System and method for aircraft braking system usage monitoring

• US 7,464,796 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• 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): RODRIGUEZ, PAMELA
• Application Number:
  US11/744,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 188/1.11 L, 188/1.11 E, 188/1.11 W, 303/20, 303/122.03, 303/140, 303/146, 303/155, 244/111, 340/454, 162/08, 731/29, 731/30, 701/72
• US Class Current: 188/1.11L
• 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 an aircraft brake, comprising:

means for measuring a period of time elapsed during each brake application;

a wheel speed monitor for generating a wheel speed signal indicating wheel speed of the aircraft;

means for distinguishing between static brake applications and moving brake applications based upon said wheel speed signal;

means for determining an estimate of usage of said brake and for determining the degree to which each individual brake application contributes to brake wear, said means for determining an estimate of usage receiving said wheel speed signal and determining a distance over which each brake application occurs based upon the wheel speed of the aircraft during each brake application and said period of time elapsed during each brake application;

at least one sensor for sensing input power to a standby system and for generating an input power signal; and

means for measuring the period of time elapsed during each usage of said standby system and for generating an elapsed time signal received by said means for determining an estimate of usage, and said means for determining an estimate of usage receiving said input power signal for determining usage of said standby system based upon said input power signal and said elapsed time signal.