Systems and methods for detecting chips in fluid of aircraft engine
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsThomas Trevor Ricci, Simon Sai-Ming Lam, James Robert Jarvo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is described herein methods and systems for detecting of metallic chips in a fluid system of an aircraft engine. A resistance value is measured across a magnetic chip detector mounted to a fluid system of the aircraft engine. The resistance value is transmitted to an engine computer of the aircraft engine. In the engine computer, The resistance value is compared to a first threshold and a first warning indicative of a chip in the fluid is issued when the resistance value exceeds the first threshold.
Claims18
A method for detecting chips in fluid of an aircraft engine, the method comprising:
- dynamically setting, in an engine computer, a first threshold for detecting chips in the fluid;
- measuring a resistance value across a first magnetic chip detector mounted to a fluid system of the aircraft engine at a first location and transmitting the resistance value to the engine computer of the aircraft engine;
- comparing, in the engine computer, the resistance value to the first threshold by converting the resistance value to a chip size based on a correlation between resistance and chip size, and comparing the chip size to the first threshold;
- and
- issuing, from the engine computer, a first warning indicative of a chip in the fluid when the resistance value exceeds the first threshold.
A chip detection system for an aircraft engine, the detection system comprising:
- a magnetic chip detector mounted to a fluid system of the aircraft engine at a first location;
- a resistance measurement circuit connected with the magnetic chip detector and configured for measuring a resistance value across the magnetic chip detector;
- and
- an engine computer coupled to the resistance measurement circuit and configured for:
- dynamically setting a first threshold for detecting chips in the fluid;
- receiving the resistance value from the resistance measurement circuit;
- comparing the resistance value to the first threshold by converting the resistance value to a chip size based on a correlation between resistance and chip size, and comparing the chip size to the first threshold;
- and
- issuing a first warning indicative of a chip in the fluid when the resistance value exceeds the first threshold.
A method for detecting chips in fluid of an aircraft engine, the method comprising:
- dynamically setting, in an engine computer, a first threshold based on at least one of a current condition of the aircraft engine and a flight mission;
- measuring a resistance value across a magnetic chip detector mounted to a fluid system of the aircraft engine and transmitting the resistance value to the engine computer of the aircraft engine;
- and
- in the engine computer:
- comparing the resistance value to the first threshold;
- and
- issuing a first warning indicative of a chip in the fluid when the resistance value exceeds the first threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.