Component monitoring arrangement

• US 8,260,093 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Care, Ian C. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GUY G
• Application Number:
  US12/738,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20100278476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 385 4- 5, 385 8- 13, 250227121-22718, 702 34- 35
• US Class Current: 385/13
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/086 Details about the embedment of the optical fiber within the DUT
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/088 of optical fibres; Mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0016 of aircraft wings or blades
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0091 by using electromagnetic excitation or detection

Abstract

Fibre substrates act as a conduit for light along which response signals are transmitted to a controller in the form of an electronic device associated with a component. The processed signals are stored in a local memory to provide a component history and a prediction of future performance and life. Service and repair history may be added to the component device memory to enable a complete history to be stored with the component. A controller may transmit data to an external controller or display through typically a wireless connection. Power to the component electronics may be provided by an induction loop or transformer.

Claims

1. A component monitoring arrangement for a fibre-reinforced composite component, the component comprising a fibre substrate incorporating a sensor element, the fibre substrate being configured or orientated in use within the component to expose the sensor element to environmental variations incident upon or to the component and the sensor element being responsive to such environmental variations, the arrangement including a memory coupled to the sensor element to receive response signals, the memory integrally associated with the component, the memory storing the response signal to provide a component history.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the memory stores the response signals for a pre-determined fabrication stage and/or time period of operation for the component, the component history configured for comparison with a specified component history to provide an indication of expected operational life.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor element comprises a coating upon the fibre substrate.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein the coating on the fibre substrate is arranged to provide a response to variations in pH or moisture presented to the sensor element.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor element comprises a Bragg grating in order to determine through configuration and deformity of the components substrate pressure, temperature, acceleration, strain, rotational speed, fibre substrate position angular position, tip gap, tip timing or integrity within the component.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor element is interrogated by a light beam made up of one or more frequencies of light to provide a response signal shifted dependent upon the environmental variation.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor element is associated with a controller.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the response signal is sent to the controller by wireless link.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the controller is arranged to actively interrogate the sensor element periodically or specifically.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the controller has a memory device for storing response signals.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein the memory device is arranged to allow periodic determination of response signals of the sensor element over a desired time period.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein the memory device is pre-programmed with component details and identification such as part and serial numbers.

13. A component incorporating a component monitoring arrangement as claimed in claim 1.

14. An assembly of components as claimed in claim 13 wherein each component includes a signal transmission path with adjacent components whereby at least some response signals from adjacent components are stored in at least one memory.