Smart wireless engine sensor

• US 7,854,127 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Rork
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wongwian; Phutthiwat
• Application Number:
  US11/585,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 602/261, 608/03, 340/945, 340/963, 340/971, 701/3, 701/9, 701/14, 415/118
• US Class Current: 60/803
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Sensors are mounted to an engine to detect engine conditions and send information to an engine controller or other engine component through a wireless connection. Ports are located on the engine controller. An antenna assembly is plugged into one of the ports and wirelessly receives the signal from the sensor. Another antenna assembly transmits a signal from the engine controller to an external component. A processor within the antenna assemblies monitors and adjusts the signals to correct for signal interference.

Claims

1. A turbine engine control comprising:

a sensor to be mounted to a gas turbine engine to sense engine conditions;

an antenna assembly having a sensor antenna, and a component antenna that communicates information to an external component by wireless transmission; and

an engine component having at least one component port that receives a detachable pin connector of the component antenna of the antenna assembly, wherein the sensor communicates information to the engine component by wireless transmission and the engine component and the external component are separate and different components.

2. The turbine engine control of claim 1 wherein the sensor antenna comprises a sensor processor and the component antenna comprises a component processor to analyze data from the sensor.

3. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the external component comprises a computer.

4. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the external component is located on an aircraft.

5. The turbine engine control of claim 1, comprising a radome covering the sensor antenna.

6. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the sensor antenna comprises a transmitter and a receiver.

7. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the engine component is an engine controller.

8. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the engine component are separate components.

9. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the engine component is mounted on the gas turbine engine.

10. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the engine component is an engine controller that is mounted on the gas turbine engine.

11. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the engine component is an engine controller mounted on the gas turbine engine, and the external component is a computer.

12. The turbine engine control of claim 1, wherein the gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor, a combustor and a turbine.