ARRANGEMENT FOR DETERMINING THE PRESSURE IN AN UNDERCARRIAGE TYRE OF AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20110185802A1
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lufthansa Technik AG (Deutsche Lufthansa AG)
• Original Assignee: Lufthansa Technik AG (Deutsche Lufthansa AG)
• Inventors: Paul, Manfred, Schoellmann, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/005 using a sensor contacting the exterior surface, e.g. for measuring deformation

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is an arrangement for determining the pressure in an undercarriage tyre of an aircraft, which arrangement has a measurement matrix (1) with a plurality of load sensors which are arranged in an area over which the aircraft tyre can roll. The invention provides that the arrangement is designed to measure the pressure difference between two or more undercarriage tyres.

Claims

1. Arrangement for measuring the pressure in an undercarriage tyre of an aircraft, which arrangement has a measurement matrix (1) with a plurality of load sensors which are arranged in an area over which the aircraft tyre can roll, wherein the arrangement is designed for measuring the pressure difference between two or more undercarriage tyres.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement has at least one temperature sensor for measuring the tyre temperature.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor is designed for non-contacting temperature measurement.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor has a pyrometer or a thermal imaging camera.

5. Arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor has a temperature pick-up in an edge of the arrangement which can be taxied over.

6. An airport comprising a taxiing area, wherein the airport has an arrangement according to claim 1 in the taxiing area.

7. Method for determining the pressure in an undercarriage tyre of an aircraft using an arrangement according to claim 1, having the following steps:

a) at least two undercarriage tyres taxi over the measurement matrix (1),

b) the load profiles exerted by the undercarriage tyre on the measurement matrix are determined,

c) the tyre pressure is calculated from the measured values determined in step b),

d) a pressure difference measurement is carried out between two or more undercarriage tyres.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the temperature of the undercarriage tyres is measured.

9. Method according to claim 7, wherein the state of wear of the undercarriage tyres is also determined.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the state of wear is determined from the two-dimensional load image of the undercarriage tyre on the measurement matrix (1).

11. Servicing cycle for an aircraft, having the following steps:

a) the aircraft is operated over a time period of 12 to 96 h,

b) the pressure in each undercarriage tyre is determined by means of a method according to claim 7,

c) the measurement results from step b) are evaluated in order to determine whether the pressure in at least one tyre is below a lower limit value and/or whether the pressure differences between two or more undercarriage tyres are greater than an upper tolerance value,

d) the tyre pressure is adjusted if a lower limit value has been undershot or an upper tolerance value has been exceeded.

12. Servicing cycle according to claim 11, wherein the aircraft is operated over a time period of 24 to 72 h.

13. Servicing cycle according to claim 11, wherein the lower limit value is 80 to 95% of the nominal pressure.

14. Servicing cycle according to claim 11, wherein the upper tolerance value is 5% or less.

15. Servicing cycle according to claim 11, wherein the aircraft is operated over a time period of 24 to 48 h.

16. Servicing cycle according to claim 11, wherein the lower limit value is 85 to 90% of the nominal pressure.