Flight indicator with testing means for a helicopter

• US 5,908,485 A
• Filed: 11/19/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter
• Inventors: Germanetti, Serge Alexandre Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US08/974,077
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 73/178 H, 73/187, 73/178 R, 340/945, 340/946, 340/963, 244/17.3, 364/424, 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/426, 364/551.01, 364/551, 364/424.012, 364/424.034
• US Class Current: 73/178.00H
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass

Abstract

A flight indicator for an aircraft, intended to give the power margin available on at least one engine of the aircraft. The indicator includes sensors (2, 3, 4) capable of delivering data relating to various monitored parameters of the engine, means (5) of processing the data coming from the sensors (2, 3, 4), and display (6) showing the processed data relating to that parameter among the monitored engine parameters, whose current value is closest to the limiting value for the parameter. The indicator includes a testing device (12) for testing the analytical consistency between at least one of the parameters and at least one other of the parameters.

Claims

1. A flight indicator for a helicopter having at least one turbine engine with a gas generator and a free turbine, said flight indicator being intended to give the power margin available on said engine and comprising:

(a) sensors capable of delivering current values relating respectively to the following three parameters;

(i) the speed of said gas generator,

(ii) the temperature at which the gases are ejected at the inlet to said free turbine, and

(iii) the engine torque,

(b) computing means for comparing said current values to respective limiting values,

(c) display means showing on a display screen, the current value relating to that parameter, among said three parameters, whose current value is closest to the respective limiting value, and

(d) testing means carrying out tests for the analytical consistency of the values of the gas-ejection temperature and engine torque with respect to the values of the speed of the gas generator, respectively.

2. The flight indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overall analytical consistency test is valid if the gas-ejection temperature/speed of gas generator test and engine torque/speed of gas generator test are valid.

3. The flight indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consistency tests are carried out under stabilized flying conditions.

4. The flight indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consistency tests depend upon the pressure and the temperature outside of said helicopter.

5. The flight indicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consistency tests depend upon the power tapping from said engine.