DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICAL ARCHITECTURE

• US 20160222889A1
• Filed: 02/03/2015
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Snyder, Ryan K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,590,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/00 Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/32 in gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/764 of the alternating current (A.C.) type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/54 by electronic means, e.g. electronic tubes, transistors or IC's within an electronic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A distributed electrical system includes a plurality of engine components each in electrical communication with one of a plurality of docking stations. An electronic engine control is positioned remote from the engine components and is configured to communicate wirelessly with each of the plurality of engine components.

Claims

1. A distributed electrical system comprising:

a plurality of engine components each in electrical communication with one of a plurality of docking stations; and

an electronic engine control positioned remote from the engine components and being configured to communicate wirelessly with each of the plurality of engine components.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical wiring harness electrically connecting each of the plurality of docking stations with a power source.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the power source is a permanent magnet alternator driven by a gearbox.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical wiring harness extends through internal passages in the gearbox to connect one of the plurality of engine components on the gearbox to the power source.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a communications harness connecting the electronic engine control to a wireless hub remote from the electronic engine control.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic engine control includes a wireless device that is configured to communicate wirelessly with each of the plurality of engine components.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless device is a radio frequency wireless device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of engine components includes at least one of a fuel pump, an actuator, and a sensor.

9. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a plurality of docking stations connected to an electrical wiring harness;

an electronic engine control connected to the docking stations; and

a plurality of engine components each connected to one of the plurality of docking stations, wherein the electronic engine control is configured to communicate wirelessly with each of the plurality of engine components.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 9, wherein the electrical wiring harness is connected to a permanent magnet alternator driven by a gearbox.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 9, further comprising a communications harness connecting the electronic engine control to a wireless hub.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 11, wherein the wireless hub is located adjacent a core engine case.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 9, wherein the electronic engine control includes a wireless device that is configured to communicate wirelessly with each of the plurality of engine components.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 9, wherein the plurality of engine components include at least one of a fuel pump, an actuator, or a sensor.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 9, wherein the electronic engine control is located on one of a fan case, a plyon, or an aircraft.

16. A method of operating a distributed electrical system comprising:

powering an electronic engine control and at least one engine component with an electrical wiring harness; and

communicating between the electronic engine control and the at least one engine component with at least one wireless signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising connecting the electronic engine control and the at least one engine component to a docking station.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic engine control and the at least one engine component are powered by a permanent magnet alternator driven by a gearbox.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising communicating between the electronic engine control and the at least one engine component through a wireless hub connected to the electronic engine control through a dedicated communications harness.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electronic engine control is located adjacent a fan case and the wireless hub is located adjacent a core engine case.