Performance monitoring and prognostics for aircraft pneumatic control valves

• US 8,955,365 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embraer S.A.
• Original Assignee: Embraer S.A.
• Inventors: Puttini, Lucas Campos, do Amaral, Tiago Moraes
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W
• Assistant Examiner(s): HULS, NATALIE F
• Application Number:
  US12/635,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20100155634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 73/10.1, 73/17.2, 731/68, 702/33, 702/34, 702/183, 702/114, 702/182, 702/188, 251/129.01, 700/282
• US Class Current: 73/1.72
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0091 by measuring fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24077 Module detects wear, changes of controlled device, statistical evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25312 Pneumatic, hydraulic modules, controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0237 based on parallel systems, e.g. comparing signals produced at the same time by same type systems and detect faulty ones by noticing differences among their responses
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/024 Quantitative history assessment, e.g. mathematical relationships between available data; Functions therefor; Principal component analysis [PCA]; Partial least square [PLS]; Statistical classifiers, e.g. Bayesian networks, linear regression or correlation analysis; Neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06

Abstract

A method estimates the health state of an aircraft pneumatic control valve through indirect measurements of available sensors. Measurements from identical valves operating under the same condition are compared. Residues are translated into estimates of individual valve degradation state. Historical degradation states can be used to predict expected time to failure.

Claims

1. A method of assessing the health of first and second pneumatic valves used onboard aircraft, comprising:

monitoring a first process controlled by a first pneumatic valve;

monitoring a second process controlled by a second pneumatic valve;

using an electronic controller, comparing the monitored first process controlled by the first pneumatic valve with the monitored second process controlled by the second pneumatic valve to derive residues with reduced common mode components; and

using the at least one electronic controller, ascertaining at least one parameter associated with the health of at least one of the first pneumatic valve and the second pneumatic valve in response at least in part to said derived residue, including evaluating the residues derived from the first and second processes by comparing reference values against the residues with reduced common mode components.

2. The method of claim 1 further including using the at least one electronic controller to monitor the states of multiple processes, each controlled by a corresponding different pneumatic valve, and comparing states of said multiple processes controlled by said corresponding pneumatic valves to obtain the comparison results.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first process controlled by said first pneumatic valve is performed on a first aircraft, and said second performed by said second pneumatic valve is performed on a second aircraft different from said first aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein evaluating comprises calculating said comparison based on a reference value selection.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the valves are identical and operate in different flow circuits under the same conditions.

6. A system for assessing the health of a pneumatic valve controlled system, comprising:

means for monitoring the states of a first process controlled by a first pneumatic valve;

means for monitoring the states of a second process controlled by a second pneumatic valve which is a different valve from the first pneumatic valve;

means including at least one electronic controller for comparing the monitored states of the first process with the monitored states of the second process to derive at least one residue with reduced common mode components;

means including the at least one electronic controller for ascertaining at least one parameter associated with the health of at least one of the first pneumatic valve and the second pneumatic valve in response at least in part to said derived residue, including, residue evaluating means for comparing the derived residue against a reference value.

7. The system of claim 6 further including means for monitoring the states of multiple processes, each controlled by a corresponding pneumatic valve, and wherein said means for comparing uses said states of said processes controlled by said corresponding pneumatic valves to obtain the comparison results by comparing states of different valves.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said first-mentioned monitoring means is disposed on a first aircraft, and said second-mentioned monitoring means is disposed on a second aircraft different from said first aircraft.

9. The system of claim 6 further including means for calculating said comparison based on a reference value selection.

10. A system for assessing the health of a pneumatic valve controlled system, comprising:

at least one first valve sensor that monitors the states of a first process controlled by a first pneumatic valve;

at least one second valve sensor that monitors the states of a second process controlled by a second pneumatic valve, the second valve being disposed in a different circuit than the first valve;

at least one electronic controller structured to compare the monitored states of the first process against the monitored states of the second process to derive at least one residue with reduced common mode components, and to ascertain at least one parameter associated with the health of at least one of the first pneumatic valve and the second pneumatic valve in response at least in part to said derived residue, including a residue evaluating block that compares the derived residue from the first and second processes against a reference value.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the valves are identical and operate in different flow circuits under the same conditions.

12. A non-transitory storage device storing instructions for execution by at least one electronic controller, the instructions being structured to use results of monitoring the states of a first process controlled by a first pneumatic valve and the states of a second process controlled by a second pneumatic valve to assess the health of a pneumatic valve controlled system onboard at least one aircraft, the first and second pneumatic valves being disposed in different flow arrangements, the instructions when executed by at least one electronic controller control the electronic controller to:

compare the monitored states of the first process with the monitored states of the second process to derive at least one residue;

ascertain at least one parameter associated with the health of at least one of the first pneumatic valve and the second pneumatic valve in response at least in part to said derived residue, including evaluate the residue derived from the first and second processes against a reference value.

13. The storage device of claim 12 wherein the valves are identical and operate in different flow circuits under the same conditions.