초록 ▼

In an autothrottle system having the capability to reduce engine throttle setting from a first position to an idle position, an improvement including calculating a rate of throttle reduction as a function of the combination of a nominal retard rate value (10) and a retard rate adjustment value (12).

In an autothrottle system having the capability to reduce engine throttle setting from a first position to an idle position, an improvement including calculating a rate of throttle reduction as a function of the combination of a nominal retard rate value (10) and a retard rate adjustment value (12). In one embodiment, the nominal retard rate value (10) is equal to the angular difference between a current engine throttle control lever position (TRA) and an idle engine throttle control lever position (TRAIDLE), the difference being divided by an amount in the range of about 3 seconds to about 10 seconds. The retard rate adjustment value (12) is calculated as a function of the difference between current airspeed (V.sub.C) and a commanded airspeed (V.sub.CMD). During an underspeed condition, the retard rate adjustment signal decreases the rate of throttle reduction from the nominal retard rate value (10). During an overspeed condition, the retard rate adjustment signal increases the rate of throttle reduction from the nominal retard rate value (10).

대표청구항 ▼

[ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:] [1.] In an autothrottle control system having the capability to reduce engine throttle setting from a first position to an idle position during landing by use of a nominal retard rate s

[ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:] [1.] In an autothrottle control system having the capability to reduce engine throttle setting from a first position to an idle position during landing by use of a nominal retard rate signal calculated as the angular difference between a current engine throttle control lever position and an idle engine throttle control lever position, the difference being divided by an amount of time to touchdown, an improvement comprising:calculating a retard rate adjustment signal as a function of the difference between current airspeed and a commanded airspeed, the retard rate adjustment signal being expressed as an angular amount per time;combining the nominal retard rate signal with the retard rate adjustment signal to form a retard rate output signal; andusing the retard rate output signal to control the movement of engine throttles to idle; rein the retard rate adjustment signal decreases the rate of throttle reduction during underspeed conditions and increases the rate of throttle reduction during overspeed conditions thereby helping to avoid hard and soft landings, respectively.