Aircraft Engine Thrust Control with Single-Lever Fault Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for controlling multi-engine aircraft are complex, leading to pilot fatigue and increased risk during engine malfunctions or incidents, such as fires, and do not adequately simplify the control processes for efficient and safe operations.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a single lever to control the thrust of all engines, with a common controlling unit that generates specific commands for each engine based on pilot input and auto-throttle data, allowing for automated handling of engine malfunctions and improved safety features like reduced thrust for faulty engines and yaw drift compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple levers are used to control each engine individually, then precise control of each engine is achieved, but control complexity increases and pilot fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual engine control levers into a single common lever that controls all engines simultaneously. The single lever integrates the functions of multiple separate controls, allowing the pilot to manage all engines with one control input rather than requiring separate levers for each engine, thereby reducing control complexity while maintaining coordination between engines
Solution Approach 2:
The single common lever serves multiple functions by controlling all engines at once. It can manage normal thrust adjustments for all engines, detect and respond to engine failures, coordinate with auto-throttle systems, and interface with various flight phases (takeoff, cruise, landing). This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated controls for each function
2Reliability
If manual control of each engine is required during malfunctions, then precise response to engine issues is achieved, but pilot workload increases and response time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic detection and response to engine malfunctions without requiring manual intervention from the pilot. The common lever system continuously monitors engine parameters and automatically adjusts thrust or shuts down engines when failures are detected, allowing the system to serve itself by identifying and correcting its own operational issues
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates continuous feedback mechanisms that monitor engine performance parameters and automatically adjust control commands based on detected conditions. When an engine malfunction is detected, the system receives feedback about the failure condition and automatically modifies thrust output or engine operation to maintain safe and efficient flight
3Ease of operation
If automated control systems are implemented, then pilot fatigue is reduced and safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a common lever for pilot input, an auto-throttle system for automatic thrust management, an engine failure detection system, and a control unit for coordinating responses. Each module handles specific tasks independently, allowing the overall system to be complex in capability while maintaining modularity that simplifies implementation and maintenance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~2
AI summary
There is provided a system for controlling at least first and second engines of an aircraft, comprising a common controlling unit configured to convert data representative of a thrust command transmitted by an actuating element controllable by a pilot or by an auto- throttle of the aircraft, into: (a) at least one first command usable by a controller of the first engine for controlling its operation based at least on said first command, and (b) at least one second command usable by a controller of the second engine for controlling its operation based at least on said second command, wherein said common controlling unit is operable to perform said conversion based at least on data representative of a level of operability of each engine, thereby making each engine to either comply with said thrust command or to operate differently from said thrust command, based at least on its level of operability.