Closed loop load force estimation systems and methods

• US 9,534,971 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Singh, Sameep, Kolk, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOPKINS, BRANDI N
• Application Number:
  US14/564,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20160161352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 731/26, 738/626.8, 701 70- 72, 303/155, 188/156, 188/158
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1703 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3255 Systems in which the braking action is dependent on brake pedal data
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/006 without direct measurement of the quantity monitored, e.g. wear or temperature calculated form force and duration of braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/24 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/38 mechanically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/18 adapted for drawing members together , e.g. for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/225 to foot actuated controls, e.g. brake pedals
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence

Abstract

What is described is a system for determining a force applied to an outer disc of an aircraft brake by an actuator motor. The system includes a current sensor coupled to the actuator motor and configured to detect a detected amount of current applied to the actuator motor. The system also includes a controller coupled to the current sensor. The controller is configured to determine an estimated current. The controller is also configured to receive the detected amount of current. The controller is also configured to determine an adjusted current based on the detected amount of current and the estimated current. The controller is also configured to determine an estimate of the force applied to the outer disc based on the adjusted current.

Claims

1. A system for determining a force applied to a disc brake system of an aircraft, the system comprising:

an aircraft brake having a plurality of discs including an outer disc;

an actuator configured to apply a force to the outer disc to compress the plurality of discs to reduce an angular velocity of wheels of the aircraft;

a current sensor coupled to the actuator and configured to detect a measured amount of current applied to the actuator; and

a controller coupled to the current sensor and configured to;

determine an estimated current applied to the actuator based on the measured amount of current detected by the current sensor that is applied to the actuator,

determine an adjusted current based on the measured amount of current and the estimated current, and

determine an estimate of the force applied to the outer disc based on the adjusted current.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the adjusted current using a PI controller to generate an output.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the adjusted current by performing low pass filtering on the output of the PI controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the estimated current based on the estimate of the force.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a temporary estimated force based on the estimated current.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to determine a difference between the temporary estimated force and the estimate of the force.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to determine a force difference by multiplying the difference between the temporary estimated force and the estimate of the force by a constant value.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determine the estimated current by integrating the force difference.

9. A method for determining a force applied to an outer disc of an aircraft brake by an actuator, the method comprising:

receiving, at a controller of an aircraft and from a current sensor of the aircraft, a measured amount of current;

determining, by the controller, an estimated current based on the measured amount of current;

determining, by the controller, an adjusted current based on the detected measured amount of current and the estimated current; and

determining, by the controller, an estimate of the force applied to the outer disc based on the adjusted current.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the adjusted current is performed using a PI controller to generate an output.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the adjusted current includes filtering, by a low pass filter, the output of the PI controller.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the estimated current includes determining the estimated current based on the estimate of the force.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the estimated current includes determining a temporary estimated force based on the estimated current.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the estimated current further includes determining a difference between the temporary estimated force and the estimate of the force.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the estimated current further includes determining a force difference by multiplying the difference between the temporary estimated force and the estimate of the force by a constant value and determining the estimated current by integrating the force difference.