Apparatus and method for controlling an aircraft cooling and smoke system using discrete components
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsPhillip R Rotta, Thomas R Hasenoehrl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combined smoke detector and cooling control system for a mobile platform is operable to control multiple electronic units. A smoke detector is connected to the electronic unit and operates to identify a smoke event. A cooling system is connected to the electronic unit. A fan in the cooling system includes a switch which indicates if a cooling system fault occurs. A plurality of relays connect to the electronic unit, the smoke detector and the cooling system. If a cooling system fault occurs, a first relay immediately de-energizes the cooling system. After a fixed period of smoke persistence during a smoke event, a second relay de-energizes the cooling system.
Claims52
A control system disposed in a mobile platform, operable to control at least one electronic unit and at least one cooling device, the system comprising:
- a smoke detector in communication with the electronic unit, the smoke detector operably identifying a smoke event in the electronic unit;
- a cooling system having the cooling device in communication with the at least one electronic unit to operably cool the at least one electronic unit, and a cooling fan;
- at least one time delay unit operable to create a predetermined time period persistence delay;
- and
- a plurality of relays connectable to the at least one electronic unit, the smoke detector and the cooling system, including at least the following:
- a first relay operable to immediately de-energize the cooling system following a cooling system fault;
- and
- a second relay operable to de-energize the cooling system after identification of the smoke event and following the persistence delay;
- and
- a thermal switch located inside the cooling fan positionable into an OPEN state when an overheat condition inside the cooling fan occurs.
A control system disposed in a mobile platform, operable to control at least one electronic unit and at least one cooling device, the system comprising:
- a smoke detector in communication with the electronic unit, the smoke detector operably identifying a smoke event in the electronic unit;
- a cooling system having the cooling device in communication with the at least one electronic unit, the cooling device including at least one cooling fan;
- at least one time delay unit operable to create a predetermined time period persistence delay;
- a plurality of relays connectable to at least one of the electronic unit, the smoke detector and the cooling system, including at least the following:
- a first relay operable to immediately de-energize the cooling system following a cooling system fault;
- and
- a second relay operable to de-energize the cooling system after identification of the smoke event and following the persistence delay;
- and
- a grounded output signal operatively produced by the cooling fan.
A combined smoke detector and cooling control system operable to control a plurality of electronic units, the system comprising:
- a smoke detector in communication with the plurality of electronic units, the smoke detector operably identifying a smoke event in the plurality of electronic units
- a cooling system in communication with the plurality of electronic units;
- a fan in the cooling system having a switch operable to indicate a cooling system fault;
- a plurality of relays connectable to at least one of the plurality of electronic units, the smoke detector and the cooling system, including at least one each of the following:
- a first relay operable to immediately de-energize the cooling system after indication of the cooling system fault;
- a second relay operable after a predetermined time period persistence delay, the second relay operable to de-energize the cooling system after identification of the smoke event and following the persistence delay;
- and
- a control relay operable to provide a hold signal to gracefully delay a power down of select ones of the plurality of electronic units.
A combined smoke detector and cooling control system operable to control a plurality of electronic units, the system comprising:
- a smoke detector in communication with the plurality of electronic units, the smoke detector operably identifying a smoke event in the plurality of electronic units
- a cooling system in communication with the plurality of electronic units;
- a fan in the cooling system having a switch operable to indicate a cooling system fault;
- a plurality of relays connectable to at least one of the plurality of electronic units, the smoke detector and the cooling system, including at least one each of the following:
- a first relay operable to immediately de-energize the cooling system after indication of the cooling system fault;
- and
- a second relay operable after a predetermined time period persistence delay, the second relay operable to de-energize the cooling system after identification of the smoke event and following the persistence delay;
- and
- a plurality of isolation diodes operably preventing system activation in an incorrect state.
A method for controlling an aircraft cooling and smoke system having a plurality of relays connected to at least one smoke detector and at least one cooling subsystem, the cooling subsystem operable to cool a plurality of electrical components, the method comprising:
- detecting a smoke event using the smoke detector;
- generating a smoke mode signal in response to the smoke event;
- applying a time delay unit to operably delay the smoke mode signal;
- performing a delayed shutdown of the cooling subsystem and the electrical components;
- latching both the cooling subsystem and the electrical components in an off state using a first relay;
- energizing a second relay to operably create an open circuit between the smoke detector and the first relay;
- and
- creating an energized pulse signal having a limited duration using the second relay to operably prevent nuisance faults during a system power up mode.
A method for controlling an aircraft cooling and smoke system having a plurality of relays connected to at least one smoke detector and at least one cooling subsystem, the cooling subsystem operable to cool a plurality of electrical components, the method comprising:
- detecting a smoke event using the smoke detector;
- generating a smoke mode signal in response to the smoke event;
- applying a time delay unit to operably delay the smoke mode signal;
- performing a delayed shutdown of the cooling subsystem and the electrical components;
- latching both the cooling subsystem and the electrical components in an off state using a first relay;
- grounding a smoke detector sensor output following the smoke event;
- and
- energizing a primary coil of the first relay.
A method to control at least one cooling subsystem connected to a plurality of electrical components in response to one of a smoke detector smoke event and a cooling system fault for a mobile platform, the method comprising:
- changing a thermal switch position in response to the cooling system fault;
- immediately shutting down the cooling subsystem in response to changing the thermal switch position;
- blocking an automatic restart of the cooling subsystem using a test switch;
- and
- manually changing a position of the test switch to operably perform a maintenance test of the cooling subsystem prior to initiating a manual cooling subsystem restart.
A method for controlling a plurality of electrical components of a mobile platform operably using signals from at least one smoke detector, at least one cooling subsystem and a plurality of relays, the method comprising steps in the order of:
- (a) generating a cooling system fault signal if a cooling system fault occurs;
- (b) immediately shutting down the cooling subsystem and the electrical components if the cooling system fault signal is generated;
- (c) detecting a smoke event using the smoke detector if the cooling system fault signal is not present;
- (d) generating a smoke mode signal in response to the smoke event;
- and
- (e) performing a delayed shutdown of the cooling subsystem and the electrical components using a time delay unit to operably delay the smoke mode signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.