Mar 17, 2026

US12578170 - Weapon system control handle gauge shaft

The devices and systems disclosed herein improve on existing weapon system control handles, by replacing complicated spring and cam components with a gauge shaft. The use of a gauge shaft eliminates unnecessary part-complexity and extra assembly labor. The use of a gauge shaft increases operational response and accuracy while decreasing cost and weight of weapon system control handles. Moreover, the gauge shafts can be readily repaired or replaced, reducing the overall costs of maintenance associated with damaged weapon system control handles. In alternative embodiments, a disk gauge is used in place of gauge shafts.

Assignee: Elbit Systems of America, LLC
Inventors: Robert C. Knabe, Jr., Juan Sosa Cruz, Hua Yang, John O. Weber, II
Filing date: 2024-10-29

weaponcontrolhandlegaugeshaft

The patent describes a weapon system control handle that utilizes a gauge shaft to simplify design, enhance operational response, and reduce costs and weight. This innovative approach replaces traditional spring and cam components, allowing for easier maintenance and repair of the control handles.

Claim 1

1 . A weapon system control handle, comprising: a main body; a deflection collar; a base; and a gauge shaft, wherein the gauge shaft has a first end and a second end and includes a plurality of strain gauges and eight equally spaced rows of serrations, such that the last of the rows is 0.5 inches from the second end of the gauge shaft, wherein the main body is coupled to the gauge shaft, wherein the gauge shaft is coupled to the base, wherein the deflection collar is coupled to the base, wherein the gauge shaft is disposed within an inner diameter of the deflection collar, and wherein the gauge shaft is coupled to the main body at the first end and the gauge shaft is coupled to the base at the second end. a main body; a deflection collar; a base; and a gauge shaft, wherein the gauge shaft has a first end and a second end and includes a plurality of strain gauges and eight equally spaced rows of serrations, such that the last of the rows is 0.5 inches from the second end of the gauge shaft, wherein the main body is coupled to the gauge shaft, wherein the gauge shaft is coupled to the base, wherein the deflection collar is coupled to the base, wherein the gauge shaft is disposed within an inner diameter of the deflection collar, and wherein the gauge shaft is coupled to the main body at the first end and the gauge shaft is coupled to the base at the second end.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12578170

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12578170