TRANSMISSION OF POWER AND COMMUNICATION OF SIGNALS OVER FUEL AND HYDRAULIC LINES IN A VEHICLE

• US 20170366228A1
• Filed: 11/08/2016
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Bobrek, Pavlo, Gardner, Eric Rankin
• Granted Patent: US 10,587,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/36 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/40 using fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/503 Fly-by-Wire
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/22 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/14 Transmitting means between initiating means and power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/00 Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant refuelling during flight B64D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/005 Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/00 Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/02 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating a signal over a hydraulic line in a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a system can include a hydraulic line. The hydraulic line can include at least one communication medium for propagating a communication signal. The system can also include at least one signal communication device configured to receive the communication signal communicated over the hydraulic line. The system can also include at least one vehicle component in communication with the at least one signal communication device.

Claims

1. A system for communicating a signal over a hydraulic line on a vehicle, comprising:

a hydraulic line, the hydraulic line comprising at least one communication medium for propagating a communication signal;

at least one signal communication device configured to receive the communication signal communicated over the hydraulic line; and

at least one vehicle component in communication with the at least one signal communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal communication device is further configured to send a communication signal over the hydraulic line.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal communication device is further configured to encode the communication signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal communication device is further configured to decode the communication signal.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a common ground electrically connected to the hydraulic line,

wherein the communication medium comprises an electrical conductor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the communication signal comprises an electric power signal.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the hydraulic line and the common ground together act as an antenna to receive a communication signal from a remote signal communication device, wherein the communication signal is communicated over the electrical conductor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication medium comprises a waveguide for sonic, microwave, millimeter wave, or optical signals.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal communication device comprises a first signal communication device configured to send a signal over the communication medium and a second signal communication device configured to receive a signal sent over the communication medium.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal communication device comprises a transceiver and a transducer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle component comprises at least one of a controller, a sensor, an electronically powered device, and a communication network.

12. A method of communicating a communication signal via a hydraulic line on a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a communication signal by a communication medium of a hydraulic line on a vehicle;

communicating the communication signal via the communication medium;

receiving the communication signal communicated via the communication medium by a signal communication device; and

providing the communication signal to one or more components of the vehicle by the signal communication device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

decoding the communication signal by the signal communication device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein prior to receiving the communication signal by the communication medium, the method comprises:

sending the communication signal by a second signal communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein prior to sending the communication signal by the second signal communication device, the method comprises:

encoding the signal by the second signal communication device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the communication signal comprises at least one of a sonic, optical, electrical, microwave, or millimeter wave signal, or a periodic turbulence in a laminar flow of a hydraulic fluid flowing in the hydraulic line.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal communication device comprises a transceiver and a transducer.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the communication signal to one or more components of the vehicle by the signal communication device comprises providing the signal to a controller, a sensor, or a communication network.

19. An aircraft, comprising:

at least one engine;

at least one hydraulic device;

at least one vehicle component, wherein the at least one vehicle component comprises at least one of sensor and a controller configured to control the at least one engine;

an avionics network;

at least one hydraulic fluid reservoir;

at least one hydraulic line configured to transfer hydraulic fluid from the at least one hydraulic fluid reservoir to the at least one hydraulic device, the at least one hydraulic line comprising a communication medium for propagating a communication signal;

a first signal communication device in bidirectional communication with the avionics network, the first signal communication device coupled to the at least one hydraulic line;

a second signal communication device in bidirectional communication with the vehicle component, the second signal communication device coupled to the at least one hydraulic line; and

wherein the first signal communication device and the second signal communication device are in bidirectional signal communication with each other over the at least one hydraulic line.

20. The aircraft of claim 19, wherein the first signal communication device and the second signal communication device each comprise a transceiver and a transducer.