Wireless engine monitoring system

• US 6,943,699 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ziarno, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/774,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20050017876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/963, 340/971, 701/3, 701/9, 701/14
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/00 Power-plant nacelles, fairings, or cowlings nacelles not otherwise provided for B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/00 Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13 Plc programming
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0213 Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0264 Control of logging system, e.g. decision on which data to store; time-stamping measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A wireless engine monitoring system (WEMS) includes an engine monitoring module that is mounted directly on an aircraft engine and records, stores, encrypts and transmits full flight engine data. The system preferably interfaces to the Full Authority Digital Engine Controller/Engine Control Unit (FADEC/ECU) and can record hundreds of engine parameters with a preferred sampling frequency of about one second. The engine monitoring module is preferably formed as a miniaturized module directly mounted on the aircraft engine within its cowling and has a conformal antenna. The engine monitoring module can also upload data for onboard processing.

Claims

1. A system for providing a record of the performance of an aircraft engine comprising:

an engine monitoring module mounted on the aircraft engine for collecting engine data relating to operation of the aircraft engine and a data address assigned to the engine monitoring module and linking the data address to an engine serial number for tracking the aircraft engine, said engine monitoring module further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the engine data over a wireless communications signal; and

a receiver for receiving the transmitted engine data.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises a spread spectrum transmitter for transmitting the engine data over a wideband spread spectrum communications signal.

3. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising a conformal antenna mounted on the engine monitoring module through which the wireless communications signal is transmitted.

4. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising a processor operative for receiving the engine data from said receiver for further processing of the engine data.

5. A system according to claim 4, and further comprising an internet for transferring the engine data from the receiver to said processor.

6. A system according to claim 4, and further comprising a public switched telephone network for transferring the engine data from the receiver to said processor.

7. A system according to claim 4, and further comprising a cellular network for transferring the engine data from the receiver to said processor.

8. A system according to claim 4, and further comprising a transmitter operative with said receiver for transmitting said engine data from said receiver to said processor using a wireless communications signal.

9. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising a FADEC/ECU operative with said aircraft engine for collecting engine data, wherein said engine monitoring module is electrically connected to said FADEC/ECU for collecting engine data.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said data address comprises an internet address.

11. A system for providing a record of the performance of an aircraft engine comprising:

an engine monitoring module mounted on the aircraft engine for collecting aircraft engine data relating to operation of the aircraft engine and a data address assigned to the engine monitoring module and linking the data address to an engine serial number for tracking the aircraft engine, said engine monitoring module further comprising a transceiver for transmitting the engine data and receiving data for onboard processing over a wireless communications signal; and

a receiver for receiving the transmitted engine data.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said transceiver comprises a spread spectrum transceiver for transmitting the engine data or receiving data for onboard processing over a wideband spread spectrum communications signal.

13. A system according to claim 11, and further comprising a conformal antenna mounted on the engine monitoring module through which the wireless communications signal is transmitted and received.

14. A system according to claim 11, and further comprising a processor operative for receiving the engine data from said receiver for further processing of the engine data.

15. A system according to claim 14, and further comprising an internet for transferring the engine data from the receiver to said processor.

16. A system according to claim 14, and further comprising a public switched telephone network for transferring the engine data from the receiver to said processor.

17. A system according to claim 14, and further comprising a cellular network for transferring the engine data from the receiver to said processor.

18. A system according to claim 14, and further comprising a transmitter operative with said receiver for transmitting said engine data from said receiver to said processor using a wireless communications signal.

19. A system according to claim 11, and further comprising a FADEC/ECU operative with said aircraft engine for collecting engine data, wherein said engine monitoring module is electrically connected to said FADEC/ECU for collecting engine data therefrom.

20. A system according to claim 11, wherein said data address comprises an internet address.

21. A wireless engine monitoring system comprising:

an aircraft engine; and

an engine monitoring module mounted on the aircraft engine and operative for collecting engine data relating to the performance of the aircraft engine and a data address assigned to the engine monitoring module and linking the data address to an engine serial number for tracking the aircraft engine, said engine monitoring module further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the engine data over a wireless communications signal.

22. A wireless engine monitoring system according to claim 21, and further comprising a FADEC/ECU operative with the aircraft engine for collecting engine data from the aircraft engine, wherein said engine monitoring module is operative with said FADEC/ECU for collecting engine data therefrom.

23. A wireless engine monitoring system according to claim 21, and further comprising a conformal antenna mounted on the engine monitoring module through which the wireless communications signal is transmitted.

24. A wireless engine monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein said data address comprises an internet address.

25. A wireless engine monitoring system comprising:

an aircraft engine; and

an engine monitoring module mounted on the aircraft engine and operative for collecting engine data relating to the performance of the aircraft engine and a data address assigned to the engine monitoring module and linking the data address to an engine serial number for tracking the aircraft engine, said engine monitoring module further comprising a transceiver for transmitting the engine data and receiving data for onboard processing over a wireless communications signal.

26. A wireless engine monitoring system according to claim 25, and further comprising a FADEC/ECU operative with the aircraft engine for collecting engine data from the aircraft engine, wherein said engine monitoring module is operative with said FADEC/ECU for collecting engine data therefrom.

27. A wireless engine monitoring system according to claim 25, and further comprising a conformal antenna mounted on the engine monitoring module through which the wireless communications signal is transmitted and received.

28. A wireless engine monitoring system according to claim 25, wherein said data address comprises an internet address.

29. A method of providing a record of the performance of an aircraft engine comprising the steps of:

collecting aircraft engine data within an engine monitoring module mounted on the aircraft engine while also assigning a data address to the engine monitoring module and linking the data address to an engine serial number for tracking the aircraft engine; and

downloading the engine data that has been collected in the engine monitoring module over a wireless communications signal to a receiver.

30. A method according to claim 29, and further comprising the step of downloading the engine data over a wideband spread spectrum communications signal.

31. A method according to claim 29, and further comprising the step of transmitting the wireless communications signal via a conformal antenna mounted on the engine monitoring module.

32. A method according to claim 29, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data from the receiver to a processor for further processing.

33. A method according to claim 32, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data using the internet.

34. A method according to claim 32, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data using a public switched telephone network.

35. A method according to claim 32, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data using a cellular network.

36. A method according to claim 32, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data using a wireless signal.

37. A method according to claim 29, and further comprising the step of collecting engine data from a FADEC/ECU operative with the aircraft engine.

38. A method according to claim 29, wherein the data address comprises an internet address.

39. A method of providing a record of the performance of an aircraft engine comprising the steps of:

collecting aircraft engine data within an engine monitoring module mounted on the aircraft engine while also assigning a data address to the engine monitoring module and linking the data address to an engine serial number for tracking the aircraft engine; and

downloading the engine data that has been collected in the engine monitoring module over a wireless communications signal to a receiver or uploading data for onboard processing over a wireless communications signal to a receiver at the engine monitoring module.

40. A method according to claim 39, and further comprising the step of downloading the engine data or uploading data for onboard processing, either over a wideband spread spectrum communications signal.

41. A method according to claim 39, and further comprising the step of transmitting or receiving the wireless communications signal, either via a conformal antenna mounted on the engine monitoring module.

42. A method according to claim 39, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data from the receiver to a processor for further processing.

43. A method according to claim 42, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data using the internet.

44. A method according to claim 42, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data using a public switched telephone network.

45. A method according to claim 42, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data using a cellular network.

46. A method according to claim 42, and further comprising the step of transferring the engine data using a wireless signal.

47. A method according to claim 39, and further comprising the step of collecting engine data from a FADEC/ECU operative with the aircraft engine.

48. A method according to claim 39, wherein the data address comprises an internet address.