System and method for improved rotary-wing aircraft performance with interior/external loads

• US 7,954,766 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Brainard, Steven J., Houy, David R., Stobiecki, Anthony Z., Scott, Mark W., Weiner, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US11/455,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 244/194, 244/76.R, 244/195, 701/124, 73/650.5, 731/78.T
• US Class Current: 244/194
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2207/10 Displays which are primarily used in aircraft or display aircraft-specific information
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/02 Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/127 during the flight
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0858 specially adapted for vertical take-off of aircraft

Abstract

An interactive aircraft load management system automates calculation and provides simulation capability to changes in an aircraft C.G. limit for display on a three-dimensional aircraft symbology. The aircraft load management system also communicates with a fly by wire (FBW) flight control system wherein the aircraft'"'"'s control system is programmed to automatically compensate for C.G. excursions and to alter control laws. The aircraft load management system also selectively reels-in and reels out sling lines as the aircraft pitches and rolls to maintain a load vector from a slung load along the aircraft centerline. Load vector travel is accomplished by coupling a winch control system into the flight control system.

Claims

1. A system to manage aircraft loads, comprising:

a sensor system that receives weight information;

an aircraft load management system in communication with said sensor system;

a display in communication with said aircraft load management system, said display operable to display an aircraft C.G. in real time, said aircraft C.G. represented by an actual C.G. indicator ball symbology relative to a C.G. limit ring symbology;

said actual C.G. indicator ball symbology and said C.G. limit ring symbology overlaid on an aircraft plan view which comprises an aircraft internal cargo area schematic; and

a cargo symbol, said cargo symbol placed relative to said aircraft internal cargo area schematic by an input device in communication with said display, said aircraft load management system operable to adjust said aircraft C.G. in real time in response to a relative position of said cargo symbol and upon said aircraft internal cargo area schematic.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said actual C.G. indicator ball symbology and said C.G. limit ring symbology are overlaid on an aircraft profile view.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said aircraft profile view comprises a schematic which displays at least one external load.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said aircraft load management system is operable to identify an order of release of said each external load of said at least one external load.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein said order of release is defined to ensure that release of said each external load of said at least one external load will have minimal impact on said aircraft C.G.

6. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein a “

P”

is located adjacent each load value of said at least one external load to identify a planned weight for said each load of said at least one external load.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein said planned weight for said each external load of said at least one external load is replaced by an actual load value and removal of said “

P”

in response to aircraft liftoff and weight measurement of said each external load of said at least one external load by said sensor system.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said aircraft load management system is in communication with a flight control system.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said aircraft internal cargo area schematic is divided into sections and subdivided into left and right columns.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said aircraft internal cargo area schematic is defined in part by station and butt line dimensions.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said cargo symbol includes a vehicle symbol defined in part by an axle position relative to said aircraft internal cargo area schematic.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said cargo symbol includes a Pallet cargo symbol.

13. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said aircraft C.G. includes at least one of an internal load within said aircraft internal cargo area and an external load.

14. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said aircraft C.G. includes both an internal load within said aircraft internal cargo area and an external load.

15. A system to manage aircraft loads, comprising:

an aircraft load management system that determines aircraft C.G. data of an aircraft with an;

a flight control system in communication with said aircraft load management system, said flight control system programmed to adjust an aircraft trim state in real time through alteration of at least one flight control law of said flight control system to automatically compensate for aircraft C.G. excursions in response to said aircraft C.G. data, said aircraft C.G. data includes one or both of an internal cargo load within an aircraft internal cargo area and an external cargo load; and

a sling system in communication with said aircraft load management system, said aircraft load management system programmed to adjust a slung load in real time to maintain a load vector of the slung load generally along an aircraft centerline.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said aircraft load management system is in communication with a display programmed to display an aircraft C.G. relative an aircraft symbology to display the aircraft C.G. data in real time.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said sling system comprises a multiple of independently operable hoists, said aircraft load management system programmed to adjust a line length between each hoist and the slung load.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said load management system anticipates aircraft'"'"'s attitudes and accelerations to provide proactive control.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein said aircraft load management system receives real time flight data and position inputs from said flight control system.

20. A system to manage aircraft loads, comprising:

a sensor system that receives weight information;

an aircraft load management system in communication with said sensor system;

a display in communication with said aircraft load management system, said display operable to display an aircraft C.G. in real time, said aircraft C.G. represented by an actual C.G. indicator ball symbology relative to a C.G. limit ring symbology, said actual C.G. indicator ball symbology and said C.G. limit ring symbology overlaid on an aircraft plan view which comprises an aircraft internal cargo area schematic; and

a multiple of PAX symbols which represent cabin seating within said aircraft internal cargo area schematic, said multiple of PAX symbols individually selectable to represent a predetermined passenger type, said aircraft load management system operable to adjust said aircraft C.G. in real time in response to said selection.

21. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein said predetermined passenger type includes an assault loaded marine passenger type.

22. The system as recited in claim 20 wherein said predetermined passenger type is color coded.