Capacitive chip detector
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsSarmad KHAN, Daniel ARNONE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Capacitive chip detectors for detecting metallic chips in engine fluid of an engine are provided. A capacitive chip detector includes a capacitor having first and second electric conductors. The detector further includes an inlet for receiving engine fluid between the first and second electric conductors. The capacitive chip detector includes an electric circuit including the capacitor, which capacitance changes when metallic chips are present between the first and second electric conductors. The electric circuit provides an output indicative of a chip detection between the first and second electric conductors.
Claims20
A capacitive chip detector for detecting chips in engine fluid of an engine, the capacitive chip detector comprising:
- a capacitor including:
- a first electric conductor having a first polarity;
- a second electric conductor having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the first electric conductor being spaced apart from the second electric conductor;
- and
- an electric field between the first electric conductor and the second electric conductor;
- an inlet for receiving the engine fluid between the first electric conductor and the second electric conductor;
- and
- an electric circuit including the capacitor, the electric circuit providing an output indicative of a change in capacitance of the capacitor caused by a presence of one or more chips between the first electric conductor and the second electric conductor.
An aircraft engine comprising:
- a lubrication system for distributing lubricating fluid to one or more lubrication loads;
- and
- a capacitive chip detector for detecting one or more chips carried by the lubricating fluid, the capacitive chip detector including:
- a cylindrical capacitor including:
- an electrically conductive inner cylinder having a first polarity;
- an electrically conductive outer cylinder having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder and being radially spaced apart from the inner cylinder;
- and
- an electric field between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
- an inlet for receiving the lubricating fluid between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
- and
- an electric circuit including the cylindrical capacitor, the electric circuit providing an output indicative of a change in capacitance of the cylindrical capacitor caused by an arrival of one or more chips between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.
A method of detecting metallic chips in engine fluid of an aircraft engine using a capacitive chip detector including a capacitor defined by a first electric conductor having a first polarity and a second electric conductor having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the first electric conductor being spaced apart from the second electric conductor, the method comprising:
- receiving the engine fluid in an electric field between the first electric conductor and the second electric conductor;
- and
- using an electric circuit including the capacitor, generating an output indicative of a change in capacitance of the capacitor caused by a presence of one or more chips between the first electric conductor and the second electric conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.