Engine proximity alert system and associated method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorSierra Solter-Hunt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aircraft engine alert system and associated method are disclosed. The aircraft engine alert system includes an aircraft including at least one engine having an engine inlet. The aircraft engine alert system also includes a sensor that is coupled to the engine. The sensor is configured to detect a movable object and determine a distance between the movable object and the engine inlet. The aircraft engine alert system further includes an alert generating device in electrical communication with the sensor and configured to issue an alert to the movable object when the engine is in use and when the movable object is within a predetermined range of the engine inlet.
Claims20
An aircraft engine alert system, comprising:
- an aircraft comprising at least one engine having an engine inlet;
- a sensor coupled to the aircraft, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a movable object and determine a distance between the movable object and the engine inlet;
- and
- an alert generating device in electrical communication with the sensor and configured to issue an alert to the movable object when the at least one engine is in use and when the movable object is within a predetermined range of the engine inlet;
- wherein:
- within the predetermined range, a pre-warning zone begins a first distance away from the engine inlet and ends a second distance away from the engine inlet and a warning zone begins at the second distance away from the engine inlet and ends at the engine inlet, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance;
- the alert generating device is configured to issue a pre-warning alert when the movable object is within the pre-warning zone and issue a warning alert when the movable object is within the warning zone;
- and
- the pre-warning alert is different from the warning alert.
An aircraft engine alert system, comprising:
- an aircraft comprising at least one engine having an engine inlet;
- a sensor coupled to the aircraft, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a movable object and determine a distance between the movable object and the engine inlet;
- and
- a headset in electrical communication with the sensor and configured to be worn by an individual, wherein the sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit a signal to the headset of the individual to issue an alert to the movable object, when the at least one engine is in use and when the individual is within a predetermined range of the engine inlet;
- wherein:
- within the predetermined range, a pre-warning zone begins a first distance away from the engine inlet and ends a second distance away from the engine inlet and a warning zone begins at the second distance away from the engine inlet and ends at the engine inlet, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance;
- the headset is configured to issue a pre-warning alert when the movable object is within the pre-warning zone and issue a warning alert when the movable object is within the warning zone;
- and
- the pre-warning alert is different from the warning alert.
A method of alerting a movable object of a proximity of the movable object to an aircraft engine in use, the method comprising steps of:
- detecting, using a sensor, a presence of the movable object within a predetermined range of an engine inlet of an engine of an aircraft when the engine is in use;
- and
- issuing an alert by an alert generating device, in electrical communication with the sensor, to the movable object within the predetermined range;
- wherein:
- the step of detecting, using the sensor, the presence of the movable object within the predetermined range further comprises determining if the movable object is within a pre-warning zone or a warning zone of the engine inlet;
- and
- the step of issuing the alert by the alert generating device to the movable object further comprises issuing a pre-warning alert when the movable object is within the pre-warning zone and issuing a warning alert when the movable object is within the warning zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.