STANDBY INSTRUMENT FOR AN AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENT PANEL DETECTING OVERLOAD, PARTICULARLY DURING THE LANDING PHASE

• US 20100033350A1
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Papineau, Jerome, Collot, Lionel
• Application Number:
  US12/442,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033350A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/967
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/008 Devices for detecting or indicating hard landing
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/07 for weighing aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/005 Means for preventing overload
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/127 during the flight

Abstract

The present invention relates to a standby instrument fitted to the instrument panel of an aircraft detecting overloads. The standby instrument includes a processor to calculate and display flight information based on data provided by associated sensors integrated into a standby system. It additionally includes a module for detecting overload of the aircraft on the basis of the data provided to display the flight information. The invention applies to the detection of overloads during a heavy landing. More generally, it applies to the detection and indication of overloads of an aircraft in various types of environment.

Claims

1. A standby instrument fitted to the instrument panel of an aircraft, comprising:

a processor to calculate flight information based on data provided by one or more associated sensors integrated into a standby system;

a display to display the flight information; and

an overload detection module to detect overload of the aircraft based on the data provided for displaying the flight information.

2. The standby instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overload detection module uses information provided by an inertial sensor combined with at least one environmental information item provided by the one or more associated sensors, wherein the inertial sensor includes an overload detector configured to detect a heavy acceleration of the aircraft.

3. The standby instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein an environmental information item includes an altitude of the aircraft.

4. The standby instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein an environmental information item includes a speed of the aircraft.

5. The standby instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein an environmental information item includes an inclination of the aircraft.

6. The standby instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the standby instrument displays an overload detection signal.

7. The standby instrument as claimed in claim 6, wherein the overload detection signal is displayed on a main screen that displays the flight information.

8. The standby instrument as claimed in claim 6, wherein the overload detection module further comprises a secondary screen to display information relating to overload of the aircraft.