GB2132576A

GB2132576A - An installation for the wireless monitoring of the tyre air pressure of aircraft wheels

Info

Publication number: GB2132576A
Application number: GB08328804A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hulmuth Bott
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 1982-11-10
Filing date: 1983-10-28
Publication date: 1984-07-11
Also published as: GB2132576B; IT8323648A0; FR2535846B1; GB8328804D0; DE3241487A1; IT1194453B; FR2535846A1; IT8323648A1

Abstract

An installation for the wireless monitoring of the tyre air pressure of aircraft tyres (2) in which the monitoring of the air pressure takes place in the unloaded condition of the aircraft wheels (2), i.e., prior to a landing operation, by way of a known air pressure monitoring system (3, 4, 5, 6) which carries out a measurement only with a rotating wheel. In order to achieve this rotation of the wheel, the aircraft wheels (2) are provided with a rotating mechanism (9) for causing rotation of the wheel so that it becomes possible thereby to measure the air pressure prior to a landing operation of the aircraft. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An installation for the wireless controlling of the tire air pressure of aircraft wheels The present invention relates to an installation for the wireless control of the tire air pressure of aircraft wheels in the unloaded condition thereof, which includes a fixed transmitter unit and a measurement value pick-up secured at the wheel at a distance therefrom, which, with a predetermined air pressure, produces pulses within the transmitter by way of the air gap.

An air pressure-control system is known in motor vehicles which carries out a measurement during at least one rotation of the wheel. It includes a measurement value pick-up at the wheel and a transmitter at the vehicle body.

During each wheel rotation, the measurement value pick-up constructed as pressure switch produces a pulse in the transmitter, which is constructed as high-frequency transmitter, as long as the air pressure in the vehicle tire has the prescribed pressure. By way of an electronic evaluation unit linked to the transmitter, information is then provided for the driver about whether, for example, during the start of a drive or also during the drive the tires have the predetermined air pressure. Only small apparative expenditures a.e required for this prior art air pressure control system which, however, produces a measurement result only with a rotating wheel in order to be able to produce a pulse in the transmitter by way of the measurement valve pick-up.

For the control of the air pressure of the unloaded wheels of an aircraft, helicopter or the like, the air pressure control system known in connection with motor vehicles must be provided with an additional installation.

It is the object of the present invention to use a known system controlling the air pressure during rotation of the wheel for monitoring the air pressure of aircraft wheels in the unloaded condition thereof.

The preen. invention consists in an installation for the wireless control of the tire air pressure of aircraft wheels in the unloaded condition thereof, comprising a fixed transmitter and a measurement valve pick-up secured at the wheel spaced from the transmitter, said pick-up being operable to produce at the prescribed air pressure pulses in the transmitter by way of the air gap, and said pulses being received by an electronic evaluation unit, wherein the aircraft wheel includes rotating means for producing at least one pulse in the transmitter.

The principal advantages achieved with the present invention reside in that a known system for the air pressure control can be used with aircraft wheels with slight structural expenditures and can also be installed subsequently in a single manner. The rotation of the wheel which is necessary for producing a signal in the transmitter of the system for the control measurement is to take place in the unloaded condition, i.e., prior to a touch-down of the aircraft by way of a mechanism causing rotation of the wheel. At least one wheel rotation for the generation of the pulse in the transmitter can be readily realized by means of this rotating mechanism so that a completely satisfactory monitoring of the air pressure can be carried out before the wheel is subject to a load.

In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a schematic view of the air pressure control system with a measurement value pick-up and sensor as well as an evaluation unit as used with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a wheel of an aircraft with air vanes as rotating mechanism in accordance with the present inventiori; and Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating the wheels of an aircraft arranged in an undercarriage and provided with a friction wheel drive in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, an air pressure control system 1 for an aircraft wheel 2 is illustrated in principle in Figure 1. The system 1 includes a measurement value pick-up 3 which cooperates with a transmitter 4 and is connected with an indicating apparatus 6 by way of an evaluation unit 5.

The measurement value pick-up 3 is constructed, for example, as diaphragm pressure switch of known type and is connected with the wheel. The transmitter 4 which is spaced from the pick-up 3, is constructed, for example, as a HF-transmitter and is fixedly connected with the aircraft.

It is necessary for the functioning of the system 1 that the wheel 2 carries out at least one rotation.

During each rotation of the wheel a pulse is then produced in the transmitter 4 by way of the measurement value pick-up 3 that includes a pressure switch, if the prescribed air pressure is present in the wheel 2. If, in contrast thereto, the pulses are missing, this signals an excessively low air pressure and a corresponding signal will be indicated at the indicating apparatus 6 for the monitoring personnel.

For rotating the aircraft wheel 2 for the purpose of monitoring the air pressure, the wheel 2 is provided with a rotating mechanism 7 or 8 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively. The mechanism 7 includes radially extending air vanes arranged laterally on the wheel 2 which with an extended undercarriage are acted upon by the air stream and thereby set the wheel into rotation.

Furthermore, it is possible to construct the rotating mechanism 8 as a friction wheel drive. For that purpose, friction wheels 11 cooperating with the retracted wheels 2 are provided in the undercarriage housing 10, which with a retracted undercarriage rest directly against the wheels 2.

This rotating mechanism 8 may have the friction wheels arranged in a different manner relative to the wheels 2. The drive of the friction wheels 11 is effected by an electric motor 12.

Furthermore, the rotating mechanism may also consist of a motor in the wheel hub which is not illustrated in detail.

Claims

1. An installation for the wireless control of the tire air pressure of aircraft wheels in the unloaded condition thereof, comprising a fixed transmitter and a measurement value pick-up secured at the wheel spaced from the transmitter, said pick-up being operable to produce at the prescribed air pressure pulses in the transmitter by way of the air gap, and said pulses being received by an electronic evaluation unit, wherein the aircraft wheel includes rotating means for producing at least one pulse in the transmitter.

2. An installation according to claim 1, wherein the rotating means includes air vanes arranged at the aircraft wheel which are acted upon by the free air stream with an extended undercarriage.

3. An installation according to claim 1, wherein the rotating means includes an electric motor arranged in the wheel hub.

4. An installation according to claim 1, wherein the rotating means includes a friction wheel supported in the undercarriage housing and driven by a motor, said friction wheel cooperating with the aircraft wheel, when the undercarriage is retracted, and setting the same into rotation.

5. An installation for the wireless control of the tire air pressure of aircraft wheels substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.