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  System and method for monitoring aircraft engine health and determining engine power available, and applications thereofUSPTO Application #: 20060089761Title: System and method for monitoring aircraft engine health and determining engine power available, and applications thereof Abstract: Smart instrumentation and monitoring provide primary engine instrumentation for an aircraft. The instrumentation generates real time engine power available data for the entire power regime and flight envelope of the aircraft while engine monitoring functions track, record and output performance usage data, trend data, and flight profile data. Generated data is provided to an aircraft flight manual and mission management module that automatically calculates and generates aircraft operational and performance data needed to safely operate the aircraft. The generated data is selectively displayed on flat-panel cockpit displays and/or electronic kneeboard displays in a graphical format that enhances aircrew situational awareness and permits aircrew members to operate the aircraft with its intended margin of safety. (end of abstract) Agent: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC - Washington, DC, US Inventors: James L. Pettigrew, Mitchell T. Boeshart USPTO Applicaton #: 20060089761 - Class: 701014000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, And Relative Location, Vehicle Control, Guidance, Operation, Or Indication, Aeronautical Vehicle, Flight Condition Indicating System The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060089761. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of aircraft instrumentation and condition monitoring. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The performance and capabilities of an aircraft are dependent on the health and performance of its engine(s). For example, an aircraft's take-off distance, rate of climb, useful load, range, and endurance are determined largely by engine health and engine power available. However, despite this importance, conventional aircraft instrumentation does not allow aircrew members to accurately monitor the health of an aircraft's engine(s) and determine engine power available during flight operations. [0003] During mission planning, aircrew members attempt to evaluate an aircraft's performance and capabilities using engine power available calculations that are contained in an operating handbook or an electronic database, which at best are based on data periodically obtained from either one single flight condition or one single high power engine run. In between these specific time interval tests, however, deterioration of the aircraft's engine(s) occurs. Thus, aircrew members must rely on inaccurate engine power available calculations, which incorrectly assume an aircraft's engine(s) can deliver rated power when in fact the engine(s) cannot deliver rated power, to evaluate an aircraft's performance and capabilities. This conventional method of attempting to evaluate an aircraft's performance and capabilities results in a reduced margin of safety during flight operations. [0004] The task of evaluating an aircraft's performance and capabilities is particularly challenging when, for example, during flight operations an aircrew is directed to change its mission. A change in mission during flight operations requires aircraft aircrew members to re-evaluate the performance and capabilities of the aircrew in real time while concurrently trying to navigate and operate the aircraft. This leads to increased cockpit work load and aircrew stress and may result in evaluation errors that when added to the inherent inaccuracies in engine power available calculations contained in the operating handbook or electronic database used by the aircrew can cause the aircrew to unknowingly operate the aircraft in an unsafe manner. [0005] The inaccuracies in engine power available calculations are particularly critical, for example, when evaluating a rotary wing aircraft's performance and capabilities. For example, during lifting operations or in hot, high-altitude operating environments, inaccuracies in engine power available calculations used to determine take-off and landing performance create an unacceptable safety margin that can lead to the loss of the aircraft and the aircrew. [0006] What is presently needed is smart instrumentation that permits aircrew members to monitor engine health and accurately determine engine power available during flight operations. What is also needed is a means for automatically updating and/or generating the charts and the mission management tools used by aircrew members so they accurately reflect the performance and capabilities of the aircraft. Having smart instrumentation and accurate charts and mission management tools would permit aircrew members to operate an aircraft with its intended margin of safety in any environment. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention provides a system and method for monitoring aircraft engine health and determining engine power available during flight operations. The present invention also provides for automatically updating and generating the aircraft charts and mission management tools used by aircrew members so these charts and tools accurately reflect the aircraft's current performance and capabilities. [0008] In an embodiment, smart instrumentation and monitoring according to the present invention provides primary engine instrumentation for an aircraft. This instrumentation generates, for example, real time engine power available data for the entire power regime and flight envelope of the aircraft while engine monitoring functions track, record and output, for example, performance usage data, trend data, and flight profile data. Generated data is provided to an aircraft flight manual and mission management module that automatically calculates and generates aircraft operational and performance data needed to safely operate the aircraft. The generated data is selectively displayed, for example, on flat-panel cockpit displays and/or electronic kneeboard displays in a graphical format that enhances aircrew situational awareness and permits aircrew members to operate the aircraft with its intended margin of safety. [0009] In embodiments, the present invention automates calculations performed by aircrew members, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the calculations and significantly reducing aircrew cockpit workload. The automated calculations incorporate real time engine power available data generated by the smart instrumentation of the present invention. Calculations performed include, for example, operational limit calculations such as airspeed, engine power, rotor speed, and take-off and landing data torque limit calculations, and performance calculations such as, for example, engine performance, continuous power assurance, and engine torque factor/aircraft torque factor calculations. Warnings are displayed by the smart instrumentation and monitoring system of the present invention whenever selected limitations and/or valves are approached or exceeded. [0010] In embodiments, the present invention also automates mission management functions to enhance aircrew situational awareness, flight safety, and mission effectiveness. Automated mission management functions include, for example, automated performance planning, mission planning, determination of gross weight and load lift capabilities, and the consequences of out of service equipment and instrumentation. [0011] It is a feature of the present invention that it enhances aircrew situational awareness, flight safety, and mission effectiveness while reducing aircrew cockpit workload. [0012] It is also a feature of the present invention that it can be implemented using redundant, modular electronics that communicate through a digital bus to each other and to multi-function flat panel displays, thereby permitting tailored designs. These tailored designs can replace or upgrade conventional instrumentation in an operating aircraft and/or be incorporated into new aircraft. [0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES [0014] The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit or digits of a reference number identify the figure in which the reference number first appears. The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable persons skilled in the relevant art(s) to make and use the invention. [0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example aircraft in which the present invention is used. [0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an example aircraft engine whose health and power available is monitored and determined using the present invention. [0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an aircraft instrumentation system architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring engine health and for determining engine power available and related target parameters according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a first example set of data generated and displayed by the present invention. [0020] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a second example set of data generated and displayed by the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for System and method for monitoring aircraft engine health and determining engine power available, and applications thereof Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System and method for monitoring aircraft engine health and determining engine power available, and applications thereof patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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