Preconditioned Air (PCA) Temperature Monitor

• US 20110050430A1
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twist, Inc. (Aeria, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Twist, Inc. (Aeria, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dillon, James, Wright, Joe W., McIntire, Dave
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/305 Bridges extending between terminal building and aircraft, e.g. telescopic, vertically adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft

Abstract

The performance of a PCA unit associated with an airport gate is monitored by a temperature sensor in the stream of output air leaving the PCA unit, to produce a signal indicative of the temperature of the output air that may be compared to an acceptable range of values, or to the temperature of air input to the PCA unit (as measured by a second temperature sensor). An alert is generated to a human operator if the temperature measured does not compare favorably with the desired range.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating the performance of a PCA unit associated with an airport gate comprising:

a temperature sensor in the stream of output air leaving the PCA unit producing a signal indicative of the temperature of the output air;

circuitry to compare the signal to an acceptable range of values; and

an output device to convey to a human operator the result of a comparison of the signal to the acceptable range of values when the PCA unit is running and stabilized.

2. An apparatus for communicating the performance of a PCA unit associated with an airport gate comprising:

a first temperature sensor in the stream of output air leaving the PCA unit producing a signal indicative of the temperature of the output air;

a second temperature sensor producing a signal indicative of the temperature of input air entering the PCA unit;

circuitry to determine a value indicative of the difference in temperature between the output air and the input air and compare the difference to at least one acceptable value; and

an output device to convey to a human operator the result of a comparison of the signal to the acceptable range of values when the PCA unit is running and stabilized.

3. A method of identifying a malfunctioning PCA unit comprising:

measuring the temperature of air at a location downstream of the PCA unit, the location being positioned in the pathway of air discharged to a volume that the PCA unit is serving;

sending a signal indicative of the measured temperature to a comparison circuit;

comparing the temperature measured to a desired temperature; and

generating an alert signal if the temperature measured does not compare favorably with the desired range.