Distributed control system with smart actuators and sensors
AssigneeRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorRichard J. Skertic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for controlling operation of an aircraft engine includes a master controller, a control node coupled to a component of the aircraft engine and to the master controller, wherein the control node includes a computing device for performing diagnosis of the component. The computing device is configured to assess performance of the component during operation of the aircraft, determine whether the component is performing within specification, and if not performing within specification, indicate that the component is out of specification.
Claims8
A system for controlling operation of an aircraft engine, comprising:
- a master controller including a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC);
- a control node device coupled to a solenoid of the aircraft engine and to the master controller, the solenoid operable based on a frequency response curve and between a bounded lower curve and a bounded upper curve, wherein the control node device:
- tracks performance of the solenoid during operation of the aircraft;
- compares the tracked performance with the bounded lower and bounded upper curves;
- determines whether the solenoid of the aircraft engine is performing within specification based on the comparison of the tracked performance against the bounded lower and bounded upper curves;
- and
- if not performing within specification, indicates that the solenoid is out of specification;
- and
- wherein the FADEC controls thrust in response to the indication from the control node device.
A method of monitoring operation of an aircraft engine using a distributed control system architecture with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), comprising:
- tracking performance of a solenoid via a solenoid control node device of the aircraft engine during operation of the aircraft, the solenoid operable based on a frequency response curve and between a bounded lower curve and a bounded upper curve;
- comparing the tracked performance with a model performance;
- determining whether the solenoid of an aircraft engine is performing within specification c based on the comparison of the tracked performance against the bounded lower and bounded upper curves;
- if not performing within specification, indicating that the solenoid is out of specifications and
- controlling, with the FADEC, thrust in response to the indication.
A control node device for monitoring performance of a solenoid of an aircraft, comprising:
- an electrical coupling to a master controller of the aircraft;
- a controller configured to diagnose a condition of the solenoid, wherein the controller:
- tracks performance of the solenoid during operation of the aircraft;
- compares the tracked performance with a model performance;
- determines whether the solenoid of the aircraft is performing within specification based on the comparison:
- and
- if not performing within specification, indicates that the solenoid is out of specification;
- wherein the specification is an area between the bounded lower and bounded upper curves of a frequency response curve;
- and
- wherein the master controller includes a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) that controls thrust in response to the indication from the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.