METHOD FOR MONITORING AT LEAST TWO ELECTROMECHANICAL BRAKING ACTUATORS

• US 20150217748A1
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Landing Systems
• Original Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
• Inventors: CHICO, Philippe, RAGOT, Frdric, LEPAGE, Thomas, BONIGEN, Franois
• Granted Patent: US 9,815,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/406 Test-mode; Self-diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1703 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/44 Actuating mechanisms

Abstract

A method for monitoring at least two aircraft wheel electromechanical braking actuators. For each electromechanical actuator, the method includes first determining a current value representative of the power supply current of the electromechanical actuator and determining a reference current value estimated from the power supply currents of at least one other electromechanical actuator. Then, the representative current value and the reference current value are compared. Any abnormal operation of the electromechanical actuator is detected when the difference between the representative current value and the reference current value is above a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring at least two aircraft wheel electromechanical braking actuators (5), each electromechanical actuator (5) being powered by means of a power supply current (Ia) to selectively apply a braking force to friction members (15), the monitoring method comprising the step of activating the electromechanical actuators (5), and, for each electromechanical actuator (5), the steps of:

determining a current value (Ivr) representative of the power supply current of the electromechanical actuator;

determining a reference current value (Ir) estimated from the power supply currents of at least one other electromechanical actuator (5);

comparing the representative current value and the reference current value;

detecting an abnormal operation of the electromechanical actuator (5) when the difference between the representative current value and the reference current value is above a predetermined threshold (Is).

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the representative current value (Ivr) is an absolute value of an estimation of the power supply current of the electromechanical actuator (5).

3. The method according to Claim 1, in which the reference current value (Ir) is an average of absolute values of estimations of the power supply currents concerned.

4. The method according to claim 2, in which the estimations of the power supply currents are average values or instantaneous values of the power supply currents.

5. The method according to Claim 1, in which the representative current value (Ivr) and the reference current value (Ir) are obtained from power supply currents measured during off-load operating phases of the electromechanical actuators (5).

6. The method according to Claim 1, further comprising, following the detection of an abnormal operation of an electromechanical actuator, the steps of:

identifying the electromechanical actuator exhibiting the abnormal operation;

signalling abnormal operation of the electromechanical actuator;

performing a corrective or reconfiguration action to try to restore the electromechanical actuator to normal operating conditions;

deactivating the electromechanical actuator exhibiting an abnormal operation if the corrective or reconfiguration action does not make it possible to restore the electromechanical actuator to the normal operating conditions.

7. The method according to claim 3, in which the estimations of the power supply currents are average values or instantaneous values of the power supply currents.