtained, which is placed symmetrically over the screen surface.
Abstract:
In order to provide the pilots with a display or a map of the terrain below the aircraft, a display is generated on a cockpit display, such as a weather radar, of the contours of the terrain below the aircraft. The terrain contour display is generated form aircraft position information and a terrain data base. Terrain contours are depicted with the highest terrain colored red, intermediate terrain contours in green with varying dot densities and the lowest terrain in black.
Abstract:
A levelling instrument has an image-forming objective, a picture-taking spatial resolution optoelectronic detector, and electronics and a computing unit for driving the detector and evaluating the detector signals. The image-forming objective is subdivided into several zones of field depth designed each as a different aperture plate. Corresponding partial zones of the detector are associated to the aperture plates. The partial zones of the detector may also be designed as individual spatial resolution detectors. Since all level indicators, whatever their distance from the levelling instrument, may be sensed in one of the zones of field depth designed as aperture plates and reproduced by said aperture plate, the image-forming objective need not be manually or automatically refocused nor aligned with respect to the target.
Abstract:
A device for levelling-in or similar purposes, having a cabinet fitted with a minor on which sights are taken with the aid of a target device, such as a rod or similar. The minor (34) is mounted in a housing (38) inside the cabinet (42), the housing being freely suspended in the cabinet in such a manner that the housing always hangs in a vertical plane. The minor is further so mounted in the housing as to be movable with respect to the vertical plane by means of an adjusting mechanism (44) to give the inclination desired.
Abstract:
A terrain awareness system (TAS) provides LOOK-AHEAD/LOOK-DOWN as well as LOOK-UP terrain advisory and warning indications to the pilot of an aircraft of a hazardous flight condition. The TAS includes an airport data base as well as a terrain data base that is structured to provide various resolutions depending on the topography of the particular geographic area of interest. Navigational data from a satellite-based navigational system, such as a global positioning system (GPS), is used to provide a LOOK-AHEAD/LOOK-DOWN and LOOK-UP terrain advisory and terrain warning indications based upon the current position and projected flight path of the aircraft. Since the terrain advisory and the warning signals are a function of the flight path of the aircraft, nuisance warnings are minimized.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method of setting the upstand height of the studs (5) of an array (1) of studs used to form antenna panels is disclosed. The apparatus includes a transducer beam (10) having a row of spaced apart distance transducers (12). The apparatus also includes an actuator beam (22) having a row of spaced rotary actuators (26). The actuators (26) rotate the threaded studs (5) to raise or lower same until the corresponding transducer (12) indicates that the stud has achieved an intended height. Also disclosed is a method using an array of laser diodes (60), rather than the transducer beam (10), arranged at one end of the base plate (2) and an array of photodiodes (62) at the opposite end. Output (63) of the diodes (62) indicates the height of the studs (5).