INTEGRATED WIRELESS DATA SYSTEM FOR AVIONICS PERFORMANCE INDICATION
First Claim
1. An integrated wireless data system for avionics performance indication used to measure various strain components of a shaft of a propeller driven aircraft under real-world operating conditions comprising:
- a remote unit mounted on a propeller system of the propeller driven aircraft and having at least one strain gauge for measuring the various strain components of the shaft of the propeller driven aircraft and a remote transceiver and an A/D converter and a microprocessor and an energy harvesting device;
said remote unit including a power storage device connected to and for providing power to said remote unit;
said remote unit including gauge circuitry including digitally controlled switches for reconfiguring said gauge circuitry to measure different components of said at least one strain gauge and enable the measurement of bending and axial strain and torque from said at least one strain gauge;
a base unit located inside a cockpit of the propeller driven aircraft and having a base transceiver and a microprocessor and an onboard data storage and a real-time display and connected to other aircraft systems and an aircraft electrical system of the propeller driven aircraft;
a wireless communications interface between said remote unit and said base unit, wherein real-time and bi-directional data is transmitted therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated wireless data system and method for avionic performance indication for measuring, monitoring and displaying in-use, real-world engine-out characteristics on a propeller driven aircraft for the purposes of health monitoring, performance optimization, and regulatory compliance is provided. Engine-out characteristics may be measured either at the propeller extension hub mounted between the engine and propeller, on the crankshaft flange, or on the propeller itself, and include, but are not limited to, the engine output torque, thrust, vibration, bending loads and temperature. Data may be transmitted wirelessly to a base unit located inside the cockpit and user selected parameters are updated on a display in real-time. The system may also store all collected data, for later download and analysis. The system may also have a software interface that can be used to download, view and analyze all recorded data, as well as to configure the system settings and alerts.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated wireless data system for avionics performance indication used to measure various strain components of a shaft of a propeller driven aircraft under real-world operating conditions comprising:
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a remote unit mounted on a propeller system of the propeller driven aircraft and having at least one strain gauge for measuring the various strain components of the shaft of the propeller driven aircraft and a remote transceiver and an A/D converter and a microprocessor and an energy harvesting device; said remote unit including a power storage device connected to and for providing power to said remote unit; said remote unit including gauge circuitry including digitally controlled switches for reconfiguring said gauge circuitry to measure different components of said at least one strain gauge and enable the measurement of bending and axial strain and torque from said at least one strain gauge; a base unit located inside a cockpit of the propeller driven aircraft and having a base transceiver and a microprocessor and an onboard data storage and a real-time display and connected to other aircraft systems and an aircraft electrical system of the propeller driven aircraft; a wireless communications interface between said remote unit and said base unit, wherein real-time and bi-directional data is transmitted therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for measuring operational characteristics of a propeller driven aircraft under real-world operating conditions comprising the steps of:
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installing a remote unit including at least one strain gauge on at least one of a propeller extension and a crankshaft flange and a propeller of the propeller driven aircraft for measuring a strain of the at least one of the propeller extension and the crankshaft flange and the propeller; reconfiguring gauge circuitry coupled to the at least one strain gauge to measure different components of the strain using digitally controlled switches of the remote unit; measuring operational characteristics of the propeller driven aircraft including the strain using the remote unit; and wirelessly transmitting the operational characteristics to a base unit located within a cockpit of the propeller driven aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification