Air cycle machine speed sensor assembly
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJohn F. Burns, Donald J. Cook, Adam Lunn, Dylan Waterman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air cycling machine (ACM) speed sensor assembly including a duct assembly connected to the ACM and configured to convey an airflow. The speed sensor assembly also includes a fiber-optic speed sensor arranged within the duct assembly, in line with the airflow, and proximate the ACM. The fiber-optic speed sensor is configured to detect rotational speed of the ACM and transmit a signal indicative of the detected rotational speed to an electronic controller. The speed sensor assembly may be employed on a test stand having a support structure with the duct assembly moveably mounted thereto.
Claims21
An air cycling machine (ACM) speed sensor assembly comprising:
- a duct assembly (108) connected to the ACM (102) and configured to convey an airflow (14A);
- and
- a fiber-optic speed sensor (126) arranged within the duct assembly, in line with the airflow, and proximate the ACM, and configured to detect rotational speed of the ACM and transmit a signal (140) indicative of the detected rotational speed to an electronic controller (24).
A test stand (100) configured to position thereon an air cycling machine (ACM) (102) having a compressor (102-1) and a turbine (102-2), the test stand including:
- a support structure (104);
- a duct assembly (108) moveably mounted to the support structure and configured to convey an airflow (14A) to and from the ACM;
- and
- a fiber-optic speed sensor (126) arranged within the duct assembly, in line with the airflow, and proximate the ACM, and configured to detect rotational speed of the ACM and transmit a signal (140) indicative of the detected rotational speed to an electronic controller (24).
An air cycling machine (ACM) speed sensor assembly comprising:
- a duct assembly (108) connected to the ACM (102) and configured to convey an airflow (14A);
- and
- a fiber-optic speed sensor (126) arranged within the duct assembly, in line with the airflow, and proximate the ACM, and configured to detect rotational speed of the ACM and transmit a signal (140) indicative of the detected rotational speed to an electronic controller (24);
- wherein:
- the ACM has a compressor (102-1) and a turbine (102-2);
- the duct assembly includes a pipe (118) configured to mate to and receive the airflow from an outlet (102-2B) of the turbine of the ACM;
- the fiber-optic speed sensor is arranged within the pipe downstream of the ACM turbine outlet;
- the fiber-optic sensor includes a sensor tip (126-1) operatively connected to a fiber-optic cable (128);
- the fiber-optic cable provides communication between the sensor tip and the electronic controller;
- the fiber-optic sensor further includes an adapter (130) defining a threaded end (130-1) configured to accept the sensor tip and a distal end configured to interface with and be fixedly mounted to the pipe;
- and
- the pipe defines an aperture (118-2) configured to pass the adapter
(130) therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.