Helicopter low-g monitor, recorder and warning system
First Claim
1. A comprehensive digital monitoring and recording system for turbine engine powered helicopters wherein the helicopter and turbine engine have predetermined normal operating parameters, said system comprising:
- means for sensing the temperature of said turbine engine;
means for sensing the acceleration or "g" force acting vertically on said helicopter;
digital data processing means for determining exceedances indicating operation of said turbine engine over the normal operating temperature of said engine and when said "g" force drops below predetermined levels;
non-volatile storage means for permanently storing data giving the duration and magnitude of each said exceedance, and the total duration of the exceedances; and
means for providing a warning signal to the pilot when the "g" force reaches a predetermined low level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
When helicopters are accomplishing certain special maneuvers such as powered descent, or the like involving low "g" conditions, the helicopter blades may teeter excessively with respect to the mast, and under severe conditions, the mast may shear. To sense such low "g" conditions, which may be dangerous, an accelerometer is mounted on the helicopter frame close to the center of gravity of the helicopter and is coupled to data processing circuitry which classifies the low-g conditions in bands or levels of severity, recording the duration of exceedances in which the low-g conditions are below predetermined levels, and issues warning signals to the helicopter pilot through the helicopter intercom system and a suitable warning light.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A comprehensive digital monitoring and recording system for turbine engine powered helicopters wherein the helicopter and turbine engine have predetermined normal operating parameters, said system comprising:
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means for sensing the temperature of said turbine engine; means for sensing the acceleration or "g" force acting vertically on said helicopter; digital data processing means for determining exceedances indicating operation of said turbine engine over the normal operating temperature of said engine and when said "g" force drops below predetermined levels; non-volatile storage means for permanently storing data giving the duration and magnitude of each said exceedance, and the total duration of the exceedances; and means for providing a warning signal to the pilot when the "g" force reaches a predetermined low level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A helicopter low-g warning system comprising:
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accelerometer means for mounting in the fuselage of a helicopter for measuring vertical low-g conditions; means for digitizing the output of said accelerometer; memory means for storing digital information indicating predetermined dangerous helicopter low-g conditions; digital data processing means for determining whether the digitized acceleration signals are less than the stored information indicating predetermined dangerous low-g conditions; and means for providing a warning to the helicopter pilot when the sensed acceleration is below the predetermined dangerous low-g conditions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A comprehensive digital monitoring and recording system for turbine engine powered helicopters wherein the helicopter and turbine engine have predetermined normal operating parameters, said system comprising:
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means for sensing the temperature of said turbine engine; means for sensing the acceleration or "g" force acting on said helicopter; digital data processing means for determining exceedances indicating operation of said turbine engine over the normal operating temperature of said engine and when said "g" force drops below predetermined levels; storing data relating to each said exceedance; and means for providing a warning to the pilot when said exceedances reach predetermined levels. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification