System and method for aircraft braking system usage monitoring

• US 6,929,333 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Inventors: DeVlieg, Garrett H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US10/689,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 188/1.11 E, 188/1.11 L, 188/1.11 W, 244/111, 340/454, 162/08, 731/29, 731/30, 303/140, 303/146, 303/155
• US Class Current: 303/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/406 Test-mode; Self-diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1703 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/325 Systems specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/028 with non-electrical sensors or signal transmission, e.g. magnetic, optical

Abstract

The system and method for monitoring wear of one or more aircraft parts, such as an aircraft brake, an aircraft tire, a standby system, and landing gear. One or more sensors are provided for sensing a parameter of usage, and an estimate of usage of the part can be determined based upon the signal indicating the sensed value of the parameter of usage of the aircraft part. A plurality of sensors can be provided for sensing usage of a plurality of parts of the aircraft, and the estimate of usage of the part can be stored for access of the estimate by ground personnel. As applied to monitoring wear of an aircraft brake, a linear brake wear indicator attached to the brake moves a discrete distance when the brake is actuated, and a linear position encoder measures the distance travelled by the linear brake wear indicator as an indication of brake usage. A wheel speed monitor may also be provided for measuring the aircraft wheel speed, for distinguishing between static brake applications and moving brake applications, based upon the wheel speed signal.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring wear of one or more aircraft parts, comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing at least one parameter of usage of an aircraft part and for generating a signal indicating a sensed value of said parameter of usage of said aircraft part;

means for monitoring the usage and wear of said aircraft part on the basis of said sensed value of said parameter, said means for monitoring the usage and wear of said aircraft part being operatively connected to said at least one sensor;

means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft system incorporating said aircraft part as a function of the usage and wear of said aircraft part, said means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft system being operatively connected to said at least one sensor;

means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft standby system, said means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft standby system being operatively connected to said aircraft standby system, wherein the means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft standby system comprises means for sensing input power to said standby system and generating an input power signal, means for measuring the period of time elapsed during each usage of said standby system and generating an elapsed time signal, and means for determining an estimate of usage of said aircraft standby system based upon said input power signal and said elapsed time signal; and

means for determining the remaining life of said aircraft system on the basis of said monitoring, said means for determining the remaining life of said aircraft system being operatively connected to said at least one sensor.

2. The system for monitoring wear of an aircraft part of claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft tire, said means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft tire being operatively connected to said means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft system.

3. A system for monitoring wear of one or more aircraft parts, comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing at least one parameter of usage of an aircraft part and for generating a signal indicating a sensed value of said parameter of usage of said aircraft part;

means for monitoring the usage and wear of said aircraft part on the basis of said sensed value of said parameter, said means for monitoring the usage and wear of said aircraft part being operatively connected to said at least one sensor;

means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft system incorporating said aircraft part as a function of the usage and wear of said aircraft part, said means for monitoring the usage and wear of an aircraft system being operatively connected to said at least one sensor;

means for determining the remaining life of said aircraft system on the basis of said monitoring, said means for determining the remaining life of said aircraft system being operatively connected to said at least one sensor; and

means for determining the remaining life of an aircraft landing gear, said means for determining the remaining life of an aircraft landing gear being operatively connected to the aircraft landing gear, wherein the means for determining the remaining life of an aircraft landing gear comprises means for sensing load on said landing gear and generating a load signal, means of measuring the period of time elapsed during each usage of said landing gear generating an elapsed time signal, and means for determining an estimate of usage of said aircraft landing gear based upon said load signal and said elapsed time signal.