Ram air turbine with flux regulated permanent magnet generator and testing method

• US 8,855,952 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Spierling, Todd A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAILEY, COREY M
• Application Number:
  US12/984,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20120173173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/44, 290/55, 290/90, 702/135, 702/136, 702/179, 702/181, 702/182, 702/183
• US Class Current: 702/58
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/007 Ram air turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/346 Testing of armature or field windings

Abstract

A deployable ram air turbine assembly includes a rotatable turbine, a drivetrain mechanically connected to the rotatable turbine, and a flux regulated permanent magnet generator operably connected to the drivetrain.

Claims

1. A method of testing a deployable ram air turbine having a flux regulated permanent magnet generator, the method comprising:

providing power to a first winding of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator, wherein the power is provided to the first winding when a rotor of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator is at rest;

sensing a resistance of the first winding;

analyzing the sensed resistance of the first winding;

sending an output indicative of test data gathered from the flux regulated permanent magnet generator to a central maintenance computer after analyzing the sensed resistance of the first winding;

performing a dielectric test of electrical insulation adjacent to the first winding, wherein performing the dielectric test comprises sensing power leakage between the first winding and second winding; and

analyzing sensed data from the dielectric test.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

sending a signal from the central maintenance computer to a generator control unit to initiate testing, wherein the central maintenance computer is located remotely from the deployable ram air turbine.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

providing power to a second winding of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator, wherein the power is provided to the second winding when a rotor of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator is at rest;

sensing a resistance of the second winding; and

analyzing the sensed resistance of the second winding.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein analyzing the sensed resistance of the second winding comprises comparing sensed resistance of the second winding to a limit.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein analyzing the sensed resistance of the second winding comprises trend monitoring of sensed resistance of the second winding over time.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

performing a dielectric test of electrical insulation adjacent to the second winding, wherein performing the dielectric test comprises sensing power leakage between the second winding and first winding or ground.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the sensed resistance of the first winding comprises comparing sensed resistance of the first winding to a limit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the sensed resistance of the first winding comprises trend monitoring of sensed resistance of the first winding over time.

9. A method of testing a deployable ram air turbine having a flux regulated permanent magnet generator, the method comprising:

providing power to a first winding of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator, wherein the power is provided to the first winding when a rotor of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator is at rest;

performing a dielectric test of electrical insulation adjacent to the first winding, wherein performing the dielectric test comprises sensing power leakage between the first winding and second winding or ground;

analyzing sensed data from the dielectric test; and

sending an output indicative of test data gathered from the flux regulated permanent magnet generator to a central maintenance computer after performing a dielectric test of electrical insulation adjacent to the first winding.

10. The method of claim 9 and further comprising:

sending a signal from the central maintenance computer to a generator control unit to initiate testing, wherein the central maintenance computer is located remotely from the deployable ram air turbine.

11. The method of claim 9 and further comprising:

sensing a resistance of the first winding; and

analyzing the sensed resistance of the first winding.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein analyzing the sensed resistance of the first winding comprises comparing sensed resistance of the first winding to a limit.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein analyzing the sensed resistance of the first winding comprises trend monitoring of sensed resistance of the first winding over time.

14. The method of claim 9 and further comprising:

providing power to a second winding of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator, wherein the power is provided to the second winding when a rotor of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator is at rest;

sensing a resistance of the second winding; and

analyzing the sensed resistance of the second winding.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein analyzing the sensed resistance of the second winding comprises comparing sensed resistance of the second winding to a limit.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein analyzing the sensed resistance of the second winding comprises trend monitoring of sensed resistance of the second winding over time.

17. The method of claim 9 and further comprising:

performing a dielectric test of electrical insulation adjacent to the second winding, wherein performing the dielectric test comprises sensing power leakage between the second winding and first winding.

18. A deployable ram air turbine assembly comprising:

a rotatable turbine;

an actuator for selectively deploying the rotatable turbine;

a drivetrain mechanically connected to the rotatable turbine;

a flux regulated permanent magnet generator operably connected to the drivetrain; and

a generator control unit, wherein the generator control unit is configured to run a test protocol on the flux regulated permanent magnet generator, wherein the test protocol provides a dielectric test of electrical insulation adjacent to the first winding, wherein performing the dielectric test comprises sensing power leakage between the first winding and second winding or ground.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein at least one electrical component of the flux regulated permanent magnet generator is configured to receive power from an external power source to perform the test protocol.

20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the generator control unit is further configured to send test data to a central maintenance computer to store the test data.