System and method to adjust a force zero reference

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9759626-B2
Application number	US-201414456705-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2014
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A system and method of adjusting a zero reference may comprise retracting ram of an actuator coupled to a load cell from a first position to a second position. The system and method may comprise reporting a measurement by a load cell, in response to the actuator being in a second position. The system and method may comprise calculating a force being measured by t the load cell. The system and method may comprise creating a zero reference offset value based on the calculation, in response to the force calculation resulting in a non-zero force calculation. The system and method may comprise adjusting a zero reference value of the load cell by the zero reference offset value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
retracting a ram of an actuator coupled to a load cell from a first position to a second position;
reporting a measurement by the load cell, in response to the ram of the actuator being in the second position;
calculating a force based on the measurement by the load cell;
creating a zero reference offset value based on the force calculation, in response to the force calculation resulting in a non-zero force calculation; and
adjusting a zero reference value of the load cell by the zero reference offset value by at least one of adding or subtracting the zero reference offset value from the zero reference value, wherein the adjusting the zero reference value of the load cell calibrates the load cell such that the load cell measures a zero force in response to the ram of the actuator being in the second position; and
storing the zero reference offset value in a non-transitory, non-volatile memory.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, at a subsequent second wear pin measurement event, a second zero reference offset value; and
updating the created zero reference offset value with the second zero reference offset value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ram of the actuator is fully retracted in the second position.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second position is a position where the ram of the actuator is not applying a force on an end plate.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing a maximum number of times the zero reference offset value may be used to adjust the zero reference value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zero reference value plus the zero reference offset value is equal to a zero force calculation.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement by the load cell occurs in parallel with a brake operational test.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing a running clearance position based upon the zero reference offset value indicating a zero force calculation plus a minimum relief value.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises a single mode low force braking system.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein out of specification equipment is maintained on an aircraft during re-calibration.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein accuracy of the calculated force is within about 2.0% of an actual force being applied by the actuator.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zero reference offset value varies according to a look up table based the calculated force.

13. A system configured to adjust a force sensor zero reference value of an electronic brake actuator on an airplane comprising:
positioning a ram of the electronic brake actuator in a first position, wherein the first position is a position wherein the ram of the electronic brake actuator is applying zero force on an end plate;
measuring force on a sensor associated with the electronic brake actuator, in response to the ram of the electronic brake actuator being in the first position;
creating, by an electromechanical actuator controller comprising a processor and coupled to a non-transitory, tangible storage medium, a zero reference offset value based on the measured force, resulting in a non-zero force calculation;
adjusting, by the electromechanical actuator controller, the force sensor zero reference value by the zero reference offset value to create an adjusted zero reference value by at least one of adding or subtracting the zero reference offset value from the zero reference value; and
utilizing, by the electromechanical actuator controller, the adjusted zero reference value in subsequent force application calculations of the sensor, wherein the subsequent force application calculations of the sensor include measuring force on the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
updating the zero reference offset value with a second zero reference offset value by positioning the ram of the electronic brake actuator in the first position;
measuring a second force on the sensor associated with the electronic brake actuator, in response to the ram of the electronic brake actuator being in the first position;
creating, by the electromechanical actuator controller, the second zero reference offset value based on the measurement, in response to the measured second force resulting in the non-zero force calculation;
adjusting, by the electromechanical actuator controller, the zero reference offset value by the second zero reference offset value; and
utilizing the second zero reference offset value in subsequent force application calculations.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Georgin Marc
• Rehfus Kevin

Classifications

• G01L25/00 Primary

  Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency · CPC title

• F16D2125/66

  Wedges · CPC title

• F16D2125/64

  Levers · CPC title

• F16D2121/14

  Mechanical · CPC title

• G01L5/28

  for testing brakes · CPC title