Engine speed control device, a method for controlling engine speed and an aircraft provided therewith

1. A method for controlling engine speed, comprising the following steps:

determining an engine speed calculated by an automatic engine-speed regulating system;

applying, with an actuator, a mechanical force on a lever to rotationally move said lever that delivers an engine-speed setpoint as a function of the lever's angular position, the mechanical force being a function of the difference between the setpoint and the calculated engine speed.

2. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of applying is executed throughout the duration of the automatic mode of regulation.

3. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical force tends to hold the lever in an angular position where the difference is zero.

4. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of applying is executed upon deactivation of the automatic regulating system.

5. The control method according to claim 4 , further comprising a step of deactivating the actuator after a predetermined time interval.

6. An engine-speed control device comprising:

an engine-speed control lever that is rotationally movable and that generates an engine-speed setpoint as a function of the engine-speed control lever's angular position;

means for delivering information indicative of effective engine speed; and

actuating means for applying a mechanical force on the engine-speed control lever as a function of a difference between the setpoint and the information indicative of the effective engine speed.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the actuating means deliver specific tactile information to a user of the engine-speed control lever when the difference is zero.

8. An aircraft comprising an engine-speed control device according to claim 6 .

9. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the mechanical force tends to hold the engine-speed control lever in an angular position where the difference is zero.

10. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the actuating means includes

a movable stop that cooperates with the engine-speed control lever, and

means for shifting the movable stop as a function of the information indicative of the effective engine speed.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the movable stop is retractable.

12. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the actuating means include an electromechanical brake that cooperates with the engine-speed control lever.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the electromechanical brake applies a maximum resisting force to the engine-speed control level when the setpoint is equal to the information indicative of the effective engine speed.

14. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the actuating means include a motor that acts on the engine-speed control lever and motor engine control electronics.

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the control electronics control the motor that generates a torque as a function of a difference between the setpoint and the information indicative of the effective engine speed.

16. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the motor generates a non-zero torque when said difference is non-zero and smaller than a predetermined angle, and wherein the motor generates zero torque when said difference is zero.

17. The device according to claim 6 , further comprising an automatic engine-speed regulating system.

18. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the information indicative of the effective engine speed is an engine-speed calculated by the automatic regulating system.

19. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the actuating means are active upon deactivation of the automatic regulating system.

20. The device according to claim 19 , wherein the actuating means apply zero force when the automatic regulating system is active.

21. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the actuating means are active throughout the duration of the automatic mode of regulation.

22. The device according to claim 21 , wherein the actuating means are inactivated upon deactivation of the automatic regulating system.