Preconditioned air (PCA) temperature monitor

• US 8,665,100 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twist, Inc. (Aeria, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Twist, Inc. (Aeria, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Joe W., Dillon, James, McIntire, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/861,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20110050430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 340/584, 340/540, 340/589, 340/622, 285/148.15, 285/311, 285/320, 285/383
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/305 Bridges extending between terminal building and aircraft, e.g. telescopic, vertically adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/362 Installations for supplying conditioned air to parked aircraft

Abstract

The performance of a PCA unit associated with an airport gate is monitored by a temperature sensor in the stream of output air leaving the PCA unit, to produce a signal indicative of the temperature of the output air that may be compared to an acceptable range of values, or to the temperature of air input to the PCA unit (as measured by a second temperature sensor). An alert is generated to a human operator if the temperature measured does not compare favorably with the desired range.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating performance of a preconditioned air unit associated with an airport gate comprising:

a temperature sensor in a stream of output air leaving the preconditioned air unit producing a signal indicative of the temperature of the output air;

circuitry to compare the signal to an acceptable range of values; and

an output device to convey to a human operator a result of a comparison of the signal to the acceptable range of values when the preconditioned air unit is running and stabilized.

2. An apparatus for communicating performance of a preconditioned air unit associated with an airport gate comprising:

a first temperature sensor in a stream of output air leaving the preconditioned air unit producing a signal indicative of the temperature of the output air;

a second temperature sensor producing a signal indicative of the temperature of input air entering the preconditioned air unit;

circuitry to determine a value indicative of a difference in temperature between the output air and the input air and compare the difference to at least one acceptable value; and

an output device to convey to a human operator a result of a comparison of the signal to the acceptable range of values when the preconditioned air unit is running and stabilized.

3. A method of identifying a malfunctioning preconditioned air unit comprising:

measuring temperature of air at a location downstream of the preconditioned air unit, the location being positioned in a pathway of air discharged to a volume that the preconditioned air unit is serving;

sending a signal indicative of the measured temperature to a comparison circuit;

comparing the temperature measured to a desired temperature; and

generating an alert signal if the temperature measured does not compare favorably with the desired range.