Smart wireless engine sensor

• US 20080092520A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Brown, Rork
• Granted Patent: US 7,854,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/226.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Sensors are mounted to an engine to detect engine conditions and send information to an engine controller or other engine component through a wireless connection. Ports are located on the engine controller. An antenna assembly is plugged into one of the ports and wirelessly receives the signal from the sensor. Another antenna assembly transmits a signal from the engine controller to an external component. A processor within the antenna assemblies monitors and adjusts the signals to correct for signal interference.

Claims

1. A turbine engine control comprising:

a sensor to be mounted to an engine; and

a sensor antenna connected to an engine component, the sensor communicating information to the engine component by wireless transmission.

2. The turbine engine control of claim 1, comprising a component antenna connected to the engine component and communicating information to an external component by wireless transmission.

3. The turbine engine control of claim 2, wherein the sensor antenna comprises a sensor processor and the component antenna comprises a component processor to analyze data from the sensor.

4. The turbine engine control of claim 2, comprising a sensor pin connector for mounting the sensor antenna to the engine component and a component pin connector from mounting the component antenna to the engine component.

5. The turbine engine control of claim 2, wherein the external component comprises a computer.

6. The turbine engine control of claim 2, wherein the external component is located on an aircraft.

7. The turbine engine control of claim 1, comprising a radome covering the sensor antenna.

8. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the sensor antenna comprises a transmitter and a receiver.

9. The turbine engine as recited in claim 1, wherein the engine component is an engine controller.

10. A turbine engine comprising:

a fan, a compressor, a combustor and a turbine; and

a sensor mounted to the engine, a sensor antenna connected to an engine controller, the sensor communicating information to the engine controller by wireless transmission.

11. The turbine engine of claim 10, comprising a component antenna connected to the engine controller and communicating information to an external component by wireless transmission.

12. The turbine engine of claim 11, wherein the sensor antenna comprises a sensor processor and the component antenna comprises a component processor to analyze data from the sensor.

13. The turbine engine of claim 11, comprising a sensor pin connector for mounting the sensor antenna to a sensor port on the engine controller and a component pin connector for mounting the component antenna to a component port on the engine controller.

14. The turbine engine of claim 11, wherein the external component comprises a computer.

15. The turbine engine of claim 11, comprising a sensor radome covering the sensor antenna and a component radome covering the component antenna and the processor.

16. The turbine engine of claim 10, wherein the engine controller is a full authority digital engine controller mounted to the turbine engine.