Automatic envelope limiting based on detected hydraulic failures
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsChristopher A. Thornberg, Derek H. Geiger, Joseph T. Driscoll, Ole Wulff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotary-wing aircraft and system for flying a rotary-wing aircraft. The aircraft includes a servo system for actuating a rotor of the aircraft. A hydraulic system provides hydraulic power to the servo system, and a sensor measures a parameter of the hydraulic system. A processor determines a condition of the hydraulic system from the parameter and enforces an effective flight envelop based on the condition of the hydraulic system in order to fly the aircraft within the effective flight envelope.
Claims15
A system for flying a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising:
- a servo motor for actuating a rotor of the rotary-wing aircraft;
- a hydraulic system for providing hydraulic power to the servo motor;
- a sensor that measures a hydraulic parameter of the hydraulic system;
- a processor configured to:
- determine an impaired condition of the hydraulic system from the hydraulic parameter,
- calculate a flight envelope of the aircraft based on a nominal flight envelope for the hydraulic system operating at full capacity and the impaired condition of the hydraulic system, and
- operate the hydraulic system within the capabilities of the hydraulic system in its impaired condition to fly the aircraft within the flight envelope.
A rotary-wing aircraft, comprising:
- a servo system for actuating a rotor of the rotary-wing aircraft;
- a hydraulic system for powering the servo system;
- a sensor that measures a hydraulic parameter of the hydraulic system;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- determine an impaired condition of the hydraulic system from the hydraulic parameter,
- calculate a flight envelope of the aircraft based on a nominal flight envelope for the hydraulic system operating at full capacity and the impaired condition of the hydraulic system, and
- operate the hydraulic system within the capabilities of the hydraulic system in its impaired condition to fly the aircraft within the flight envelope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.