# US 11,994,033 B2 · Modular and autonomous assembly for detecting the angular position of the blades of an impeller and modular and autonomous assembly for detecting damage to the blades of an impeller of a turbine engine

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- Number: US 11,994,033 B2
- Document ID: US11994033B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/755,995
- Filed: 2020-11-13
- Published: 2022-12-22
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-14
- Assignees: Safran Aircraft Engines
- Applicants: Safran Aircraft Engines
- Inventors: Alméric Pierre Louis Garnier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994033B2

## CPC

- F01D 17/02: Arrangement of sensing elements
- G01M 5/0033: {by determining damage, crack or wear}
- F01D 17/06: responsive to speed
- F01D 21/003: {Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H)}
- F01D 21/04: responsive to undesired position of rotor relative to stator {or to breaking-off of a part of the rotor}, e.g. indicating such position
- G01B 21/22: for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
- G01D 5/2452: {incorporating two or more tracks having an (n, n+1, ...) relationship}
- G01M 5/0016: {of aircraft wings or blades}
- G01M 15/14: Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines
- F01D 5/282: {Selecting composite materials, e.g. blades with reinforcing filaments}
- F05D 2220/323: for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines
- F05D 2260/80: Diagnostics
- F05D 2260/83: Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor
- G01D 21/00: Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A modular and autonomous assembly for detecting the angular position of the blades of an impeller intended to be mounted on a turbine engine, the assembly comprises at least one electrical power source allowing the operation of the elements of the detection assembly independently of the turbine engine on which it is intended to be carried, at least one first sensor intended to be associated with the first impeller, at least one second sensor intended to be associated with the second impeller, and a main housing including a processing unit and storage means.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular and autonomous assembly for detecting the angular position of the blades of an impeller intended to be mounted on a turbine engine,
wherein the assembly comprises at least one electrical power source allowing the operation of the elements of the detection assembly independently of the turbine engine on which it is intended to be carried, at least one first sensor mounted on a casing enclosing blades of the first impeller and intended to be associated with the first impeller, at least one second sensor intended to be associated with the second impeller, and a main housing including a main processing unit and storage means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main housing, said at least one first sensor and said at least one second sensor each comprises reversible manual attachment means allowing them to be removably mounted on the turbine engine.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 1, wherein each first and second sensor comprises a detection module, a local processing module, and communication means configured to deliver the measurements of the corresponding sensor to the processing unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 3, wherein each first and second sensor also comprises a power source for the sensor, and the communication means are wireless communication means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 1, intended to be mounted on a turbine engine including a first impeller comprising a first number of blades and a second impeller comprising a second number of blades, each of the two impellers having an air flow passing through it and being coupled directly or indirectly to one another, and the first number of blades of the first impeller and the second number of blades of the second impeller being distinct and mutually prime, each of said sensors being configured to generate a signal at each passage of a blade of an impeller in front of the sensor, and the main processing unit being configured to determine the time interval separating the detection of a blade of the first impeller with the detection of each of the blades of the second impeller.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the main housing also comprises a clock module on which are synchronized said at least one first and at least one second sensors.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first and at least one second sensor has a frequency bandwidth corresponding to the rotation speeds of the shaft for which the blades are detected.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An assembly for detecting damage to a blade of an impeller of a turbine engine, comprising a modular and autonomous assembly for detecting the angular position of the blades of an impeller according to claim 1, and alarm means.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A turbine engine configured to receive an autonomous and modular assembly for detecting damage to a blade of an impeller of a turbine engine according to claim 8, the turbine engine comprising, for each element of the assembly among the main housing, said at least one first sensor and said at least one second sensor, a recess and a hatch for access to said recess.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A turbine engine configured to receive an autonomous and modular assembly for detecting the angular position of the blades of an impeller according to claim 1 the turbine engine comprising, for each element of the assembly among the main housing, said at least one first sensor and said at least one second sensor, a recess and a hatch for access to said recess.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The turbine engine according to claim 10, comprising a first impeller comprising a first number of blades and a second impeller comprising a second number of blades, each of the two impellers having an air flow passing through it and being coupled directly or indirectly to one another, and the first number of blades of the first impeller and the second number of blades of the second impeller being distinct and mutually prime.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The turbine engine according to claim 10, comprising an autonomous and modular detection assembly for detecting the angular position of the blades of an impeller intended to be mounted on a turbine engine,
wherein the assembly comprises at least one electrical power source allowing the operation of the elements of the detection assembly independently of the turbine engine on which it is intended to be carried, at least one first sensor intended to be associated with the first impeller, at least one second sensor intended to be associated with the second impeller, and a main housing including a main processing unit and storage means.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

An aircraft comprising at least one turbine engine according to claim 10.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The turbine engine according to claim 10, comprising an assembly for detecting damage to a blade of an impeller of a turbine engine, the assembly for detecting damage to the blade of the impeller comprising a modular and autonomous assembly for detecting the angular position of the blades of the impeller,
wherein the assembly for detecting the angular position of the blades of the impeller comprises at least one electrical power source allowing the operation of the elements of the detection assembly independently of the turbine engine on which it is intended to be carried, at least one first sensor intended to be associated with the first impeller, at least one second sensor intended to be associated with the second impeller, and a main housing including a main processing unit and storage means.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the casing enclosing the blades of the first impeller, encloses blades of the second impeller, and wherein the at least one second sensor is mounted on said casing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 15, wherein the casing enclosing the blades of the second impeller includes a second recess, and wherein the at least one second sensor is mounted in the second recess.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the casing enclosing the blades of the first impeller includes a first recess, and wherein the at least one first sensor is mounted in the first recess.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The modular and autonomous detection assembly according to claim 15, wherein the blades of the second impeller are blades of the low-compressor stage, and wherein the at least second sensor are configured to face the blades of the low-compressor stage when mounted on the casing.