Device for monitoring the operating parameters of a dynamic system

• US 3,906,437 A
• Filed: 09/07/1973
• Issued: 09/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mohan Gupta, Rowland Brandwein
• Original Assignee: Mohan Gupta, Rowland Brandwein
• Inventors: Brandwein, Rowland, Gupta, Mohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/395,185
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 340/27,177R,177CA,179,182,183,213Q 235/150.2,151.3 73/116,117.3
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters

Abstract

The device for monitoring the operating parameters of a dynamic system (for example, an aircraft having an internal combustion engine power plant) comprises a plurality of sensors each one of which is adapted to measure the magnitude of a specific operating parameter and to generate a sensor signal voltage that varies directly with the magnitude of the operating parameter. The sensor signal voltage generated by each sensor is transformed to a conditioned and calibrated analog signal voltage the magnitude of which is in the same proportion to a predetermined reference voltage as the actual magnitude of the operating parameter being measured is to a predetermined reference magnitude of the operating parameters. The conditioned analog signal voltage gradient is divided into a predetermined number incrementally increasing analog signal voltage increments, and analog signal voltage increment indicator means are provided for visually indicating the analog signal increment that corresponds to the actual magnitude of the operating parameter being measured. Selector switch means are provided for selecting the conditioned analog signal that corresponds to a particular one of the operating parameters being measured. The selected conditioned analog signal is converted to a corresponding multibit digital signal which is transmitted to an array of alpha-numeric visual display units which display in numeric form the actual magnitude of the particular operating parameter being measured.

Claims

1. Device for monitoring the operating parameters of a dynamic system the magnitude of which operating parameters may vary between predetermined minimum and maximum measured values which comprises:

a plurality of sensors each one of which is adapted to measure the magnitude of a specific operating parameter and to generate a sensor signal voltage that varies directly with the magnitude of the operating parameter being measured, sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means electrically connected to each sensor, said means transforming the sensor signal voltage to a conditioned analog signal voltage the magnitude of which is in the same relative proportion to a predetermined reference voltage as the actual magnitude of the operating parameter being measured is to a predetermined reference magnitude of said operating parameter, continuous voltage gradient to incremental voltage gradient converter means electrically connected to each signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, said converter means dividing the continuous voltage gradient of the conditioned analog signal voltage into a predetermined number of incrementally increasing analog signal voltage increments, whereby the actual signal voltage from said signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means is converted to an analog signal voltage increment the magnitude of which corresponds approximately to the actual magnitude of the operating parameter being measured, analog signal voltage increment indicator means electrically connected to the cntinuous to incremental voltage gradient converter means, said indicator means having an electrically energized visual display means corresponding to each of said predetermined analog signal voltage increments, said visual display means visually indicating the analog signal increment that corresponds to the actual magnitude of the operating parameter being measured, manually operated selector switch means also electrically connected to each of the signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, said selector switch being adapted to select the conditioned analog signal from a particular one of the signal conditioning and calibrating means and to transmit said selected signal to an analog to digital converter means, analog to digital converter means electrically connected to said selector switch means, said converter means converting the selected conditioned analog signal to a corresponding multibit digita signal, and a first array of alpha-numeric visual display units electrically connected to said analog to digital converter means, said display units displaying in nuMeric form the actual magnitude of the particular operating parameter that corresponds to the particular conditioned analog signal selected by said selector switch means.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the magnitude of an additional operating parameter, in which the sensor signal voltage generated by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted directly to a continuous voltage gradient to incremental voltage gradient converter means and thence to an analog signal voltage increment indicator means, and in which said conditioned analog signal is also transmitted directly to an analog to digital converter means and thence to a second array of alpha-numeric visual display units.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the magnitude of an additional operating parameter, in which the sensor signal voltage generated by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, and in which the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted to a visual signal light that is illuminated when said signal voltage reaches a predetermined value.

4. The device according to claim 1 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the magnitude of an additional operating parameter, in which the sensor signal voltage generating by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which manually operated selector switch means are electrically connected to said signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means to prevent transmission of the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage when said switch means is open, and in which said conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted to the analog to digital converter means and thence to the first array of alpha-numeric visual display units when said switch means is closed.

5. The device according to claim claim 1 in which the dynamic system being monitored is an aircraft having an internal combustion engine power plant, fuel tanks containing fuel for said power plant, a source of air for air powered flight instruments, and a rechargeable battery powered electrical system, in which a sensor is provided for measuring the pressure of the fuel being delivered to the aircraft power plant, in which a sensor is provided for measuring the pressure of the air that operates the flight instruments of the aircraft, in which a sensor is provided for measuring the amperes being discharged and charged by the aircraft electrical system, in which a sensor is provided for measuring the temperature of the oil in the power plant and in which a sensor is provided for measuring the pressure of the oil in the power plant.

6. The device according to claim 5 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the magnitude of the speed of the aircraft power plant (in revolutions per minute), in which the sensor signal voltage generated by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted directly to a continuous voltage gradient to incremental voltage gradient converter means and thence to an analog signal voltage increment indicator means and in which said conditioned analog signal is also transmitted directly to an analog to digital converter means and thence to a second array of alpha numeric visual display units which displays in numeric form the speed (rpm) of the power plant.

7. The device according to claim 5 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the magnitude of the intake manifold pressure of the power plant, in which the sensor signal voltage generated by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted directly to a continuous voltage grAdient ot incremental voltage gradient converter means and thence to an analog signal voltage increment indicator means, and in which said conditioned analog signal is also transmitted directly to an analog to digital converter means and thence to a second array of alpha numeric visual display unit which displays in numeric form the manifold pressure.

8. The device according to claim 5 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the rate of flow of fuel being delivered to the aircraft power plant, in which the sensor signal voltage generating by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which a second manually operated selector switch means is electrically connected to said signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means to prevent transmission of the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage when said switch means is open, and in which said conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted to the analog to digital converter means and thence to the first array of alpha-numeric visual display units when said switch means is closed.

9. The device according to claim 5 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the voltage of the electrical system of the aircraft, in which the sensor signal voltage generating by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage generating by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and ccalibrating means, in which a second manually operated selector switch means is electrically connected to said signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means to prevent transmission of the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage when said switch means is open, and in which said conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted to the analog to digital converter means and thence to the first array of alpha-numeric visual display units when said switch means is closed.

10. The device according to claim 5 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the temperature at the head of one cylinder of the aircraft power plant, in which the sensor signal voltage generating by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which selector switch means are electrically connected to said signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means to prevent transmission of the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage when said switch means is open, and in which said conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted to the analog to digital converter means and thence to the first array of alpha-numeric visual display units when said switch means is closed.

11. The device according to claim 5 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the temperature at the head of each cylinder of the aircraft power plant, in which selector switch means are electrically connected to each of said sensors for selecting the sensor signal voltage generated by the particular sensor associated with a particular selected cylinder head, in which the sensor signal voltage generating by said selected sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which selector switch means are electrically connected to said signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means to prevent transmission of the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage when said switch means is open, and in which said conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted to the analog to digital converter means and thence to the first array of alpha-numeric visual display units when said switch means is closed.

12. The device according to claim 5 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gases from one cylinder of the aircraft power plant, in which the sensor signal voltage generating by said sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which selector switch means are electrically connected to said signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means to prevent transmission of the resulting conDitioned analog signal voltage when said switch means is open, and in which said conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted to the analog to digital converter means and thence to the first array of alpha-numeric visual display units when said switch means is closed.

13. The device according to claim 5 in which a sensor is provided for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gases from each cylinder of the aircraft power plant, selector switch means electrically connected to each of said sensors for selecting the sensor signal voltage generated by the particular sensor associated with a particular selected cylinder exhaust, in which the sensor signal voltage generating by said selected sensor is transmitted to a sensor signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means, in which selector switch means are electrically connected to said signal voltage conditioning and calibrating means to prevent transmission of the resulting conditioned analog signal voltage when said switch means is open, and in which said conditioned analog signal voltage is transmitted to the analog to digital converter means and thence to the first array of alpha-numeric visual display units when said switch means is closed.