AIRCRAFT WITH AN ENGINE CONTROL DEVICE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND METHOD TO OBTAIN SUCH AIRCRAFT

Abstract

A method to modify an aircraft including: disconnecting a first engine control device from command cables and transmission cables, wherein the first engine control device is in a fuselage section forward of a pressure bulkhead; replacing the engine control device with a jumper connector positioned in the fuselage section, wherein the jumper connector electrically connects the command cables to the transmission cables; installing a second engine control device in the fuselage aft of the pressure bulkhead, wherein the second engine control device is in an engine compartment of the fuselage; connecting the second engine control device to transmission cables at a location at or near the pressure bulkhead; connecting sensor cabling directly to the second engine control device, and connecting the engine control device directly to the engine.

Claims

1. A method to modify an installation configuration of an aircraft including a fuselage, an engine compartment in the fuselage and an engine in the engine compartment, the method comprising: disconnecting a first engine control device from command cables and transmission cables, wherein the first engine control device is in a fuselage section of the fuselage forward of a pressure bulkhead; replacing the engine control device with a jumper connector positioned in the fuselage section, wherein the jumper connector electrically connects the command cables to the transmission cables; installing a second engine control device in the fuselage aft of the pressure bulkhead, wherein the second engine control device is in an engine section of the fuselage which includes the engine compartment for the engine; connecting the second engine control device to transmission cables at a location proximate to or aft of the pressure bulkhead; connecting sensor cabling directly to the second engine control device, and connecting the engine control device directly to the engine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second engine control device is the first engine control device moved to the engine compartment.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second engine control device is a separate device from the first engine control device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the connecting the second engine control device to the transmission cables includes connecting the transmission cables to wiring connectors in a junction box at or near the pressure bulkhead, and connecting at the junction box wires from the second engine control device which wires are electrically connected to the transmission cables.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission cables are disconnected from sensing cables before the second engine control device is connected to the transmission cables.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising installing the second engine control device in a fireproof housing within the engine compartment.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding a wireless sensor within the engine compartment and establishing a wireless connection between the wireless sensor and the second engine control device.

8. A method to add or move an engine control device for an auxiliary power unit (APU) in an engine section of an aircraft fuselage, the method comprising: providing a first engine control device mounted in a first fuselage section forward of a pressure bulkhead in the fuselage, wherein the first engine control device is connected to at least one control cable also connected to a control device in a nose or cockpit of the fuselage, and the first engine control device is connected to at least one transmission cable extending aft through the fuselage to at least the pressure bulkhead, wherein the at least one transmission cable is connected to at least one sensor cable connected to at least one sensor in the engine section, wherein the at least one sensor monitors the APU and the at least one transmission cable is connected to at least one actuator cable connected to at least one actuator configured to control the APU; disconnecting the first engine control device from the at least one command cable and from the at least one transmission cable; replacing the first engine control device with a jumper connector positioned in the first fuselage section, wherein the jumper connector electrically connects the at least one command cable to the at least one transmission cable; installing a second engine control device in the engine section of the fuselage housing the APU; connecting the second engine control device to the at least one transmission cable at a location proximate to or aft of the pressure bulkhead; connecting the at least one sensor directly to the second engine control device via the at least one sensor cable or via a replacement sensor cable, and connecting the second engine control device to the at least one actuator via the at least one actuator cable or a replacement actuator cable.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second engine control device is the first engine control device moved to the engine section.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second engine control device is a separate device from the first engine control device.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the connection of the second engine control device to the at least one transmission cable includes connecting the transmission cable to at least one wiring connector in a junction box proximate to or aft of the pressure bulkhead, and connecting at the junction box at least one cable from the engine control device to the transmission cables.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmission cables are disconnected from the at least one sensor cable before the second engine control device is connected to the transmission cable.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising installing the second engine control device in a fireproof housing within an engine compartment housing the APU and within the engine section.

14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising adding a wireless sensor within the engine compartment and establishing a wireless connection between the wireless sensor and the second engine control device.

15. An aircraft comprising: an engine, an engine compartment housing the engine, an engine control device adapted to control at least one parameter of the engine, wherein the engine control device is installed in said engine compartment.

16. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the engine is an auxiliary power unit and the engine compartment is within a fuselage of the aircraft, and aft of a pressure bulkhead in the fuselage.

17. The aircraft according to claim 15, further comprising a command device adapted to output commands to command the engine control device, wherein the command device is housed in a nose or cockpit of a fuselage of the aircraft.

18. The aircraft according to claim 15, further comprising a jumper connector electrically connecting a command cable connected to a command device in a nose or cockpit of a fuselage of the aircraft to a transmission cable connected extending through the fuselage aft to at least a pressure bulkhead and electrically connected to the engine control device.

19. The aircraft according to claim 18, further comprising junction box at or near the pressure bulkhead, wherein the transmission cable connects to the junction box and cables from the engine control device connect to the junction box.

20. The aircraft according claim 15, wherein the engine control device is adapted to transmit data to a command device housed in a nose or cockpit of a fuselage of the aircraft.

Description

SUMMARY OF FIGURES

[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an aircraft in a cross-section along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a control and sensing line of an engine in an aircraft before the application of a method according to the invention.

[0044] FIG. 3 is schematic representation of a control and sensing line of an engine in an aircraft according to the invention.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an aircraft 1 having a fuselage 19 formed of a plurality of fuselage sections, including a nose section 20 or cockpit situated at or near the front of the fuselage. The aircraft fuselage includes an engine section 11 that is configured to receive an engine 10, such as an auxiliary power unit (APU)

[0047] The engine section 11 includes an engine compartment 22 that houses the engine 10. The engine section 11 and compartment 22 may be situated towards or at the rear of the fuselage, such as below the vertical tail and/or in a tail cone of the fuselage. The engine section 11 is separated from the nose section 20 by one or more intermediate fuselage sections 21.

[0048] The engine section 11 and engine compartment 22 are separated by a wall 12 from other fuselage sections, such as a fuselage section immediately forward of the engine section. The wall 12 may be a pressure bulkhead in the fuselage separating a passenger section from a tail section of the fuselage.

[0049] A firewall 23 defines or is within the engine compartment 22. The firewall 23 isolates the APU within the engine compartment from the other sections of the fuselage and other aircraft elements, such as the vertical and horizontal tails. The firewall 23 provides thermal protection, e.g. fire protection, for the rest of the fuselage and the aircraft. The firewall may function to confine to the engine compartment heat and flame in the event of a failure of the APU.

[0050] The aircraft 1 further includes an engine control device 15 situated in the engine section 11, such as the engine compartment 22 of the engine section. The engine control device 15 is connected through a control cable 27 to at least one controllable element 26 of the APU, such as for example an APU actuator. The engine control device 15 is also connected to a sensor 24 of the APU 10 through a sensing cable 18.

[0051] The engine control device 15 may communicate to a wireless sensor(s) 25 through a wireless connection(s). The engine control device 15 includes a wireless communication port connected to a transceiver in the device 15. The proximity of the engine control device with the APU, as both are installed in the engine section 11, allow for wireless communication between one or more sensors 25 of the engine and the engine control device. These short range wireless communications can be configured to avoid interfering with other wireless communications within the aircraft such as in the cockpit. Short distance wireless communication protocols with a low energy consumption may be used for communications between the sensors, the APU and the engine control device. The engine control device 15 may also communicate wirelessly with one or more controllable actuator elements of the APU 10.

[0052] The aircraft comprises a command device 13 situated in the nose section or cockpit. The command device 13 may be an on-board computer. The command device is adapted to output command signals for the engine control device 15. The engine control device is adapted to convert such command signals into control signals for the controllable elements of the APU 10, sensors 24 and controllable elements 26.

[0053] The engine control device 15 is connected to the command device 13 by one or more cables, including command cables 16 and transmission cables 17 that provide electrical connections for command signals, status signals and possibly electrical power. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the command device is connected to the engine control device through: (i) command cables 16 connected to the command device 13 at a first end and to a jumper connector 14 at a second end; and (ii) transmission cables 17 connected to the jumper connector 14 at a first end and to the engine control device 15 at a second end. The jumper connector 14 is adapted to electrically connect the command cables 16 to the transmission cables 17.

[0054] In this embodiment, the transmission cables 17 end at a junction box 28 providing a wiring connections and mounted to or proximate the wall 12. The engine control device 15 is connected to the junction box. The junction box r 28 may be a wired connector installed in or mounted to the wall 12 and may be within or external to the engine compartment 22.

[0055] The jumper connector 14 may be situated in one of the intermediate fuselage sections 21, and may at a location of a preexisting control device such as shown in FIG. 2.

[0056] The jumper connector 14 may replace an existing engine control device 15, such as shown in FIG. 2, and be placed where the engine control device was previously located, as shown in FIG. 3. The engine control device 15 may be moved to the engine compartment 22 or be replaced by a new engine control device 15 placed in the engine compartment. The preexisting wiring 16, 17 associate with the preexisting engine control device may be connected by the jumper connector 14 and used to provide signal communications between the command device 13 and the new or repositioned engine control device 15. The preexisting wiring may include command cables 16 and transmission cables 17. Because preexisting wiring is used to transmit signals between the command device 13 and the new or repositioned engine control device, there is no need to add new wiring and associated wiring harnesses for the new or repositioned engine control device.

[0057] The engine control device 15 may assume more functions as compared to the preexisting engine control device. The new functions may be receiving signals from sensors monitoring the APU. Because the engine control device is in the engine section 11 and/or the engine compartment 22, new cables are not needed to be added to intermediate fuselage sections 21.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a configuration in an aircraft before the method of the invention is performed. FIG. 2 shows a command device 13 connected to an engine control device 15 through command cables 16. The engine control device is in a section of the fuselage forward of the wall 12 and the engine section 11. The engine control device 15 is connected by wiring 17, e.g., transmission cables, to sensors 26 and controllable elements 24 of an APU 10. The wiring extends through the fuselage between the engine control device 14 and the wall 12. At the wall 12, the wiring 17 connects to sensing cables 27 and/or control cables 18. These sensing cables 27 and control cables 18 are connected with the wiring 17, e.g., transmission cables, at a wiring connecting interface at the wall 12 of the engine section 11.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a configuration of an aircraft that embodies the invention. The configuration in FIG. 3 shows the results of performing a method of the invention to modify the configuration shown in FIG. 2. As shown by a comparison of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the engine control device 15 has been displaced from a forward or middle fuselage section to the engine section 11. The engine control device 15 may be the preexisting engine control device or may be a new engine control device that replaces the engine control device shown in FIG. 2. The new engine control device may thereby comprise additional functions such as additional inputs for sensors and/or wireless communication means. The new engine control device may also be fireproof or housed in a fireproof container 29

[0060] The previous engine control device shown in FIG. 2 was installed in an intermediate fuselage section. As shown in FIG. 3, the previous engine control device is replaced by a jumper connector 14. The jumper connector ensures the continuity of signal transmission between the command cables 16 and the transmission cables 17, and of signal communications between the control device 13 and the engine control device 15.

[0061] The engine control device 15 is connected to the transmission cables 17 at the connecting interface connector 28 at or new the wall 12. The sensing cables 27 and control cables 18 within the engine compartment may be directly connected to the engine control device 15 in the engine section, such as in the engine compartment. If the engine control device is in the engine compartment, the engine control device should be fireproof or housed in a fireproof container 29.

[0062] Moreover, in this embodiment, the APU has been equipped with an additional wireless sensor 25 adapted to communicate with the new engine control device 15 installed in the engine section 11. Because of the short distances between the APU, its sensors and the engine control device in the engine compartment with the APU, it would be appropriate to use short range wireless communication signaling between the sensors, APU actuators and the engine control device.

[0063] Steps of a method according to the invention, are schematically represented in FIG. 4. The following steps may be followed in this or a different order.

[0064] In a first step 41, an existing engine control device as represented in FIG. 2, and installed in an intermediate fuselage section is disconnected from the command cables 16 and from the transmission cables 17.

[0065] In a second step 42, a jumper connector 14 is connected between the command cables 16 and the transmission cables 17. The jumper connector is positioned where the engine control device was previously positioned. The jumper connects the existing command cables and transmissions cables previously used by the preexisting engine control device.

[0066] In a third step 43, sensing cables 27 and control cables 18 are disconnected from the transmission cables 17.

[0067] In a fourth step 44, an engine control device 15 is installed in the engine compartment 22.

[0068] In a fifth step 45, the engine control device 15 is connected to the transmission cables 17. The engine control device may also be connected to the sensing cables 27 and control cables 18 in the engine compartment.

[0069] In a sixth step 46, an additional sensor 25 is added in the engine compartment 22 and connected to the engine control device 15, either with a cable or wirelessly.

[0070] The method of steps 41 to 46 allows an existing aircraft to be fitted with an engine control device.

[0071] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.