WO2014096358A2

WO2014096358A2 - Support for a training simulator device

Info

Publication number: WO2014096358A2
Application number: PCT/EP2013/077683
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fernando Domingo Calvo
Original assignee: Fernando Domingo Calvo
Priority date: 2012-12-21
Filing date: 2013-12-20
Publication date: 2014-06-26
Also published as: ES2471316A1; ES2471316B1; WO2014096358A3

Abstract

Support for a training simulator device (1) for training personnel comprising an upper panel (3), a lower panel (4) and a central panel (5), said panels being joined by a base structure (2) that can be secured on a work surface. The base structure (2) has a central section (20) on which an upper section (21) and a lower section (22) are articulated in a fold-and-tuck manner, the central section (20) having at least one axially extending extension and on a vertical plane, the lower section (22) having a structure provided with at least one axially extending extension, and wherein the upper section (21) has a structure provided with at least one extension that can extend axially. In a position of use, the extension of the central section is arranged vertically, the lower section is arranged on a horizontal plane and the upper section is arranged on an inclined plane relative to the horizontal plane.

Description

Support for a training simulator device

DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention patent application herein is to register a support for a training simulator device that incorporates significant innovations and advantages. More specifically, the invention proposes the development of a support for a training simulator device, for example, for training cabin crew, which comprises an upper panel, a lower panel and a central panel, said three panels being joined by means of a base structure that can be secured on a work surface that can be folded, wherein said simulator device can be applied to any field that requires the training of personnel inside a cabin, such as a land vehicle, etc., and which provides a low-cost training method for the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, and in the field of aeronautics, aircraft pilots are required to have a range of skills in order to be able to apply them in the future during a flight.

Up to the present time, students and prospective pilots have two low-cost tools available to them, in addition to the simulators built using a full-scale cabin that can be mounted on a mobile stage to create the feeling of movement, the latter full-scale simulators being used very rarely in specialised centres, due to their high cost and maintenance.

One of them involves using posters which do not reflect the physical reality of an actual installation, for example, a cockpit of an aircraft, as they lack the required spatial accuracy since they are two dimensional sheets. The second tool used consists of reproductions located in professional training centres, which involve high costs for the user in the event of attending such centres to be trained, such reproductions being formed by a rigid, fixed structure, such that it cannot be transported in a conventional manner. Therefore, there is still a need to resolve the problem of obtaining a simulator device that can be easily transported and used in any required location. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein has been developed with the aim of providing a support for a training simulator device that is considered a novelty within the field of application and resolves the aforementioned drawbacks, further providing other additional advantages that will be apparent from the description detailed hereinafter.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a support for a training simulator device for training personnel, of the type comprising an upper panel, a lower panel and a central panel, said three panels being joined by a base structure that can be secured on a work surface. Such panels may comprise one or more cardboard sheets, plastic or sheet made of any suitable material on which graphics are arranged.

In particular, the support for a simulator device is characterised in that the base structure comprises a central section on which an upper section and a lower section are articulated in a fold-and tuck manner, the central section having at least one axially extending extension and on a vertical plane, the lower section having a structure provided with at least one axially extending extension, and the upper section having a structure provided with at least one extension that can extend axially, such that in a position of use the extension of the central section is arranged vertically, the lower section is arranged on a horizontal plane and the upper section is arranged on an inclined plane relative to the horizontal plane.

In addition, the support for a simulator device includes height adjustment means between the upper section and the central section and a fastening means on the upper, lower and central sections to support the upper, lower and central panel respectively.

Thanks to these characteristics, an exact full-scale reproduction of the inside of a cabin, or a life-like reproduction of the inside of a cabin can be achieved, which makes it possible to study and refresh the status of the controls necessary for the professionals or students without the need to travel to a specific training facility, given the option for extending and folding that the base structure has for positioning the upper, lower and central panels that may be present in a cockpit of an airplane.

The presence of this base structure further provides rigidity and stability to the whole device as well as having the option of being transported from one point to another and the ease at which it can be folded and unfolded, therefore being an advantageous device compared to systems that are currently known for the purpose described above.

Another no less important advantage of the invention herein is that as it can be folded, the space required when not using the simulator device is reduced, and given the reduced space it occupies when folded, it can be easily moved.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned height adjustment means comprise an elongated profile arranged in the central section on which a second profile coupled to the upper section is longitudinally slidable.

According to another aspect of the invention, each of the extensions that may be in the central section comprise a perimetrically rectangular frame that is displaceable along upper and lower guide profiles, the upper guide profile being articulated with the upper panel and the lower guide profile being articulated with the lower panel.

Preferably, one of the extensions of the upper panel is fixedly attached and on an inclined plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated profile that forms part of the height adjustment means.

Advantageously, the lower section includes slip-resistant elements ensuring that the base structure does not move in an undesirable manner when the simulator device rests on a horizontal platform or table to be displayed or used by the user. Preferably, at least one of the upper, lower or central sections includes a superimposed touchscreen that is provided with a connection to connect to an external device, such as a PC, which can be configured with touch-sensitive areas corresponding to the buttons shown in the panels present in the base structure and, in this manner, simulate a predetermined simulation with the aid of a computer.

Also advantageously, a fixed extension of the lower section includes a cover that occupies the area defined by said lower section. According to another aspect of the invention, the central section includes a handle, such that it considerably facilitates transportation of the simulator device for the user from one point to another when the device is folded. Other features and advantages of the training simulator devices which are the subject matter of this invention will become obvious from the description of a preferred, though nonexclusive, embodiment, which is illustrated by means of a non-limiting example in the attached drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 - Schematic perspective view of a support for a simulator device ready for use.

Figure 2 - Schematic perspective view of the support for a training simulator device with the base structure folded, namely, when it is not in use;

Figure 3 - Schematic perspective view of the support for a simulator device shown in the previous figure with the base structure extended;

Figure 4 - Schematic perspective view of the base structure in a semi-extended state; and

Figure 5 - Schematic view corresponding to an embodiment of a touchscreen that can be applied to any one of the panels.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In view of the mentioned figures and according to the adopted numbering, an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen therein, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

Therefore, the support provided for a training simulator device for training personnel, indicated generally by the reference (1 ), comprises a base structure (2) which can be secured to or supported on a work surface on which an upper panel (3), a lower panel (4) and a central panel (5) provided with a plurality of graphical displays by way of switches and/or buttons can be fitted, as depicted in Figure 1 . As further illustrated in greater detail in Figures 3 and 4, said base structure (2) comprises a central section (20) on which an upper section (21 ) and a lower section (20) are manually articulated in a fold-and tuck manner, said central section (20) having at least one pair of rectangular extensions (23), that can extend axially and on a vertical plane, and in mutually opposite directions, the lower section (22) having a telescopic structure provided with at least two extensions (26), one of which can be axially extended relative to the other on a horizontal plane. The upper section (21 ) further has a telescopic structure provided with at least two extensions (27), one being axially extendable with respect to the other and inclined, as detailed hereinbelow.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that two adjoining extensions in which one of them can move inwards and outwards relative to the other have guide means, such guide means comprising a tongue and groove connection, as shown in greater detail in Figure 3. In this manner, when the support for a simulator device (1 ) is positioned for use or in use, the two extensions (23) of the central section (20) are arranged vertically, while the lower section (22) is arranged on a horizontal plane and the upper section (21 ) is arranged on an inclined plane relative to the horizontal plane. Additionally, height adjustment means are provided between the upper section (21 ) and the central section (20) in order to advantageously adjust the distance between the upper section (21 ) and the central section (20) to simulate the actual dimensions of the inside of a cabin in as far as possible. These height adjustment means essentially comprise an elongated profile (28) centrally arranged on the central section (20) on which a second profile (29) which is superiorly coupled to the upper section (21 ) is longitudinally slidable.

Fastening means on the upper, lower and central sections are further provided to support the upper, lower and central panel respectively. Now making particular reference to each of the extensions (23) of the central section (20): they comprise a perimetrically rectangular frame that is displaceable along upper (24) and lower (25) guide profiles, the upper guide profile being articulated with the upper panel and the lower guide profile being articulated with the lower panel. Advantageously, the upper guide profile (24) of the central section (20) includes a handle (6). It should be noted that one of the extensions of the upper panel is fixedly attached and on an inclined plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated profile that forms part of the height adjustment means. Therefore, when the user wants to conduct a practical training session with the simulator device (1 ) described herein, only the various sections that form part of the base structure (2) have to be extended, based on the configuration shown in Figure 2, as indicated by arrows shown in Figure 1 , and the corresponding panels (3,4,5) are subsequently positioned thereon.

To prevent the base structure (2) from moving when the user is interacting therewith, provision has been made on the underside of the lower section (22) for the arrangement of a number of slip-resistant elements (not shown), for example, formed from rubber pads or the like, which provide stability to the simulator device assembly (1 ).

Each of the upper, lower or central sections includes a touchscreen (7) superimposed on a respective upper, lower and central panel (see figure 5), which is formed by a rectangular frame (70) that can be coupled in the respective section of the simulator device and a transparent central laminar (71 ) body. The touchscreen (7) is provided with a USB-type connection (8) that can connect to a PC.

Finally, a fixed extension of the lower section includes a cover (9) that occupies the area defined by said lower section. The details, shapes and dimensions and other accessory elements as well as the materials used in the manufacture of the support for a training simulator device of the invention may be conveniently replaced by others which are technically equivalent and do not depart from the essential nature of the invention or from the scope defined by the claims provided hereinafter.

Claims

1 . Support for a training simulator device (1 ) for training personnel comprising an upper panel (3), a lower panel (4) and a central panel (5), said three panels joined by a base structure (2) that can be secured on a work surface, characterised by the fact that the base structure (2) comprises a central section (20) on which an upper section (21 ) and a lower section (20) are articulated in a fold-and tuck manner, the central section (20) having at least one extension that can extend axially and on a vertical plane, the lower section (22) having a structure provided with at least one extension that can extend axially, and the upper section (21 ) having a structure provided with at least one extension that can extend axially, such that in a position of use the extension of the central section is arranged vertically, the lower section is arranged on a horizontal plane and the upper section is arranged on an inclined plane relative to the horizontal plane.

2. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that it includes height adjustment means between the upper section and the central section and a fastening means on the upper, lower and central sections to support the upper, lower and central panel, respectively.

3. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the height adjustment means comprise an elongated profile arranged in the central section on which a second profile coupled to the upper section is longitudinally slidable.

4. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the central section has two movable extensions in mutually opposite directions.

5. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claims 1 and 4, characterised by the fact that each of the extensions of the central section comprises a perimetrically rectangular frame that is displaceable along upper and lower guide profiles, the upper guide profile being articulated with the upper panel and the lower guide profile being articulated with the lower panel.

6. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claims 1 and 3, characterised by the fact that one of the extensions of the upper panel is fixedly attached and on an inclined plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated profile that forms part of the height adjustment means.

7. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the lower section (22) includes slip-resistant elements.

8. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that at least one of the upper, lower or central sections includes a superimposed touchscreen (7) that is provided with a connection to connect to an external device.

9. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that a fixed extension of the lower section includes a cover (9) which occupies the area defined by said lower section (22).

10. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the central section includes a handle (6).

1 1 . Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that those extensions connected together, forming part of a same section of the base structure (2) have guide means for sliding.

12. Support for a training simulator device (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the guide means comprise a tongue and groove connection between two laterally-facing sides.