Externally discriminated/correlated electrostatic engine diagnostics

• US 4,617,631 A
• Filed: 12/28/1982
• Issued: 10/14/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Rosenbush, David M., Zwicke, Philip E., Couch, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US06/454,114
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 364/431.01, 364/431.02, 364/179, 364/424, 364/551, 364/552, 364/506-508, 324/379, 324/464, 73/116, 73/117.3, 340/627, 340/683
• US Class Current: 701/100
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

The wave shapes (FIGS. 57-80) of signals derived from electrostatic probes (1, 2, 3) disposed in the gas stream of a gas turbine engine are classified (FIG. 9) into categories relating to engine and other events, and are further correlated or discriminated by other conditions of the engine. Engine acceleration and the sign thereof (FIG. 4) are utilized to correlate and discriminate acceleration and deceleration (FIG. 81). Power lever angle (68, FIG. 1) is utilized (FIG. 4A) to provide an indication of afterburner being lighted, a flameholder probe (27, FIG. 1) becomes biased (82, 83, 85, FIG. 1) to sense when the afterburner is lit, for correlation with afterburner nozzle liner erosion (FIG. 69, FIG. 81). Chopping the fuel to the afterburner is correlated (FIG. 4A, FIG. 81) with signals indicative of the character of the afterburner chop (FIGS. 77-79).

Claims

1. Electrostatic diagnostic apparatus for distinctly correlating different events occurring in an operating gas turbine engine, comprising:

electrostatic signal means, including a probe to be disposed in the gas stream of an engine, for providing, when said probe is disposed in the gas stream of an operating engine, a probe signal having a waveshape defined by amplitude variations thereof across a time interval of a given duration in response to electrostatic charge flowing in the gas stream in the vicinity of said probe;

means connected for response to an operating condition of said engine to provide a condition signal indicative thereof;

signal processing means connected for response to said electrostatic signal means,

(a) for selectively providing a particular engine event identifying signal selected, in response to said amplitude variations across said time interval, from among a plurality of identifying signals related to a corresponding plurality of engine events, in dependence on the waveshape of said probe signal having characteristics correlated to an engine event corresponding to said selected identifying signal,

(b) for providing a discrete signal indicative of a specific engine event in response to said condition signal, said specific engine event being included among said plurality of engine events along with said particular engine event,

(c) for providing a category signal indicative of an engine event identified by both said particular identifying signal and said discrete signal, and

(d) for alternatively providing a different category signal in the case that said particular engine event identifying signal is not correlated to the engine event identified by said discrete signal.

2. Electrostatic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal processing means comprises means for providing said different category signal in the absence of said discrete signal.

3. Electronic diagnostic apparatus for distinctly correlating different events occurring in an operating gas turbine engine, comprising:

electrostatic signal means, including a probe to be disposed in the gas stream of an engine, for providing, when said probe is disposed in the gas stream of an operating engine, a probe signal having a waveshape defined by amplitude variations thereof across a time interval of a given duration in response to electrostatic charge flowing in the gas stream in the vicinity of said probe;

means connected for response to an operating condition of said engine to provide a condition signal indicative thereof;

signal processing means connected for response to said electrostatic signal means,

(a) for selectively providing a first engine event identifying signal selected, in response to said amplitude variations across said time interval, from among a plurality of identifying signals in dependence on the waveshape of said probe signal having characteristics correlated to a plurality of engine events corresponding to said selected identifying signal,

(b) for providing a discrete signal indicative of a specific engine event in response to said condition signal, said specific engine event being included among said plurality of engine events corresponding to said identifying signals,

(c) for providing a first category signal in response to said discrete signal indicating an event unrelated to the event indicated by said first engine event identifying signal, and

(d) for alternatively providing a second category signal indicative of said specific engine event in response to said first engine event identifying signal and said discrete signal indicating related events.

4. Electrostatic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said signal processing means comprises means for providing a third category signal in the absence of said discrete signal.