HIGH-LIFT SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFT WITH AN RFID SUPPLEMENTED TRIP INDICATOR OF A TORQUE LIMITING DEVICE

Abstract

A high-lift system for an aircraft incudes at least one mechanical torque limiting device, which includes a visual trip indicator for visually signaling a torque limiter trip, the high-lift-system further comprising an RFID tag device, which is configured to be switched into a functional state, in which it is readable by an external RFID tag reader, and into a nonfunctional state, in which it is not readable by an external RFID tag reader, and a coupling device, which is electrically connectable to the RFID tag device. The coupling device is configured to be physically coupled with the visual trip indicator, and to switch the RFID tag device into the functional state, if the visual trip indicator signals a trip, and into the nonfunctional state, if the visual trip indicator does not signal a trip.

Claims

1. A high-lift system for an aircraft, comprising: at least one mechanical torque limiting device, which includes a visual trip indicator for visually signaling a torque limiter trip, an RFID tag device configured to be switched into a functional state, in which the RFID tag device is readable by an external RFID tag reader, and into a nonfunctional state, in which the RFID tag device is not readable by an external RFID tag reader, and a coupling device electrically connectable to the RFID tag device, wherein the coupling device is configured to be physically coupled with the visual trip indicator, and to switch the RFID tag device into the functional state, if the visual trip indicator signals a trip, and into the nonfunctional state, if the visual trip indicator does not signal a trip.

2. The high-lift system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device is mechanically, optically, magnetically or electrically connected to the visual trip indicator.

3. The high-lift system according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag device comprises an electric switch which is configured to selectively establish or interrupt an internal connection in the RFID tag device.

4. The high-lift system according to claim 3, wherein the coupling device comprises a pin which is attached to the visual trip indicator, and wherein the RFID tag device is bonded to the torque limiting device in such a position that the pin operatively reaches the electric switch.

5. The high-lift system according to claim 4, wherein a shape of the pin and the position of the RFID tag device are configured such that the pin opens the electric switch if the visual trip indicator indicates a trip.

6. The high-lift system according to claim 5, wherein the electric switch comprises a key button and opens an electric contact if it is pressed.

7. The high-lift system according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag device comprises a photo sensor, which is configured to selective establish or interrupt an internal connection in the RFID tag device.

8. The high-lift system according to claim 7, wherein the photo sensor comprises a light barrier which is interruptible by the visual trip indicator.

9. The high-lift system according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag device is a passive RFID tag device.

10. An aircraft having two wings and at least one high-lift system according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Other characteristics, advantages and potential applications of the present invention result from the following description of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. In this respect, all described and/or graphically illustrated characteristics also form the object of the invention individually and in arbitrary combination regardless of their composition in the individual claims or their references to other claims. Furthermore, identical or similar objects are identified by the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0025] FIG. 1a shows a schematic view of a trailing-edge part of a high-lift system.

[0026] FIG. 1b shows a schematic view of a leading-edge part of a high-lift system.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a torque limiting device with a coupling device and an RFID tag device.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows an aircraft having a high-lift system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 1a exemplarily shows a trailing-edge part of a high-lift system 2, which is equipped with the above-identified features according to the invention. The high-lift system 2 comprises a number of general features of a high-lift system known to a skilled person. However, this is merely an example and the high-lift system 2 may also be designed and configured differently.

[0030] In this example, the high-lift system 2 comprises a central drive unit 4 (PCU), which is coupled to a transmission shaft system 6 comprising a left transmission shaft 8 and a right transmission shaft 10. These transmission shafts 8 and 10 are coupled to driving stations 12 that are exemplarily distributed over leading and/or trailing wing edges along the transmission shafts 8 and 10.

[0031] Each driving station 12 exemplarily comprises a rotary actuator 16 that may be driven by the respective transmission shaft 8, 10 and is coupled to a flow body, such as a flap 18, by means of a connecting link 14 in the form of a push rod or a similar element. For example, each flap 18 may be coupled with two rotary actuators 16. Both driving stations 12 of the flap 18 are spaced apart from one another and preferably assigned to two laterally opposed flap ends. It is common practice to use two redundant flap control units 20 and 22 that are coupled to the drive unit 4. A feedback position pickoff unit 24 is connected to the flap control units 20 and 22 and allows to determine an instantaneous rotatory position of the transmission shaft system 6, based on which the position of the flaps 18 may be determined. A flap adjusting lever 26 arranged in a cockpit of the associated aircraft serves for adjusting the flaps 18 and delivers a corresponding signal to the flap control units 20 and 22, which in turn activate the drive unit 4 in such a way that the rotatory position of the transmission shaft system 6 corresponds to the desired angle commanded by the flap adjusting lever 26.

[0032] For preventing an excessive torque at the rotary actuators 16, these may each be coupled with a torque limiting device 28. Again, this is an example. The transmission shafts 8 and 10 may optionally also be equipped with torque limiting devices 28 at one or more positions, which are exemplarily shown with dashed lines. They may be designed and configured to interrupt the transfer of torque upon exceeding a predetermined maximum torque at an input shaft. If such a torque limiting device trip occurs, a visual trip indicator is extended from a retracted position on the respective torque limiting device for a visual indication.

[0033] In analogy to this setup, FIG. 1b shows a leading-edge part of the high-lift system with a central drive unit 4b and a transmission shaft system 6b with a left transmission shaft 8b and a right transmission shaft 10b, which drive several rotary actuators 16b coupled with movably supported slats 18b. Each of the rotary actuators 16b are equipped with a torque limiting device 28 with visual trip indicators 30 according to the above description.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows such a visual trip indicator 30 in a retracted position, in which it exemplarily flushly rests in a recess, under a surface or otherwise hidden or not visually protruding. If the respective torque limiting device 28 trips, the visual indicator 30 is extended into an extended position that is shown with dashed lines.

[0035] Due to the geometrical extension of the high-lift system 2, in particular in a spanwise direction, as well as the number of skin panels to be removed for identifying a tripped torque limiting device 28, common high-lift systems require a time-consuming task for a suitable maintenance operation. However, the torque limiting device 28 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a slight modification of the high-lift system 2 for providing a second source of information about a tripped torque limiting device. This second source of information can be retrieved without having to remove skin panels underneath the torque limiting devices 28 by using RFID tag devices 32, which may each include an RFID tag, on the torque limiting devices 28, wherein the RFID tag devices 32 are capable of transmitting a signal, if a trip occurs.

[0036] The RFID tag device 32 is designed and configured to be switchable into a functional state, in which it is readable by an external RFID tag reader and into a non-functional state, in which it is not readable by external RFID tag reader. For this, the RFID tag device 32 exemplarily comprises two electrical ports 34 and 36, which are coupled with an electrical switch 38. By closing the switch 38, the RFID tag device 32 is in a non-functional state. By opening the switch 38, the RFID tag device 32 is in a functional state. For example, the electrical switch 38 is connected to two opposite branch lines of an internal antenna, which is not shown in FIG. 2, in order to selectively produce a short circuit. In doing so, the RFID tag device 32 is not capable of receiving electrical power delivered by an external RFID tag reader and, consequently, cannot transmit a signal.

[0037] For operating the electrical switch 38, a coupling device 40 is provided, which is exemplarily realized in the form of a pin or a lever. The coupling device 40 is attached to a bottom surface 42 of the visual trip indicator 30 and arranged to directly contact the electrical switch 38 when the indicator 30 is in the retracted position. In this state, a user is not capable of receiving a signal in the transmission range of the respective RFID tag device 32. A user may thus only receive a signal where a torque limiting device 28 has tripped. Hence, a user may quickly identify the respective skin panel to be removed in order to provide maintenance to the high-lift system 2 by walking along the high-lift system 2 and trying to receive a signal at all locations of the torque limiting devices 28 through an external RFID tag reader. Only where a signal is received a tripped torque limiting device 28 may be present and the associated skin panel needs to be removed to check for a maintenance operation. A great advantage lies in the saving of trouble shooting time and in the fact that only a small modification of the torque limiting devices would be needed to add the sensor.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows an aircraft 44 having wings 46, to which a high-lift system 2 is provided.

[0039] 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 with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments 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.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0040] 2 high-lift system [0041] 4 central drive unit [0042] 4b central drive unit [0043] 6 transmission shaft system [0044] 6b transmission shaft system [0045] 8 left transmission shaft [0046] 8b left transmission shaft [0047] 10 right transmission shaft [0048] 10b right transmission shaft [0049] 12 driving station [0050] 14 connecting link [0051] 16 rotary actuator [0052] 16b rotary actuator [0053] 18 flap [0054] 18b slat [0055] 20 flap control unit [0056] 22 flap control unit [0057] 24 feedback position pickoff unit [0058] 26 flap adjusting lever [0059] 28 torque limiting device [0060] 30 visual trip indicator [0061] 32 RFID tag device [0062] 34 electrical port [0063] 36 electrical port [0064] 38 electrical switch [0065] 40 coupling device/pin [0066] 42 bottom surface [0067] 44 aircraft [0068] 46 wing