WIRELESS ENGINE MONITORING SYSTEM AND CONFIGURABLE WIRELESS ENGINE SENSORS

• US 20130332025A1
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: ZIARNO, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33.4
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0213 Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols

Abstract

A plurality of wireless engine sensors each sense an engine parameter as engine data and transmits wirelessly the engine data regarding the sensed engine parameters and receives data regarding a sampling rate. An engine monitoring module is mounted at the aircraft engine and a wireless sensor transceiver is configured to receive the engine data regarding sensed engine parameters from the wireless engine sensors. A first wireless transmitter is carried by the housing. A memory is carried by the housing. A processor is coupled to the memory, sensor transceiver and the first wireless transmitter and collects and stores in the memory engine data relating to engine parameters and transmits the engine data via the first wireless transmitter.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for an aircraft engine, comprising:

a plurality of wireless engine sensors associated with the aircraft engine, each wireless engine sensor configured to sense an engine parameter as engine data, and transmit wirelessly the engine data regarding the sensed engine parameter and receive data regarding a sampling rate;

an engine monitoring module comprising;

a housing configured to be mounted at the aircraft engine,

a wireless sensor transceiver mounted within the housing and configured to receive the engine data regarding sensed engine parameters from the wireless engine sensors,

a first wireless transmitter carried by the housing,

a memory carried by the housing,

a processor carried by the housing and coupled to the memory, sensor transceiver and the first wireless transmitter and configured to;

collect and store in said memory engine data relating to engine parameters sensed during operation of the aircraft engine by the plurality of wireless engine sensors and transmit the engine data via the first wireless transmitter.

2. The system according to claim 1, and further comprising a wireless receiver located within the aircraft and configured to receive the engine data transmitted from the first wireless transmitter.

3. The system according to claim 2, and further comprising a second wireless transmitter located within the aircraft and operatively connected to the wireless receiver and configured to receive and transmit the engine data.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said second wireless transmitter comprises a UHF transmitter configured to transmit the engine data over an air-to-ground communications signal.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said second wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the engine data over a satellite communications link.

6. The system according to claim 3, and further comprising a wireless local area network (LAN) formed within the aircraft to which the wireless receiver and second wireless transmitter are connected.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of wireless engine sensors are configured to form an engine wireless sensor network.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein a wireless engine sensor is configured to sense fuel flow, temperature, pressure, level, acceleration or vibration.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the engine data and a data address linked to an identifier of the aircraft engine.

10. A monitoring system for an aircraft engine, comprising:

a plurality of wireless engine sensors associated with the aircraft engine, each wireless engine sensor configured to sense an engine parameter as engine data and transmit wirelessly the engine data regarding the sensed engine parameter and receive data regarding a sampling rate;

an engine monitoring module comprising;

a housing configured to be mounted at the aircraft engine,

a wireless sensor transceiver mounted within the housing and configured to receive the engine data regarding sensed engine parameters from the wireless engine sensors and transmit data to a selected wireless engine sensor regarding a predetermined sampling rate,

a first wireless transmitter carried by the housing,

a memory carried by the housing,

a processor carried by the housing and coupled to the memory, sensor transceiver and the first wireless transmitter and configured to;

collect and store in said memory engine data relating to engine parameters sensed during operation of the aircraft engine by the plurality of wireless engine sensors and transmit the engine data via the first wireless transmitter, wherein said processor is configured to process data regarding a predetermined sampling rate and transmit via the wireless sensor transceiver the data regarding a predetermined sampling rate to a selected wireless engine sensor.

11. The system according to claim 10, and further comprising a wireless receiver located within the aircraft and configured to receive the engine data transmitted from the first wireless transmitter.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of wireless engine sensors are configured to form an engine wireless sensor network.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein a wireless engine sensor is configured to sense fuel flow, temperature, pressure, level, acceleration or vibration.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein said first wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the engine data and a data address linked to an identifier of the aircraft engine.

15. The system according to claim 11, and further comprising a second wireless transmitter located within the aircraft and operatively connected to the wireless receiver and configured to receive and transmit the engine data.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said second wireless transmitter comprises a UHF transmitter configured to transmit the engine data over an air-to-ground communications signal.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said second wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the engine data over a satellite communications link.

18. The system according to claim 15, and further comprising a wireless local area network (LAN) formed within the aircraft to which the wireless receiver and second wireless transmitter are connected.

19. A method of monitoring an aircraft engine, comprising:

mounting a plurality of wireless engine sensors at the aircraft engine, each wireless engine sensor configured to sense an engine parameter as engine data and transmit wirelessly the engine data regarding the sensed engine parameter and receive data regarding a sampling rate; and

mounting an engine monitoring module at the aircraft engine, said engine monitoring module comprising a housing configured to be mounted at the aircraft engine, a wireless sensor transceiver mounted within the housing and configured to receive engine data regarding sensed engine parameters from the wireless engine sensors, a first wireless transmitter carried by the housing, a memory carried by the housing, a processor carried by the housing and coupled to the memory, wireless sensor transceiver, and the first wireless transmitter;

collecting and storing in said memory engine data relating to engine parameters sensed during operation of the aircraft engine by the plurality of wireless engine sensors; and

transmitting the engine data via the first wireless transmitter.

20. The method according to claim 19, and further comprising processing data at the engine monitoring module regarding a predetermined sampling rate and transmitting via the wireless sensor transceiver the data regarding a predetermined sampling rate to a selected wireless engine sensor.

21. The method according to claim 19, and further comprising forming the plurality of wireless engine sensors as an engine wireless sensor network.

22. The method according to claim 19, and further comprising sensing at a wireless engine sensor fuel flow, temperature, pressure, level, acceleration or vibration.

23. The method according to claim 19, and further comprising receiving the engine data within wireless receiver located within the aircraft and transmitting the received engine data via a second wireless transmitter located within the aircraft.

24. The method according to claim 23, and further comprising transmitting the engine data via the second wireless transmitter over a satellite communications link.

25. The method according to claim 23, and further comprising transmitting the engine data over an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) communications signal as an air-to-ground communications signal.

26. The method according to claim 23, and further comprising receiving the engine data at a wireless local area network (LAN) in the aircraft to which the second wireless transmitter and wireless receiver are connected.

27. The method according to claim 19, and further comprising assigning a data address to the engine monitoring module and linking the data address to an engine serial number for tracking the aircraft engine.