Abstract:
A non-contact control rod monitor (NCM) includes non-contact sensors for monitoring the positions of the four control rods of a rotary wing aircraft. In an exemplary embodiment, target indicia are arranged on the control rods to assist in detection of their positions with optical sensors. The detected positions are transmitted to a processor which converts the data to position information for the collective, cyclic, and anti-torque pedal controls of the aircraft.
Abstract:
A method of drive system diagnostics of an aircraft includes capturing high load drivetrain component vibration data at select steady-state and/or high-load transient operating conditions of the aircraft and processing the captured vibration data to improve reliability and/or accuracy of the captured vibration data. The processed vibration data is utilized to provide a health assessment of the drivetrain components and achieve earlier detection of incipient faults. A health monitoring system for drivetrain components of an aircraft includes a plurality of vibration sensors positioned at drivetrain components of an aircraft to capture drivetrain component vibration data at transient operating conditions of the aircraft. One or more processing modules process the captured vibration data to improve reliability and/or accuracy of the captured data, and a fault reasoning module calculates a health indicator of the drivetrain components.
Abstract:
A method of health monitoring of a hydraulic system includes measuring a hydraulic fluid level at a first location in the hydraulic systems and measuring one or more of hydraulic fluid pressure and hydraulic fluid temperature at one or more second locations in the hydraulic system. A snapshot of data is identified that meets a mode detection criteria a model requires to estimate the hydraulic fluid level. An expected hydraulic fluid level is calculated based on the measurements of hydraulic fluid pressure and/or hydraulic fluid temperature, and the expected hydraulic fluid level is compared to the measured hydraulic fluid level, the difference an indicator of leakage in the hydraulic system.
Abstract:
A method of health monitoring of a hydraulic actuator includes sensing a first hydraulic fluid pressure at a first chamber of a hydraulic cylinder, the first chamber defined by a piston disposed in the cylinder and a first cylinder wall. The method further includes sensing a second hydraulic fluid pressure at a second chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, the second chamber defined by the piston and a second cylinder wall opposite the first cylinder wall. The pressures are summed to derive a pressure sum leakage estimate. An actual piston position in the hydraulic cylinder is determined and compared to an intended piston position to determine a positional error of the piston. A command-response error leakage estimate is derived from the positional error. The pressure sum leakage estimate and the command-response error leakage estimate are fused to determine an internal hydraulic fluid leakage in the hydraulic cylinder.
Abstract:
There is provided apparatus and a method for assessing the integrity of a bonded joint and a bonded joint assembly. The assembly has a bonded joint monitored for bond integrity and comprises first (1) and second (2) components each defining a bonding surface (3,4); the joint (5) is formed between the bonding surfaces (3,4) and the first component (1) defines a passage (15) therethrough from the bonding surface to an exterior of the component. The joint (5) includes an optical fibre (11) extending along the joint (5) between the bonding surfaces, through the passage (15) and emerging from the passage (15) to the exterior of the component. The method of constructing the assembly includes the steps of passing the optical fibre (11) through the passage (15) and adhering the optical fibre (11) to the bonding surface (3) of the first component (1), thus bringing the two bonding surfaces (3,4) together and forming the bond (5).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a system for monitoring movements of the rotor blades attached by flapping hinges (7) to a central head (4) or hub of a helicopter. The invention is achieved by that at least one sensor (9) is arranged to continuously measure the vertical angular movement (α) of a rotor blade and/or the flapping hinge (7).The invention also includes a method for monitoring the same movements.
Abstract:
An aircraft including a jet engine including a core having a compressor and combustion chamber, and a particulate sensor located within the core and a particulate detection method for an aircraft having a jet engine where the method includes sensing particulates within the core and providing a corresponding value for the sensed particulates and providing an indication related thereto.
Abstract:
The disclosed embodiments relate to methods, systems and apparatus for automated generation a flight log and a squawk list file. A computer records a preliminary flight log data file (PFLDF), and automatically generates a preliminary squawk list file (PSLF) that includes a plurality of squawk events recorded while an aircraft is in flight. A wireless communication device includes a processor configured to execute a software application, a display that displays a graphical user interface that presents each squawk event from the PSLF for review, and an input system configured to receive inputs including an input for each particular squawk event.
Abstract:
Nach der Erfindung ist eine hauptlast-tragende Beplankungsschale (B) für ein Strukturbauteil (1) vorgesehen, wobei die Beplankungsschale (B) zum Anbringen derselben an ein Träger-Bauteil mit einem äußeren Randabschnitt (60) mit einem äußeren Rand (61) ausgebildet ist und der: einen entlang des Rands (61) verlaufenden kernschichtfreien Anschlussbereich (63) mit dem inneren Hautabschnitt (51) und dem äußeren Hautabschnitt (52) aufweist, wobei in einem Kernschicht-Endbereich (56) entlang des äußeren Randabschnitts (55) der Beplankungsschale (B) Verstärkungs- Vorrichtungen (10; 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d; 10e, 10f) integriert sind, die die schublastaufnehmende Kernschicht (53) durchragen.
Abstract:
Various embodiments include methods for rotor anomaly detection and response for an aerial robotic vehicle (100). A processor (220) of the aerial robotic vehicle may obtain data from a sensor (236, 237, 238) onboard the aerial robotic vehicle (100) configured to detect anomalies in rotors (120). The processor (220) may determine whether an anomaly is detected in any rotor (120) based on the obtained data and take an action in response to detecting an anomaly in one or more rotors. Examples of actions that may be taken in response to detecting a rotor anomaly include preventing the aerial robotic vehicle (100) from lifting-off, limiting operations of the aerial robotic vehicle within certain performance limits, and issuing a maintenance alert by the processor.