Aircraft filter system with airspeed compensation
Inventors
Boyce, Mark E. • Brown, Matthew A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11117677-B2
Publication Date
2021-09-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and method of compensating for airspeed when measuring pressure drop across a filter system on an aircraft may include a pressure compensator, an internal pressure sensor, and an external pressure sensor. A filter media may be located around a housing such that air flows through the filter media into a clean air space defined by the filter media and the housing. The pressure compensator may be located outside of the clean air space and within an airstream of the aircraft. The internal pressure sensor may be configured to measure an internal pressure that varies with airspeed and the external pressure sensor may be located on the pressure compensator to measure an external pressure. The external pressure sensor may be positioned such that the external pressure varies according to a known relationship relative to the internal pressure as the airspeed of the aircraft changes.
Core Innovation
The described invention relates to compensating for airspeed when measuring pressure drop across a filter system mounted on an aircraft. The filter system includes a housing and filter media that define a clean air space into which air flows through the filter media. Internal pressure within the clean air space is measured, and the internal pressure varies as the airspeed changes.
An external pressure is measured at an external location selected such that the external pressure varies as the airspeed changes and provides a known relationship relative to the internal pressure as the airspeed changes. The invention evaluates filter condition using a pressure differential between the internal pressure and the external pressure, and when the pressure differential deviates by a selected amount, the system provides an alert in the aircraft indicative of filter restriction.
The invention includes a pressure compensator located outside of the clean air space and within an airstream of the aircraft, configured to compensate for airspeed. An internal pressure sensor is located within the clean air space, and an external pressure sensor is located at an external position on the pressure compensator to measure external pressure outside the clean air space, supporting aircraft-mounted filter-health monitoring with reduced airspeed-induced misinterpretation of restriction.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims. The inventive features center on airspeed compensation by correlating internal clean-air-space pressure with an external pressure measured at a selected external location on a pressure compensator to maintain a known relationship across changing airspeed, enabling alerting based on deviation of a pressure differential.
Airspeed-compensated pressure drop measurement using internal and airspeed-tracking external pressure
Measuring an internal pressure within the clean air space, wherein the internal pressure varies as the airspeed changes; measuring an external pressure on the aircraft outside of the clean air space at an external location selected such that the external pressure varies as the airspeed changes and provides a known relationship relative to the internal pressure as the airspeed changes; and providing an alert in the aircraft indicative of filter restriction when a pressure differential between the internal pressure and the external pressure deviates by a selected amount.
Aircraft-mounted filter system with pressure compensator and correlated internal/external pressure sensing
A filter system mounted on an aircraft comprising a housing defining a clean air port proximate the second end portion for coupling to an air intake; filter media located around the housing such that air flows through the filter media into a clean air space; a pressure compensator located outside of the clean air space and within an airstream of the aircraft configured to compensate for airspeed; an internal pressure sensor within the clean air space configured to measure an internal pressure that varies as the airspeed changes; and an external pressure sensor located at an external position on the pressure compensator configured to measure an external pressure outside of the clean air space that varies according to a known relationship relative to the internal pressure as the airspeed changes.
Across both independent claims, the core coverage is the same: internal pressure is measured in a clean air space, external pressure is measured at an external location on a pressure compensator selected to track airspeed and provide a known relationship relative to internal pressure, and a pressure differential is evaluated so an aircraft alert can indicate filter restriction when deviation occurs.
Stated Advantages
Reduces airspeed-driven false indications of filter restriction by compensating for airspeed when monitoring filter pressure drop.
Documented Applications
Aircraft-mounted air filter monitoring that compensates for airspeed when determining filter restriction from pressure differential between internal clean-air-space pressure and external pressure.
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