Electromagnetic communication through components of a machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10405066-B2
Application number	US-201615255192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Feb 28, 2014
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A system of a machine includes a network of a plurality of sensing/control/identification devices distributed throughout the machine. Each of the sensing/control/identification devices is associated with at least one sub-system component of the machine and operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals. Shielding surrounding at least one of the sensing/control/identification devices to contain the electromagnetic signals proximate to the at least one sub-system component. A communication path is integrally formed in/on a component of the machine to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals through the component. A remote processing unit is operable to communicate with the network of the sensing/control/identification devices through the electromagnetic signals.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system of a machine, the system comprising:
a network comprising a plurality of sensing/control/identification devices distributed throughout the machine, each of the sensing/control/identification devices associated with at least one sub-system component of the machine and each of the sensing/control/identification devices operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals;
shielding surrounding each of the sensing/control/identification devices, the shielding configured to contain the electromagnetic signals in an enclosed volume proximate to the at least one sub-system component;
a communication path integrally formed with a component of the machine to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals through the component; and
a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the sensing/control/identification devices through the electromagnetic signals.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the communication path comprises a waveguide.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the waveguide includes a waveguide medium comprising a gas or a liquid.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the communication path comprises a dielectric.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the dielectric comprises a fluid used by the machine.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the communication path is located between the at least one sub-system component and a remotely located sub-system component comprising one or more of the sensing/control/identification devices.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein a transmission path between the remote processing unit and the at least one of the sensing/control/identification devices is integrally formed with a second component of the machine.

8. A system for a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
a network comprising a plurality of sensing/control/identification devices distributed throughout the gas turbine engine, each of the sensing/control/identification devices associated with at least one sub-system component of the gas turbine engine and each of the sensing/control/identification devices operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals;
shielding surrounding each of the sensing/control/identification devices, the shielding configured to contain the electromagnetic signals in an enclosed volume proximate to the at least one sub-system component;
a communication path integrally formed with a component of the gas turbine engine to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals through the component; and
a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the sensing/control/identification devices through the electromagnetic signals.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the at least one sub-system component is part of at least one of a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section of the gas turbine engine, and the at least one sub-system component contains a parameter of interest to a control and health monitoring system, wherein the parameter of interest is one of a pressure, a temperature, a speed, a position, vibration and proximity or any other relevant physically measurable parameter.

10. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the communication path comprises a waveguide including a waveguide medium comprising a gas or a liquid.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the communication path comprises a dielectric, and the dielectric comprises a fluid used by the gas turbine engine.

12. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the communication path is located between the at least one sub-system component and a remotely located sub-system component comprising one or more of the sensing/control/identification devices.

13. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein a transmission path between the remote processing unit and the at least one of the sensing/control/identification devices is integrally formed with a second component of the gas turbine engine.

14. A method of establishing electromagnetic communication through a machine, the method comprising:
configuring a remote processing unit to power and communicate with a network comprising a plurality of sensing/control/identification devices in the machine using a plurality of electromagnetic signals;
forming at least one shielded volume associated with at least one sub-system component of the machine, wherein the at least one shielded volume surrounds each of the sensing/control/identification devices, the at least one shielded volume configured to contain the electromagnetic signals in an enclosed volume proximate to the at least one sub-system component;
routing a portion of the electromagnetic signals through a communication path integrally formed with a component of the machine; and
linking a transmission path between the remote processing unit and the shielded volume.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the communication path comprises a waveguide.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the waveguide includes a waveguide medium comprising a gas or a liquid.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the communication path comprises a dielectric.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the dielectric comprises fluid used by the machine.

19. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the communication path is formed between the at least one sub-system component and a remotely located sub-system component comprising one or more of the sensing/control/identification devices.

20. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the transmission path is integrally formed with a second component of the machine.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Sobanski Kurt J
• Mantese Joseph V

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

• H04L41/0803

  Configuration setting · CPC title

• F05D2270/80

  Devices generating input signals, e.g. transducers, sensors, cameras or strain gauges · CPC title

• H01P5/02

  with invariable factor of coupling (H01P5/12 takes precedence {choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06}) · CPC title

• F05D2270/54

  by electronic means, e.g. electronic tubes, transistors or IC's within an electronic circuit · CPC title