Engine Component Integrity Validation via Independent Usage Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for monitoring component fatigue in gas turbine engines, particularly in smaller aircraft, rely on simplistic metrics like flight time or distance, leading to potential overestimation of wear and premature maintenance, as they lack sophisticated hardware for accurate usage data reporting, which does not meet regulatory standards for trust levels.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize an engine controller to obtain and compare usage data with independently reported data from an input device, ensuring accurate transmission of component integrity information through independent communication paths, maintaining a high trust level to meet regulatory standards, even in systems with lower-trust-level reporting equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If simple counting statistics (flight time or distance) are used to monitor component fatigue, then the system complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates leading to overestimation of wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation system that compares engine controller usage data with independently reported usage data. This intermediary comparison mechanism allows the system to maintain simple operation while improving measurement precision by verifying data accuracy through multiple sources before accepting the fatigue monitoring results.
2Measurement precision
If sophisticated hardware for accurate usage data reporting is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fatigue monitoring system into multiple independent components: the engine controller that generates usage data, independent reporting systems that collect usage data separately, and a validation mechanism that compares these data sources. This segmentation allows each component to remain relatively simple while the collective system achieves high measurement precision through cross-validation.
3Device complexity
If usage data is transmitted through a single communication path, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to potential data integrity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different trust levels to different communication paths and data sources. Critical usage data transmitted through the engine controller communication path is validated against independently reported data through separate communication channels. This localized quality assurance ensures that even if one path fails or contains errors, the overall system maintains reliability through the validated data from the other path.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for validating component integrity in an engine are described. First usage data associated with a period of operation of the engine is obtained at an engine controller. An indication of the first usage data is transmitted from the engine controller to a first presentation device. Second usage data associated with the period of operation of the engine is received at the engine controller from an input device. The first usage data is compared to the second usage data at the engine controller. Based on the comparing, an alert is issued to a second presentation device independent from the first presentation device.