Tire Pressure Observation After Detecting Abnormal Pressure Condition

• US 20150128691A1
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Keller, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,057,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2200/02 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0422 characterised by the type of signal transmission means
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0481 System diagnostic, e.g. monitoring battery voltage, detecting hardware detachments or identifying wireless transmission failures
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres

Abstract

A tire pressure observation method and computer readable medium is provided. Upon detection of an abnormal pressure condition, a tire pressure observation method provides for various maintenance actions. A computer readable medium may contain instructions for a tire pressure observation controller directing the controller to present messages at different stages of the maintenance actions to assist maintenance staff in properly performing the maintenance actions, for example, observing the tire pressure.

Claims

1. A method for tire pressure observation comprising:

accepting, by a tire pressure observation controller, timing settings;

starting, by the tire pressure observation controller, and in response to acceptance of the timing settings, a timer;

setting, by the tire pressure observation controller, a logical state to a WAIT state logical state;

causing, by the tire pressure observation controller, the timer to run until the timer expires;

changing, by the tire pressure observation controller, the logical state from a WAIT state logical state to an ASSESS state logical state in response to the timer expiring; and

sending, by the tire pressure observation controller, a message to an output device in response to setting the logical state to the WAIT state,

wherein the tire pressure observation controller is installed on an aircraft and wherein the message comprises an instruction to refrain from moving the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending, by the tire pressure observation controller, a message to the output device in response to setting the logical state to the ASSESS state.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output device is a cockpit crew-alert system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output device is a portable device in RF communication with the tire pressure observation controller.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein setting the timer comprises setting the timer to run for 1 hour to 24 hours.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

9. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a tire pressure observation controller, cause the tire pressure observation controller to be capable of performing operations comprising:

receiving, by the tire pressure observation controller, a first tire pressure level from a tire pressure observation sensor;

characterizing, by the tire pressure observation controller, the first tire pressure level as abnormally low;

setting, by the tire pressure observation controller, a first logical state to a first value in response to the characterizing the first tire pressure level;

setting, by the tire pressure observation controller, a timer in response to the first logical state and starting the timer wherein the starting further comprises setting the first logical state to a second value to indicate that the timer is running;

setting, by the tire pressure observation controller, the first logical state to a third value in response to the timer expiring; and

sending, by the tire pressure observation controller, a message to a tire pressure observation output device requesting a subsequent maintenance action in response to the setting the first logical state to the third value.

14. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein setting the timer comprises setting the timer to run for a period of 24 hours.

15. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the maintenance action comprises an instruction to evaluate a second tire pressure level.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

18. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising sending, by the tire pressure observation controller, a message to a tire pressure observation output device indicating at least one subsequent maintenance action in response to the setting the first logical state to the third value.

13. (canceled)

16. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a tire pressure observation controller, cause the tire pressure observation controller to be capable of performing operations comprising:

receiving, by the tire pressure observation controller, a first tire pressure level from a tire pressure observation sensor;

characterizing, by the tire pressure observation controller, the first tire pressure level as abnormally low;

setting, by the tire pressure observation controller, a first logical state to a first value in response to the characterizing the first tire pressure level;

setting, by the tire pressure observation controller, a timer in response to the first logical state and starting the timer wherein the starting further comprises setting the first logical state to a second value to indicate that the timer is running;

setting, by the tire pressure observation controller, the first logical state to a third value in response to the timer expiring;

receiving, by the tire pressure observation controller, a second tire pressure level from the tire pressure observation sensor;

characterizing, by the tire pressure observation controller, the second tire pressure level as abnormally low; and

setting, by the tire pressure observation controller, the first logical state to a fourth value in response to the characterizing the second tire pressure level.

17. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, of claim 16, wherein the fourth value comprises a REPAIR/REPLACE state.