Aircraft with transient-discriminating propeller balancing system
First Claim
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1. A method of balancing an aircraft propeller system comprising:
- receiving a vibration signal from the aircraft propeller system;
determining whether the vibration signal represents a transient vibration condition, wherein said determining whether the vibration signal represents a transient condition includes;
creating a band-passed filtered vibration signal from the vibration signal;
low-pass filtering the vibration signal based on a cutoff frequency to create a low-passed filtered vibration signal, wherein the vibration signal is first subjected to the step of band-pass filtering prior to the step of low-pass filtering;
calculating a difference of the band-passed filtered vibration signal and the low- passed filtered vibration signal;
comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold;
defining a threshold count having a minimum value, the minimum value being a minimum number of consecutive samples for which the predetermined threshold must be met to enable the balance correction controller;
enabling a balance correction controller if it is determined that the vibration signal does not represent a transient vibration condition;
generating a balance correction signal at the balance correction controller based on the vibration signal; and
balancing the aircraft propeller system in response to the balance correction signal.
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Abstract
A system for balancing an aircraft propeller system receives a vibration signal from the aircraft propeller system and determines whether the vibration signal indicates a transient vibration condition. If it is determined that the vibration signal does not indicate a transient condition, the system enables a balance correction controller. The controller generates a balance correction signal based on the vibration signal, and balances the aircraft propeller system in response to the balance correction signal if the balance correction controller is enabled.
46 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of balancing an aircraft propeller system comprising:
- receiving a vibration signal from the aircraft propeller system;
determining whether the vibration signal represents a transient vibration condition, wherein said determining whether the vibration signal represents a transient condition includes;
creating a band-passed filtered vibration signal from the vibration signal;
low-pass filtering the vibration signal based on a cutoff frequency to create a low-passed filtered vibration signal, wherein the vibration signal is first subjected to the step of band-pass filtering prior to the step of low-pass filtering;
calculating a difference of the band-passed filtered vibration signal and the low- passed filtered vibration signal;
comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold;
defining a threshold count having a minimum value, the minimum value being a minimum number of consecutive samples for which the predetermined threshold must be met to enable the balance correction controller;
enabling a balance correction controller if it is determined that the vibration signal does not represent a transient vibration condition;
generating a balance correction signal at the balance correction controller based on the vibration signal; and
balancing the aircraft propeller system in response to the balance correction signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- receiving a vibration signal from the aircraft propeller system;
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5. An aircraft with an aircraft propeller system and a propeller balancing system comprising:
- a balance correction mechanism coupled to the aircraft propeller system;
a vibration sensor coupled to the aircraft propeller system for generating a vibration signal;
a transient detector coupled to said vibration sensor; and
a balance controller coupled to said balance correction mechanism, said vibration sensor, and said transient detector;
wherein said transient detector enables said balance controller when the vibration signal does not indicate a transient condition;
wherein said transient detector is adapted to determine that the vibration signal does not represent a transient condition by;
creating a band-passed filtered vibration signal from the vibration signal;
low-pass filtering the vibration signal based on a cutoff frequency to create a low-passed filtered vibration signal, wherein the vibration signal is first subjected to the step of band-pass filtering prior to the step of low-pass filtering;
calculating a difference of the vibration signal and the filtered vibration signal; and
comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
- a balance correction mechanism coupled to the aircraft propeller system;
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10. An aircraft with a power source, said power source including a rotating member, said aircraft comprising a balancing system with a balance correction mechanism coupled to the rotating member, said balancing system comprising:
- a vibration sensor for generating a vibration signal;
a transient detector coupled to said vibration sensor;
a balance controller coupled to said vibration sensor;
wherein said transient detector enables said balance controller if the transient detector determines that the vibration signal does not represent a transient vibration condition;
wherein said transient detector is adapted to determine that the vibration signal does not represent a transient condition by;
creating a band-passed filtered vibration signal from the vibration signal;
low-pass filtering the vibration signal based on a cutoff frequency to create a low-passed filtered vibration signal, wherein the vibration signal is first subjected to the step of band-pass filtering prior to the step of low-pass filtering;
calculating a difference of the vibration signal and the filtered vibration signal; and
comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
- a vibration sensor for generating a vibration signal;
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15. A vibration control system for a machine with a rotating member, said vibration control system including an electromagnetically actuated correction mechanism coupled to the machine, said vibration control system comprising:
- a vibration sensor for generating a vibration signal;
a transient detector coupled to said vibration sensor;
a controller coupled to said vibration sensor;
wherein said transient detector enables said controller if the transient detector determines that the vibration signal does not represent a transient vibration condition;
wherein said transient detector is adapted to determine that the vibration signal does not represent a transient condition by;
creating a band-passed filtered vibration signal from the vibration signal;
low-pass filtering the vibration signal based on a cutoff frequency to create a low-passed filtered vibration signal, wherein the vibration signal is first subjected to the step of band-pass filtering prior to the step of low-pass filtering;
calculating a difference of the vibration signal and the filtered vibration signal; and
comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
- a vibration sensor for generating a vibration signal;
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18. A method of controlling an aircraft propeller vibration, said method comprising:
- providing an electromagnetically actuated vibration correction mechanism, receiving an aircraft propeller vibration signal;
determining whether the propeller vibration signal represents a transient vibration condition, wherein said determining whether the vibration signal represents a transient condition includes;
creating a band-passed filtered vibration signal from the vibration signal;
low-pass filtering the vibration signal based on a cutoff frequency to create a low-passed filtered vibration signal, wherein the vibration signal is first subjected to the step of band-pass filtering prior to the step of low-pass filtering;
calculating a difference of the band-passed filtered vibration signal and the low- passed filtered vibration signal;
comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold;defining a threshold count having a minimum value, the minimum value being a minimum number of consecutive samples for which the predetermined threshold must be met to enable the balance correction controller;
enabling a controller if it is determined that the vibration signal does not represent a transient vibration condition;
generating a balance correction signal at the enabled controller based on the vibration signal;and using the balance correction signal to electromagnetically actuate said correction mechanism if the controller is enabled. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
- providing an electromagnetically actuated vibration correction mechanism, receiving an aircraft propeller vibration signal;
Specification