Method and apparatus for conducting health monitoring
AssigneesAirbus Operations GmbH, Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenger GmbH
InventorsAndreas Fledderman, Jan Arend Van Bruggen, Christian Kohlöffel, Tobias Hartmann, Elko Van Balen
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Abstract
A health monitoring method for checking a functionality of a flight control surface driving apparatus using a load sensor for sensing a load imposed on a control surface drive device by: blocking movement of the transmission device with a brake device, commanding the control surface drive device to apply a load on the blocked transmission device, and determining whether a load sensor output signal of the load sensor is within a predetermined range. Also, a flight control surface drive apparatus, a flight control system and an aircraft.
Claims14
A method for checking a functionality of a flight control surface driving apparatus comprising a motor for generating mechanical power for moving at least one control surface, a transmission device comprising a shaft for transmitting mechanical power from the motor to the at least one control surface, at least one brake device for braking movement of the shaft, at least one load sensor for sensing a load imposed on the motor, and a control device configured to receive a load sensor output signal from the at least one load sensor and to control the motor in response to the load sensor output signal, wherein the method comprises:
- automatically checking proper functionality of at least one of the at least one load sensor and the shaft by:
- a) blocking movement of the shaft with the brake device,
- b) while blocking movement of the shaft with the brake device, commanding the motor to apply a load on the shaft blocked by the brake device, while
- c) determining whether at least one load sensor output signal of the at least one load sensor remains within a predetermined range.
An apparatus for driving a flight control surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a motor for generating mechanical power for moving at least one control surface,
- a transmission device comprising a shaft for transmitting mechanical power from the motor to the at least one control surface,
- at least one brake device for braking movement of the shaft,
- at least one load sensor for sensing a load imposed on the motor, and
- a control device configured to receive a load sensor output signal from the at least one load sensor and to control the motor in response to the load sensor output signal, the control device being configured to automatically check proper functionality of at least one of the at least one load sensor and the shaft by:
- a) blocking movement of the shaft with the brake device,
- b) while blocking movement of the shaft with the brake device commanding the motor to apply a load on the shaft, while
- c) determining whether at least one load sensor output signal of the at least one load sensor remains within a predetermined range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.