System and method of measuring and monitoring torque in a rotorcraft drive system
First Claim
1. A method of optimizing an operation of a rotorcraft, the rotorcraft having a tail rotor drive shaft, the method comprising:
- storing a torque history of the tail rotor drive shaft, the torque history including a plurality of torque measurements over a period of time that indicate a degree to which the tail rotor drive shaft was torque loaded during the period of time;
determining an actual usage of the tail rotor drive shaft during operation of the rotorcraft based upon the torque history;
adjusting a defined life of the tail rotor drive shaft based upon the actual usage;
wherein the plurality of torque measurements are derived from a tail rotor drive shaft torque measuring sensor system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of optimizing an operation of a rotorcraft includes measuring actual usage of the tail rotor drive shaft during operation of the rotorcraft, the actual usage including at least a torque measurement. The method further includes a step of adjusting a life of the tail rotor drive shaft based upon the measuring of the actual usage. Another method of the present disclosure includes determining a main rotor mast torque by measuring a tail rotor drive shaft torque and deriving a main rotor mast torque by considering the measured tail rotor drive shaft torque and a total torque output of an engine. A system of the present disclosure is configured for determining the main rotor mast torque in part by measuring the tail rotor torque.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of optimizing an operation of a rotorcraft, the rotorcraft having a tail rotor drive shaft, the method comprising:
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storing a torque history of the tail rotor drive shaft, the torque history including a plurality of torque measurements over a period of time that indicate a degree to which the tail rotor drive shaft was torque loaded during the period of time; determining an actual usage of the tail rotor drive shaft during operation of the rotorcraft based upon the torque history; adjusting a defined life of the tail rotor drive shaft based upon the actual usage; wherein the plurality of torque measurements are derived from a tail rotor drive shaft torque measuring sensor system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
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Original AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
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InventorsWendelsdorf, Joseph W., Hale, Keith, Riley, Walter West, Covington, Charles Eric, Tucker, Brian E.
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Primary Examiner(s)Cheung, Mary
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Assistant Examiner(s)BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
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Application NumberUS13/722,005Publication NumberTime in Patent Office719 DaysField of Search701/3, 701/29, 701/29.1, 701/29.4, 701/30, 701/31, 701/31.6, 701/31.9, 701/99, 702/33, 702/34, 702/41, 731/141.5, 731/14, 73/13, 738/620.8, 738/622.9, 738/623.1, 340/425, 340/438, 340/439, 60/392.82, 416/31, 416/43US Class Current701/99CPC Class CodesB64C 27/04 HelicoptersG01M 13/02 Gearings; Transmission mech...G01M 5/0016 of aircraft wings or bladesG06F 17/00 Digital computing or data p...
