Protected wireless network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10080068-B2
Application number	US-201515114234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2015
Priority date	Feb 28, 2014
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A system for a machine component includes at least one local transmitter/receiver. At least one device is associated with a component and configured to communicate with the at least one local transmitter/receiver through wireless signals. Shielding surrounds both the local transmitter and the device for containing the wireless signals proximate to the component. A remote processing unit is disposed outside of the shielding in communication with the local transmitter/receiver. A control system and method are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for a machine component comprising:
at least one local transmitter/receiver;
at least one device associated with a component and configured to communicate information indicative of operation of the component with the at least one local transmitter/receiver through wireless signals;
shielding surrounding both the at least one local transmitter/receiver and the at least one device for containing the wireless signals proximate to the component;
a remote processing unit disposed outside of the shielding in communication with the local transmitter/receiver;
a shielded transmission path between the remote processing unit and the at least one local transmitter/receiver; and
a waveguide transmission path defining a transmission path between a control sensing device and the at least one local transmitter/receiver.

2. The control system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a plurality of machine components and each of the plurality of machine components includes shielding surrounding the at least one local transmitter/receiver and at least one control/sensing device.

3. The control system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the shielded transmission path comprises a physical connection between the remote processing unit and the at least one local transmitter/receiver.

4. The control system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one device comprises one of a radio frequency device, an optic device, and an electro-magnetic device.

5. The control system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one device comprises one or more of a control device and a sensing device.

6. The control system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one local transmitter/receiver comprises a plurality of local transmitter/receivers and the control sensing device is in communication with each of the plurality of local transmitter/receivers.

7. A control system for a machine component comprising:
at least one local transmitter/receiver;
at least one device associated with a component and configured to communicate with the at least one local transmitter/receiver through wireless signals;
shielding surrounding both the at least one local transmitter/receiver and the at least one device for containing the wireless signals proximate to the component;

a remote processing unit disposed outside of the shielding in communication with the local transmitter/receiver; and
a sub-component and at least one device associated with the sub-component and in communication with the at least one local transmitter/receiver of a corresponding component through a waveguide transmission path.

8. A control system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
at least one local transmitter/receiver mounted proximate to a component of the gas turbine engine;
at least one device associated with the component and configured to communicate information indicative of operation of the component with the at least one local transmitter/receiver through wireless signals;
shielding surrounding both the at least one local transmitter/receiver and the at least one device for containing the wireless signals proximate the component; and
a remote processing unit disposed outside of the shielding in communication with the at least one local transmitter/receiver; and
a shielded transmission path between the remote processing unit and the at least one local transmitter/receiver.

9. The control system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the component is part of at least one of a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section.

10. The control system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the component contains a parameter of interest to the control and health monitoring system, wherein the parameter of interest is one of a pressure, a temperature, a speed, a position, vibration and proximity.

11. The control system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the transmission path comprises a shielded physical connection between the remote processing unit and the at least one local transmitter/receiver.

12. The control system as recited in claim 8 , including a waveguide transmission path defining a transmission path between the at least one device associated with the component and the at least one local transmitter/receiver.

13. A method of communicating information within a machine comprising:
shielding a volume associated with a component such that wireless signals generated within the shielded volume are not transmitted outside of the shielded volume;
communicating information indicative of component operation with a device located within the shielded volume; and
communicating information between the device to a remote processing unit outside of the shielded volume with at least one local transmitter/receiver within the shielded volume; and
communicating information between the device located within the shielded volume and the at least one local transmitter/reviver through a waveguide transmission path.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , including communicating over a transmission path comprising a physical shielded connection between the remote processing unit and the at least one local transmitter/receiver.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the device communicates a signal including information indicative of component operation to the at least one local transmitter/receiver and then through the transmission path to the remote processing unit.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein a control/sensing device comprises a control device and communicating information indicative of component operation comprises transmitting a signal directing actuation of the control device from the remote processing unit through the transmission path to the local transmitter/receiver and through a wireless signal from the local transmitter/receiver to the control device.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Sobanski Kurt J

Classifications

• H04Q9/00 Primary

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title

• F05D2260/80

  Diagnostics · CPC title

• F02C9/00

  Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants (controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05) · CPC title

• H01P3/122

  Dielectric loaded (not air) · CPC title

• F01D21/003

  Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H) · CPC title