Gas Turbine Communication Gateway for Wireless Engine Data Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engines deployed in the field face challenges in accessing and updating configuration data due to rapid advancements in computer and communication technologies, requiring cumbersome and slow processes involving physical access and customized cables for interfacing with offboard systems.

Innovation Solution

A communication adapter with internal sensors and processing circuitry that receives time series data from the engine control, correlates it with sensor data, and transmits an enhanced data set wirelessly to offboard systems, eliminating the need for physical access and customized cables by acting as a secure gateway for configuration updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical access and customized cables are used to interface with offboard systems, then secure data access is achieved, but the process becomes cumbersome and slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure data accessVSAvoidinterface operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical physical connection system (cables and physical access) with a wireless communication system. The communication adapter uses wireless transceivers to transmit data between the engine control system and offboard systems, eliminating the need for physical cable connections while maintaining secure data access through encrypted communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If physical access and customized cables are used to interface with offboard systems, then secure data access is achieved, but the process becomes slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure data accessVSAvoiddata access speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical physical connection system with wireless communication that enables faster data transmission. The wireless interface allows for rapid exchange of configuration data and sensor information without the physical connection establishment time required by cable-based systems, significantly improving data access speed while maintaining security through encrypted protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the engine is deployed for extended service life, then long-term operation is achieved, but accessing and updating configuration data becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice lifeVSAvoidconfiguration access

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication adapter as an intermediary device between the engine control system and offboard systems. This adapter remains with the engine throughout its extended service life and provides continuous wireless access to configuration data and sensor information, eliminating the need for physical access and enabling easy updates regardless of how long the engine has been deployed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication adapter serves multiple functions including wireless data transmission, sensor data collection, configuration updates, and secure communication. This multi-functional device ensures that regardless of the engine's age or deployment duration, configuration access remains easy through a single integrated system that handles all communication needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If rapid technology evolution occurs, then advanced capabilities are achieved, but interfacing with offboard systems becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetechnology advancementVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication adapter acts as a technology intermediary that shields the engine control system from external complexity. It provides a standardized wireless interface that can adapt to evolving communication protocols and technologies without requiring changes to the core engine control system, thereby managing interface complexity while enabling advanced capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12107923B2Gas turbine engine communication gateway with internal sensors

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 RTX CORP

AI summary

A communication adapter of a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes an internal sensor system including a plurality of sensors within the communication adapter, a memory system, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a plurality of time series data at the communication adapter from an engine control of the gas turbine engine, record a plurality of internal sensor data of the internal sensor system, correlate the time series data with the internal sensor data based on an alignment in time to form an enhanced data set, and transmit the enhanced data set from the communication adapter to an offboard system.