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Method and device for detecting defects of at least one rotary wing aircraft rotor

  • US 7,085,655 B2
  • Filed: 05/15/2002
  • Issued: 08/01/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of at least detecting defects, if any, of at least one rotor (6, 10) of a first rotary wing aircraft, a defect corresponding to a defective state of a part of the rotor (6, 10), wherein:

  • I—

    in a preliminary step, using a second reference aircraft of a type corresponding to the first rotary wing aircraft, and having its rotor (6, 10) without defect and adjusted to a reference setting for which the vibration level of at least one portion (3, 8) of said reference aircraft is at a minimum, the following operations are performed;

    a) taking at least a first series of measurements on said reference aircraft by measuring, during particular operation of said reference aircraft, the values of at least two accelerations which are measured at arbitrary locations of said portion (3, 8) of the reference aircraft and which are representative of the vibration generated at said portion (3, 8) of the reference aircraft;

    i) firstly using the rotor (6, 10) of the reference aircraft which is without defect and which is adjusted on said reference setting; and

    ii) secondly by introducing a defective replacement part into said rotor (6, 10); and

    b) on the basis of said first series of acceleration measurements and assuming that the reference aircraft is a deformable body, determining a neural network that illustrates the relationships between said accelerations and at least said introduced defective replacement part in the reference aircraft; and

    II—

    in a later step, for at least detecting any defects of the rotor (6, 10) of the first rotary wing aircraft, the following operations are performed on the first rotary wing aircraft;

    a) taking a second series of measurements on said first rotary wing aircraft by measuring the values of at least some of said accelerations at said portion (3, 8) of the first rotary wing aircraft during particular operation of said first rotary wing aircraft; and

    b) on the basis of said second series of acceleration measurements and on the basis of the neural network determined in step I/b), detecting any defects of said rotor (6, 8) in the first rotary wing aircraft.

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