Aircraft power failure simulation apparatus and method

• US 8,441,375 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Knoop, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/745,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/952, 340/963, 340/971, 340/12.32, 307/132.M, 307/149, 361/23, 361/100, 60/391.63, 607/87, 608/02, 224/58, 224/60, 224/62
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/008 on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels

Abstract

A flight management verification apparatus adapted to verify at least one flight management, wherein the flight management in use outputs a warning, disables an aircraft and/or inhibits the activation thereof in response to a power fail condition. The flight management verification apparatus comprises a first connection means adapted to be disposed in a first power indicator line to a first flight management, wherein the first power indicator line provides a signal representative of a condition of a first power supply, and further comprises a first switch connected in use such that the signal of the power indicator line for the first flight management means is switched. Actuating the switch causes the signal on the power indicator line to change indicating a distortion or failure of the power supply of the aircraft and/or a part thereof. The response of the flight management can be verified by the signal output by the flight management, e.g. on a display, or in that the aircraft is deactivated and/or cannot be activated.

Claims

1. A method for verifying at least one flight management means and the wiring connected thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

disposing a switch means in a power indicator line connected to a first flight management means, wherein the power indicator line provides a signal indicative of a condition of a power supply;

modifying the signal on the power indicator line by actuating the switch means; and

verifying the response of the flight management means;

wherein the step of disposing a switch means in a power indicator line includes disposing a switch means in a plurality of power indicator lines and/or a plurality of switch means in a plurality of power indicator lines connected to a plurality of flight management means, and the step of modifying the signal in the power indicator line includes the step of modifying a plurality of signals in a plurality of power indicator lines; and

wherein the flight management means is adapted to output a warning, disable an aircraft means and/or inhibit the activation thereof, in response to a power condition of at least one power supply in an aircraft.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal in the power indicator line is indicative of a redundant power supply from a plurality from power supplies.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signal in the power indicator line is transmitted to a plurality of flight management means.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of modifying the signal in the power indicator line includes the step of simulating an interruption or an overload condition of a power supply.

5. A flight management means operation verificator comprising:

a first connection means adapted to be disposed in a first power indicator line connected to a first flight management means, wherein the first power indicator line provides a signal indicative of a condition of a first power supply;

a first switch means connected in use such that the signal of the first power indicator line coupled with the first flight management means is switched;

a second switch means connected in use such that the signal of a second power indicator line coupled with a second flight management means is switched; and

wherein the flight management means operation verificator is adapted to verify at least one flight management means and the wiring connected thereto, wherein the flight management means in use outputs a warning, disables an aircraft means and/or inhibits the activation thereof, in response to a power fail condition.

6. The flight management means operation verificator according to claim 5, further comprising

a second connection means adapted to be disposed in a third and fourth power indicator line to a first and second flight management means, respectively, wherein the third and fourth power indicator line provide a signal indicative of a condition of a second power supply;

a third switch means connected in use such that the signal of the third power indicator line coupled with the first flight management means is switched; and

a fourth switch means connected in use such that the signal of the fourth power indicator line coupled with the second flight management means is switched.

7. The flight management means operation verificator according to claim 6, further comprising

a third connection means adapted to be disposed between a fifth and sixth power indicator line to the first and second flight management means respectively, wherein the fifth and sixth power indicator line provides a signal indicative of a condition of a third power supply;

a fifth switch means connected in use such that the signal of the fifth power indicator line coupled with the first flight management means is switched; and

a sixth switch means connected in use such that the signal of the sixth power indicator line coupled with the second flight management means is switched.

8. The flight management means operation verificator according to claim 7, wherein the third power supply is an emergency power supply for an aircraft.

9. The flight management means operation verificator according to claim 6, wherein the second power supply is a second generator driven by a second aircraft engine.

10. The flight management means operation verificator according to claim 5, wherein the first power supply is a first generator driven by a first aircraft engine.