Transmission of power and communication of signals over fuel and hydraulic lines in a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017366228-A1
Application number	US-201615345576-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 20, 2016
Publication date	Dec 21, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating a signal over a hydraulic line in a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a system can include a hydraulic line. The hydraulic line can include at least one communication medium for propagating a communication signal. The system can also include at least one signal communication device configured to receive the communication signal communicated over the hydraulic line. The system can also include at least one vehicle component in communication with the at least one signal communication device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for communicating a signal over a hydraulic line on a vehicle, comprising:
a hydraulic line, the hydraulic line comprising at least one communication medium for propagating a communication signal; at least one signal communication device configured to receive the communication signal communicated over the hydraulic line; and at least one vehicle component in communication with the at least one signal communication device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal communication device is further configured to send a communication signal over the hydraulic line.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal communication device is further configured to encode the communication signal.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal communication device is further configured to decode the communication signal.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a common ground electrically connected to the hydraulic line, wherein the communication medium comprises an electrical conductor.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the communication signal comprises an electric power signal.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic line and the common ground together act as an antenna to receive a communication signal from a remote signal communication device, wherein the communication signal is communicated over the electrical conductor.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication medium comprises a waveguide for sonic, microwave, millimeter wave, or optical signals.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal communication device comprises a first signal communication device configured to send a signal over the communication medium and a second signal communication device configured to receive a signal sent over the communication medium.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one signal communication device comprises a transceiver and a transducer.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one vehicle component comprises at least one of a controller, a sensor, an electronically powered device, and a communication network.

12 . A method of communicating a communication signal via a hydraulic line on a vehicle, comprising:
receiving a communication signal by a communication medium of a hydraulic line on a vehicle; communicating the communication signal via the communication medium; receiving the communication signal communicated via the communication medium by a signal communication device; and providing the communication signal to one or more components of the vehicle by the signal communication device.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
decoding the communication signal by the signal communication device.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein prior to receiving the communication signal by the communication medium, the method comprises:
sending the communication signal by a second signal communication device.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein prior to sending the communication signal by the second signal communication device, the method comprises:
encoding the signal by the second signal communication device.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the communication signal comprises at least one of a sonic, optical, electrical, microwave, or millimeter wave signal, or a periodic turbulence in a laminar flow of a hydraulic fluid flowing in the hydraulic line.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the signal communication device comprises a transceiver and a transducer.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein providing the communication signal to one or more components of the vehicle by the signal communication device comprises providing the signal to a controller, a sensor, or a communication network.

19 . An aircraft, comprising:
at least one engine; at least one hydraulic device; at least one vehicle component, wherein the at least one vehicle component comprises at least one of sensor and a controller configured to control the at least one engine; an avionics network; at least one hydraulic fluid reservoir; at least one hydraulic line configured to transfer hydraulic fluid from the at least one hydraulic fluid reservoir to the at least one hydraulic device, the at least one hydraulic line comprising a communication medium for propagating a communication signal; a first signal communication device in bidirectional communication with the avionics network, the first signal communication device coupled to the at least one hydraulic line; a second signal communication device in bidirectional communication with the vehicle component, the second signal communication device coupled to the at least one hydraulic line; and wherein the first signal communication device and the second signal communication device are in bidirectional signal communication with each other over the at least one hydraulic line.

20 . The aircraft of claim 19 , wherein the first signal communication device and the second signal communication device each comprise a transceiver and a transducer.

Assignees

• Ge Aviation Systems Llc

Inventors

• Bobrek Pavlo
• Gardner Eric Rankin

Classifications

• H04B3/52 Primary

  Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides · CPC title

• B64D37/005

  Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28 · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• B64D37/00

  Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant (refuelling during flight B64D39/00) · CPC title

• G08C23/00

  Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems · CPC title