Shared Power Display for Compound Aircraft Torque Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display systems for rotary wing aircraft require additional indicators and space to monitor engine torque and rotor torque, increasing pilot scan times and workload due to the need to track parameters associated with the translational thrust system.

Innovation Solution

A power display system with a reference member and separate indicators for main rotor and translational thrust power, using colors and patterned fills to represent operational limits, allowing for efficient visualization of total power usage and commanded power relative to operational limits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate indicators for engine torque and rotor torque are added to the display, then measurement precision of power parameters is improved, but device complexity and display space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower parameter monitoringVSAvoiddisplay indicators

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the display of main rotor power and translational thrust power into a single shared power display indicator. The shared indicator shows the total power demand while separate sub-indicators within the same display element show the individual power contributions from the main rotor and translational thrust systems. This merging approach maintains precise monitoring of all power parameters while using a unified display structure rather than separate indicators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared power display indicator serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays the total power demand on the engine, the power used by the main rotor system, and the power used by the translational thrust system. This multi-functional display element eliminates the need for separate dedicated indicators for each power parameter, reducing overall display complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If additional display indicators for translational thrust system are included, then measurement precision of thrust power is improved, but pilot scan time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrust power monitoringVSAvoidpilot scan time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the translational thrust power indication within the existing shared power display rather than adding a separate dedicated indicator. The shared display simultaneously presents total power demand and the breakdown between main rotor and translational thrust power contributions, allowing pilots to monitor all power parameters in a single glance without scanning multiple separate indicators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses color-coding and visual layering within the shared power display to encode multiple power parameters in different visual dimensions. The main rotor power and translational thrust power are displayed using different colors or visual segments within the same indicator space, allowing pilots to distinguish and monitor both power sources simultaneously without increasing the physical display footprint or scan time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If separate indicators for main rotor power and translational thrust power are used, then measurement precision of individual power sources is improved, but area of display increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual power source monitoringVSAvoiddisplay space

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the display of main rotor power and translational thrust power into a single shared power indicator that shows both individual power contributions and their sum. The shared display uses internal visual segmentation and color-coding to present multiple power parameters within a compact unified structure, maintaining precise monitoring of individual power sources while occupying minimal display space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested display structure where the individual power indicators for main rotor and translational thrust are nested within the shared power display. The shared display contains the individual power indicators as integrated components, allowing the individual power measurements to be displayed within the boundaries of the main power indicator rather than requiring separate external display elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11577828B2Power display for compound aircraft using shared engine torque

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP

AI summary

A power display of an aircraft having a main rotor system and a translational thrust includes a reference member, a first indicator arranged adjacent the reference member and operable to display a power being used by the main rotor system, and a second indicator arranged adjacent the reference member and operable to display a power being used by the translational thrust system.