SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MEASURING AND MONITORING TORQUE IN A ROTORCRAFT DRIVE SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of optimizing an operation of a rotorcraft, the rotorcraft having a tail rotor drive shaft, the method comprising:
- measuring an actual usage of the tail rotor drive shaft during operation of the rotorcraft, the actual usage including at least a torque measurement;
adjusting a life of the tail rotor drive shaft based upon the measuring of the actual usage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of optimizing an operation of a rotorcraft includes measuring actual usage of the tail rotor drive shaft during operation of the rotorcraft, the actual usage including at least a torque measurement. The method further includes a step of adjusting a life of the tail rotor drive shaft based upon the measuring of the actual usage. Another method of the present disclosure includes determining a main rotor mast torque by measuring a tail rotor drive shaft torque and deriving a main rotor mast torque by considering the measured tail rotor drive shaft torque and a total torque output of an engine. A system of the present disclosure is configured for determining the main rotor mast torque in part by measuring the tail rotor torque.
23 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of optimizing an operation of a rotorcraft, the rotorcraft having a tail rotor drive shaft, the method comprising:
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measuring an actual usage of the tail rotor drive shaft during operation of the rotorcraft, the actual usage including at least a torque measurement; adjusting a life of the tail rotor drive shaft based upon the measuring of the actual usage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of determining a main rotor mast torque during operation of a rotorcraft, the method comprising:
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measuring a tail rotor drive shaft torque during operation of the rotorcraft; deriving a main rotor mast torque from the measured tail rotor drive shaft torque and a total torque output of an engine, the engine having a main rotor mast output and a tail rotor drive shaft output. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system configured for determining a main rotor mast torque during operation of a rotorcraft, the system comprising:
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a tail rotor drive shaft sensor system configured for measuring a torque in a tail rotor drive shaft; an engine output sensor configured for deriving a total output torque of an engine; and a processor in data communication with the tail rotor drive shaft sensor system and the engine output sensor, the processor being configured for determining the main rotor mast torque based upon the total output torque of the engine and the measured torque in the tail rotor drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification