FR2616933A1 - Device for monitoring technical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device allowing monitoring, memorising, storage and exploitation of predetermined technical parameters, in the following way: A probe 2 is placed at the site where the technical equipment 1 is to be monitored. A "converter-microprocessor-software" assembly 4 interprets, triggers and monitors the programmed sequence which provides for the memory storage of the information on the memory card 5. The memory card 5 records the date and time of its insertion and its withdrawal from the housing 6. It is possible to couple the operation of the technical equipment with the insertion of the memory card 5 into the housing 6. The device according to the invention is applicable industrially to the monitoring of all technical equipment and especially to the monitoring of the use and maintenance of land and air vehicles, of machine tools and plant subjected to periodic technical verifications.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for controlling the use and maintenance of technical equipment for which the recording, storage and processing of data are carried out using control software and a memory card.

In the current state of the art, this control is carried out in different ways
- either, it is carried out by qualified personnel who record on various documents, the various events visually noted
- either, it is carried out by traditional measuring instruments having reading means making it possible to predetermine by "acrropfles""minima" and "maxima" not to be exceeded
- Either, it is carried out by recording devices using paper or magnetic media which are then explained by qualified personnel by means of appropriate readers.

All these control means have a certain number of drawbacks, the main ones of which are as follows
- the astonished, voluntary or involuntary interpretation of the reading of an instrument,
- the instrumental errors themselves,
- the physical constraints of hygrometry, expansion and elasticity of the materials to which the magnetic and paper supports usually used are sensitive,
- the possibility of counterfeiting information,
- negligence, lack of systematic control, etc.

 All these drawbacks are practically eliminated with the application of the present invention.

 The device according to the invention consists in carrying out checks on the use and maintenance of technical equipment by means of known electronic components and processes and by means of a tamper-resistant memory card controlled by judiciously programmed software.

This device looks like this
A probe, a probe or a sensor is placed at the place where the technical control to be carried out must take place.

 This probe triggers by all appropriate means, the emission of a low power analog electrical signal.

 This analog signal is transformed into digital information by an "analog-digital" signal converter commonly called "analog-digital signal converter".

 This digital information arrives at the doors of a microprocessor which is awakened by this external event.

 The microprocessor in turn triggers the sequence programmed by the software.

 The Software controls the storage of information on the memory card.

 The information stored on the memory card are technical parameters corresponding to critical overruns predetermined by the software.

 The memory card is itself held inside its case by a blocking device which is a lock fitted with a contactor.

 Whenever the memory card is removed from its casing, the lock contactor emits a signal which, thanks to the device according to the present invention, is recorded by information which specifies: 'time and date of the handling.

 It is possible to couple the lock switch with the general electrical contact of the technical equipment. In this case, the technical equipment in question can only function if the memory card is engaged in its case.

 The memory card is then operated from a reader connected to a microcomputer or to transmission equipment. In the first case, the results are processed locally; in the other case, the resources of a specialized treatment center are used.

The present invention has the following advantages
- the inviolability of controlled events,
- the low weight of this device,
- the reliability of this device which escapes the physical constraints of hygromAtrie? of expansion and elasticity of the materials, of vibrations which the usual processes undergo,
- the possibility of installing the device on mobile,
- the cost price considerably lower than those of the usual processes,
- control of the operating time of technical equipment.

 All of these advantages are particularly noticeable when the invention is applied in fields of use where weight, price and quality are decisive elements of feasibility and safety, such as exile in the aeronautical field in the military field and sports or competition vehicles.

 Figure 1 shows in section, an application of the device # according to the invention.

 The device shown in Figure 1, includes technical equipment to control (1) in this case an aircraft landing gear provided with a piezoresistive gauge (2) of a known model-which is placed between two elements suspension (3) which are spring buffers made of elastomer or equivalent suspension systems. This gauge (2) is connected to a "converter-microprocessor-software" assembly (').

 A memory F card (5) is inserted in the case (6) and activates the general contact of the battery (7). The date and time of this manipulation are recorded on the said card to be reduced.

 A pressure exceeding the threshold previously determined by the software is applied to the gauge (2).

 if you exceed this pressure threshold and which in the circumstance is called "hard landing" could have been done without the knowledge of the pilot of the aircraft.

This overflow picked up by the gauge (2) is processed by the "microprocessor-software converter" assembly (4) then it is recorded on the memory card (5).

 The time, date, duration and intensity of this overrun can thus be recorded on said smart card.

 Likewise, other parameters, such as excessive acceleration in flight, excessive number of engine and propeller revolutions, excessive temperatures may be subject to technical control with the application of the present invention.

 It suffices beforehand to know the technical parameters to be monitored and the critical overruns to be considered which will be managed by the judiciously programmed software.

 The memory card (5) is then removed from the case (6) by means of a push-button switch which cuts the general contact of the battery (7).

The date and time of this manipulation are also recorded on said cabinet card.

 The device according to the invention is applicable industrially to the control of all technical equipment and in particular to the control of use and maintenance of land and air vehicles, machine tools and machines subject to periodic technical checks.

Claims (4)

 1) Control device for technical equipment composed of one or more sensors or probes (2), a signal converter and a microprocessor of known models, characterized in that control software and a card tamper-evident memory (5) allow the control, memorization, storage and exploitation of predetermined technical parameters.  2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each cha # fcis that the memory card (5) is inserted into its housing (6) or cracked once it is removed from said housing, information indicating the date and the time of this manipulation is memorized, and stored on said memory card (5).  -3) Device according to revendieation 1, characterized in that the starting sequence of the technical equipment (1) can be triggered by the introduction of the memory card (5) into its case (6).  4) Device according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that q. the technical equipment stop sequence (1) can be triggered by removing the memory card (5) from its case (6).