Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-09-18
Camby, Richard M. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C701S031000, C701S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292723
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to engine diagnostic systems and in particular to an engine diagnostic system which is embedded in the aircraft and does not require external systems to detect a fault. The U.S. Air Force currently downloads mission data from each F-16 at the end of each day. The data is transferred to portable data transfer devices and subsequently downloaded into ground support systems. This data is then compared to previous mission data and performance faults are determined based on trend data. The support equipment infrastructure has been unreliable and expensive to maintain.
This system requires significant maintenance manpower resources and exposes the engine and aircraft to the potential of undetected trend faults due to ground system equipment related problems. In addition, the existing system would not enunciate a trend fault until the end of the day which could be after multiple missions. In a deployed scenario, the support equipment must be transported to the remote site to determine if a performance fault exists.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is an engine diagnostic system including a plurality of sensors. One of the plurality of sensors includes a speed sensor generating a speed value indicative of aircraft speed. A processor is coupled to the sensors and stores current mission data in a data memory when the speed value is within a predetermined velocity range. A fault indicator is provided which is visible from the exterior of the aircraft. The processor detects a presence or absence of a fault in response to the current mission data and activates the fault indicator in response to the presence of a fault.
Another exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for detecting faults in an aircraft. The method includes determining when aircraft speed is within a predetermined velocity range and obtaining current mission data in response to the aircraft speed being within the velocity range. The presence or absence of a fault is detected in response to the current mission data. A fault indicator is activated in response to the presence of the fault.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3731070 (1973-05-01), Urban
patent: 4587614 (1986-05-01), Couch
patent: 4625280 (1986-11-01), Couch
patent: 5018069 (1991-05-01), Pettigrew
patent: 5408412 (1995-04-01), Hogg et al.
patent: 5951611 (1999-09-01), La Pierre
Brogan Christopher J.
Matchett Steven J.
Pursell Bryson M.
Camby Richard M.
General Electric Company
Hess Andrew C.
Young Rodney M.
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