Cargo door electrical control and warning indication system and method of use

• US 6,633,239 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Brouwer, Todd B., Plude, Leo W., Ham, Donald E., Brighton, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/907,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/946, 340/948, 340/952, 340/953, 340/959, 340/960, 340/963, 340/964, 340/980, 340/982, 340/426, 340/542, 340/545.1, 244/129.5, 244/129.4, 244/129.3
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/14 Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipersfairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06

Abstract

A warning indication system and method of using the same in conjunction with a cargo door of an aircraft. The cargo door is positionable in an opened position; a closed position; a closed and latched position; and a closed, latched, and locked position. The method includes outputting first and second closed signals when the cargo door is in the closed position; outputting first and second latched signals when the cargo door is in the closed and latched position; and outputting first and second locked signals when the cargo door is in the closed, latched, and locked position. All of the signals are then analyzed to positively determine the position of the cargo door, while minimizing the probability of false indications. Various warnings are generated in response to the combination of signals received. The apparatus employs a dual logic system and redundant sensors to provide differing warnings dependent on the phase of flight.

Claims

1. A method of indicating a position of a closure member system of an aircraft, said closure member system being positionable in an opened position, a closed position, a closed and latched position, and a closed, latched, and locked position relative to an opening of said aircraft;

said method comprising;

outputting a first closed signal when the closure member system is in said closed position;

outputting a second closed signal when the closure member system is in said closed position;

outputting a first latched signal when the closure member system is in said closed and latched position;

outputting a second latched signal when the closure member system is in said closed and latched position;

outputting a first locked signal when the closure member system is in said closed, latched, and locked position;

outputting a second locked signal when the closure member system is in said closed, latched, and locked position;

analyzing the combination of said first closed signal, said second closed signal, said first latched signal, said second latched signal, said first locked signal, and said second locked signal to positively determine the position of said closure member system and produce a position signal; and

selectively outputting warnings in response to said position signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

outputting an air/ground signal when the aircraft is on the ground; and

selectively outputting a first of said warnings when said air/ground signal and any one of said first closed signal, second closed signal, first latched signal, second latched signal, first locked signal, and second locked signal are received.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

selectively outputting a second of said warnings when said first closed signal and said second closed signal are simultaneously received, when said first latched signal and said second latched signal are simultaneously received, or when said first locked signal and said second locked signal are simultaneously received, irrespective of whether said air/ground signal is received.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said warnings comprise a visual warning and an aural warning.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

selectively disabling one of said visual warning and said aural warning.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said selectively disabling one of said visual warnings and said aural warnings, further comprising:

outputting a visual indication generally adjacent said closure member system and in a flight deck of the aircraft of said disabling one of said visual warning and said aural warning.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

outputting a hydraulic pressure signal when a hydraulic pressure is being applied to said closure member system; and

selectively outputting said warnings when said hydraulic pressure signal is received and said closure member system is in said closed, latched, and locked position.

8. An indication system for an aircraft, said indication system comprising:

a closure member system positionable in an opened position, a closed position, a closed and latched position, and a closed, latched, and locked position relative to an opening of the aircraft;

a first closed sensor and a second closed sensor each coupled between said closure member system and the aircraft, said first closed sensor and said second closed sensor each independently operable to output a signal when said closure member system is in said closed position;

a first latched sensor and a second latched sensor each coupled between said closure member system and the aircraft, said first latched sensor and said second latched sensor each independently operable to output a signal when said closure member system is in said closed and latched position;

a first locked sensor and a second locked sensor each coupled between said closure member system and the aircraft, said first locked sensor and said second locked sensor each independently operable to output a signal when said closure member system is in said closed, latched, and locked position; and

a dual channel logic system operably coupled to each of said sensors, said dual channel logic system outputting a discrete warning in response to said signals of each of said sensors.

9. The indication system according to claim 8, further comprising:

an air/ground sensor mountable to the aircraft, said air/ground sensor capable of outputting an air/ground signal when the aircraft is on the ground,

said dual channel logic system being operably coupled to said air/ground sensor for receiving said air/ground signal so as to output said discrete warning in response to said air/ground signal.

10. The indication system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a hydraulic pressure sensor disposed within said closure member system, said hydraulic pressure sensor outputting a signal when hydraulic pressure is detected within said closure member system,

said dual channel logic system being operably coupled to said hydraulic pressure sensor for receiving said signal from said hydraulic pressure sensor so as to output said discrete warning in response thereto.

11. A method of indicating a position of a cargo door system of an aircraft, said cargo door system being positionable in an opened position, a closed position, a closed and latched position, and a closed, latched, and locked position relative to an opening of said aircraft;

said method comprising;

outputting a first closed signal and a second closed signal when the cargo door system is in said closed position;

outputting a first latched signal and a second latched signal when the cargo door system is in said closed and latched position;

outputting a first locked signal and a second locked signal when the cargo door system is in said closed, latched, and locked position;

outputting an air/ground signal when the aircraft is on the ground;

analyzing the particular combination of said first closed signal, said second closed signal, said first latched signal, said second latched signal, said first locked signal, and said second locked signal to positively determine the position of said cargo door system and produce a position signal; and

selectively outputting warnings in response to said position signal.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

selectively outputting a first of said warnings when said air/ground signal and any one of said first closed signal, second closed signal, first latched signal, second latched signal, first locked signal, and second locked signal are received.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

selectively outputting a second of said warnings when said first closed signal and said second closed signal are simultaneously received, when said first latched signal and said second latched signal are simultaneously received, or when said first locked signal and said second locked signal are simultaneously received, irrespective of whether said air/ground signal is received.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein said warnings comprise a visual warning and an aural warning.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

selectively disabling one of said visual warning and said aural warning.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said selectively disabling one of said visual warnings and said aural warnings, further comprising:

outputting a visual indication generally adjacent said closure member system and in a flight deck of the aircraft of said disabling one of said visual warning and said aural warning.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

outputting a hydraulic pressure signal when a hydraulic pressure is being applied to said closure member system; and

selectively outputting said warnings when said hydraulic pressure signal is received and said closure member system is in said closed, latched, and locked position.