Faulty circuit detection of shut off valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10042003-B2
Application number	US-201514941114-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting circuit conditions are provided. A method for detecting a condition of a circuit may comprise: applying electrical energy to at least a circuit element in the circuit, a level of the electrical energy being insufficient to fully actuate the circuit element. The method may further comprise verifying integrity of the circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for detecting a fault in a circuit configured for communication with a brake control system of an aircraft, comprising:
applying electrical energy to at least a circuit element of an electromechanical shut-off valve configured to actuate in response to a current supplied to the shut-off valve and to supply hydraulic fluid brake control system of the aircraft for braking a rotation of a wheel of the aircraft, the electrical energy being insufficient to fully actuate the circuit element;
verifying integrity of the circuit by measuring a current through the circuit, during a charging region, wherein the current increases exponentially within the charging region; and
discharging the electrical energy during a discharging region;
wherein the applying is performed for a pre-determined duration, less than or equal to a time for at least a portion of the circuit to reach 63.2% of a steady state value;
wherein the discharging occurs after the pre-determined duration;
wherein the circuit element is configured to fully actuate when a maximum current flows through the shut-off valve; and
wherein the circuit element is configured to fully actuate in response to the circuit reaching the steady state value and configured to remain non-actuated in response to the circuit being below the steady state value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined duration is less than one tenth of a time constant of the circuit.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fault comprises at least one of a short circuit condition or an open circuit condition.

4. A brake control system for an aircraft comprising:
an electromechanical shut-off valve in fluid communication with the brake control system of the aircraft for braking a rotation of a wheel of the aircraft, wherein the shut-off valve is configured to actuate in response to a current comprising at least a full engagement value supplied to the shut-off valve;
a controller in electronic communication with the shut-off valve, the controller comprising at least a circuit in communication with the brake control system of the aircraft; and
a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising:
applying a voltage across at least a portion of the circuit for a pre-determined duration, less than or equal to a time for at least a portion of the circuit to reach 63.2% of a steady state value, wherein the current is less than the full engagement value in response to the voltage being applied for the pre-determined duration;
verifying the integrity of the circuit by measuring a current through the circuit during a charging region, wherein the current increases exponentially within the charging region.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the pre-determined duration is less than one tenth of the time constant of the circuit.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control the shut-off valve.

7. A method for detecting a condition of an electromechanical shut-off valve in a brake control system of an aircraft comprising a circuit, the method comprising:
applying a voltage across the shut-off valve for a pre-determined duration, less than or equal to a time for at least a portion of the circuit to reach 63.2% of a steady state value; and
verifying integrity of the circuit by measuring a current through the shut-off valve during a charging region, wherein the current increases exponentially within the charging region.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pre-determined duration is less than one tenth of the time constant of the shut-off valve.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corproation
• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Zell Brian Keith

Classifications

• G01R31/54

  Testing for continuity · CPC title

• G01R31/025

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01R31/3277 Primary

  of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches · CPC title

• G01R31/2829 Primary

  Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems (testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844) · CPC title

• G01R31/50

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title