Method and apparatus for sensing, storing, and graphically displaying over-temperature conditions of jet engines
First Claim
1. Apparatus for receiving an electrical signal representing a temperature condition of a jet engine and sensing, storing, and displaying an over-temperature event incurred by such engine, comprising:
- an analog to digital converter means adapted to receive said electrical temperature signal and convert it to a digital temperature signal;
over-temperature sensing means responsive to said temperature signal and having an electrical output indicating that said engine has commenced an over-temperature event;
digital storage means;
electrically energized, light emitting, solid state matrix display means; and
time base generator means connected and responsive to said electrical output of said over-temperature sensing means and connected to and for conditioning said storage means to store said temperature signal at each of a plurality of time intervals in response to said over-temperature sensing means indicating the commencement of said over-temperature event, and said display means connected to said storage means and to said time base generator means for graphically displaying said stored temperature signals as a function of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The required frequency of inspection, servicing and overhauling of jet engines is to a large extent determined by the history of excessive or over-temperature conditions of each engine. In order to monitor and record each such over-temperature condition, an indicator device is provided having electronic circuitry for processing a temperature signal from the jet engine and a light emitting diode matrix for graphically displaying each over-temperature incident. When the jet engine temperature exceeds a threshold over-temperature point, this occurrence is sensed and the circuitry of the indicator functions to automatically store and visually display the engine temperature as a function of time for the succeeding several seconds after the over-temperature condition has commenced. All the diodes of the matrix lying under the temperature versus time profile are energized so as to present a histogram display of the severity of the condition, where the severity is a function of the duration and magnitude of the over-temperature. In one embodiment disclosed herein, a plurality of over-temperature events are automatically sensed, graphically displayed and stored for later retrieval, such that the maintenance crew may subsequently interrogate the indicator device causing it to sequentially display each recorded or electronically stored over-temperature event.
67 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for receiving an electrical signal representing a temperature condition of a jet engine and sensing, storing, and displaying an over-temperature event incurred by such engine, comprising:
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an analog to digital converter means adapted to receive said electrical temperature signal and convert it to a digital temperature signal; over-temperature sensing means responsive to said temperature signal and having an electrical output indicating that said engine has commenced an over-temperature event; digital storage means; electrically energized, light emitting, solid state matrix display means; and time base generator means connected and responsive to said electrical output of said over-temperature sensing means and connected to and for conditioning said storage means to store said temperature signal at each of a plurality of time intervals in response to said over-temperature sensing means indicating the commencement of said over-temperature event, and said display means connected to said storage means and to said time base generator means for graphically displaying said stored temperature signals as a function of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An instrument adapted to be mounted on the instrument panel of a jet engine aircraft for receiving an electrical signal representing a temperature condition of one or more of the aircraft jet engines and, in response thereto, sensing, storing, and displaying an over-temperature event incurred by such jet engine, comprising:
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means for receiving said electrical signal and for sensing an over-temperature represented thereby indicating that said engine has commenced an over-temperature event; means for digitally storing the condition of said electrical signal at each of a plurality of time intervals subsequent to said means sensing said over-temperature conditon; and solid state matrix display means connected to said means for digitally storing said electrical signal for graphically displaying the temperature of said jet engine as represented by said electrical signal as a function of time represented by said time intervals.
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11. Method for sensing, storing, and displaying an over-temperature event incurred by an aircraft jet engine, comprising the steps of:
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sensing an over-temperature condition of said jet engine by detecting a threshold level of an electrical signal representing the engine temperature; storing said jet engine temperature as a digital signal at each of a plurality of time intervals following said step of sensing said over-temperature condition; and graphically displaying said engine temperature as a function of said time intervals on a light emitting diode matrix display by selectively energizing the diodes of said display in accordance with the digitally stored temperature signal at each of said plurality of time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification