Inflight Propeller Balancing via Vibration Data Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current propeller balancing systems for aircraft either require ground-based engine runs for data collection, which is not representative of in-flight conditions, or collect data at specific points in time, failing to account for operational conditions during flight.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for receiving in-flight propeller vibration data, aircraft data, and selecting relevant data points based on customizable flight criteria to assess vibration levels and signal a balancing need when a threshold is reached, allowing for real-time, condition-specific propeller balancing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ground-based engine runs are used for data collection, then data can be collected for propeller balancing, but the data is not representative of in-flight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of collecting data on the ground and attempting to simulate flight conditions, the system inverts the approach by collecting data directly during actual flight operations. Sensors mounted on the aircraft capture propeller vibration data in the actual operating environment, ensuring the data truly represents in-flight conditions and eliminates the disconnect between ground testing and flight performance.
2Device complexity
If data is collected at specific points in time, then data collection is simplified, but specific operational conditions during flight are not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, predetermined data collection points to a dynamic approach where data collection is continuously adjusted based on real-time flight conditions. The system monitors multiple parameters simultaneously and selectively captures data when specific operational criteria are met, such as during steady-state cruise or specific power settings, ensuring relevance without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of data collection based on flight conditions rather than using fixed time intervals. By monitoring flight parameters such as altitude, speed, and power setting, the system adapts its data collection strategy to capture vibrations under representative operational conditions, improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If continuous in-flight data collection is performed, then accurate vibration data is obtained, but data analysis complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the relevant portion of collected data for analysis by applying filtering criteria based on flight conditions. Rather than analyzing all continuous vibration data, the system identifies and isolates data segments that meet predefined operational criteria, such as steady-state flight conditions, thereby reducing analysis complexity while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs partial action by selectively analyzing only those portions of vibration data that correspond to representative flight conditions. By applying conditional filtering and focusing analysis resources on relevant data segments rather than processing all collected data uniformly, the system achieves accurate vibration assessment without overwhelming computational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is described herein a propeller balancing system and method that selects at least a portion of received propeller vibration data by comparing received aircraft data collected concurrently with the propeller vibration data with at least one customizable flight criterion, and identifying the portion of the vibration data acquired at a time when the aircraft data meets the at least one customizable flight criterion. The selected portion of the propeller vibration data is analyzed to assess a vibration level of the propeller and a balancing need is signaled when the vibration level reaches a threshold.