Device for detecting anomalies in an aircraft turbine engine by acoustic analysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816970-B2
Application number	US-201314380533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2013
Priority date	Feb 24, 2012
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A device for detecting anomalies in an aircraft turbine engine by acoustic analysis, the device not an onboard device and including: a mobile module including a directional system for acquiring acoustic signals from the turbine engine; a processor for processing the signals, which is suitable for generating a damage report; a transmitter for transmitting the damage report; a server capable of exchanging data with the mobile module, the server including a receiver for receiving the damage report; and a storage device suitable for storing the damage report.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for detecting anomalies by acoustic analysis of an aircraft turbine engine, the device comprising:
at least one mobile module that is movable relative to the aircraft turbine engine to acquire acoustic signals from the aircraft turbine engine, the at least one mobile module comprising:
directional acquisition means to acquire the acoustic signals from the turbine engine;
means of processing said signals, adapted to generate a damage report;
means of transmitting said damage report;

a server capable of exchanging data with the at least one module, said server comprising:
means of reception of the damage report;
storage means adapted to store said damage report,
wherein the anomalies are detectable by said device without providing said device onboard the aircraft,
wherein the directional acquisition means include a directional sensor and slaving means, the slaving means configured to move the directional sensor relative to the aircraft based on a position of the aircraft.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the acquisition means comprise aircraft identification means.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one module comprises means of recording acoustic signals acquired using the acquisition means.

4. The device according claim 1 , wherein the server comprises a user interface adapted to enable a user to display a damage report.

5. A method of detecting anomalies by acoustic analysis of an aircraft turbine engine, said method being implemented by a device according to claim 1 , said method comprising:
acquiring acoustic signals from the turbine engine;
processing said signals so as to generate a damage report;
transmitting said damage report to the server;
storing said damage report.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the reception means of the server are adapted to receive data from the aircraft.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the server comprises analysis means capable of using data from the aircraft.

8. A device for detecting anomalies by acoustic analysis of an aircraft turbine engine, the device comprising:
at least one mobile module comprising:
directional acquisition means to acquire acoustic signals from the turbine engine;
means of processing said signals, adapted to generate a damage report;
means of transmitting said damage report;

a server capable of exchanging data with the at least one module, said server comprising:
means of reception of the damage report;
storage means adapted to store said damage report,
wherein the anomalies are detectable by said device without providing said device onboard the aircraft, and
wherein the acquisition means comprise a directional sensor, and a parabolic amplifier.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the directional sensor is a microphone.

10. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the acquisition means comprise slaving means adapted to control the orientation of the directional sensor.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein, when the aircraft is moving, the slaving means adjust the orientation of the sensor depending on the position and trajectory of the aircraft.

12. A device for detecting anomalies by acoustic analysis of an aircraft turbine engine, the device comprising:
a mobile module comprising:
a directional acquisition system constructed and arranged to acquire acoustic signals from the turbine engine, the directional acquisition system including a directional sensor configured to detect the acoustic signals and an amplifier configured to amplify the detected acoustic signals;
a processor constructed and arranged to process said amplified detected acoustic signals, and to generate a damage report;
a transmitter constructed and arranged to transmit said damage report;

a server constructed and arranged to exchange data with the mobile module, said server comprising:
a receiver constructed and arranged to receive the damage report;
a storage device constructed and arranged to store said damage report,
wherein the anomalies are detectable by said device without providing said device onboard the aircraft, and
wherein the directional acquisition system includes an identification system comprising a camera to identify the aircraft.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the directional sensor is a microphone.

14. A device for detecting anomalies by acoustic analysis of an aircraft turbine engine, the device comprising:
a mobile module comprising:
a directional acquisition system constructed and arranged to acquire acoustic signals from the turbine engine, the directional acquisition system including a directional sensor configured to detect the acoustic signals and an amplifier configured to amplify the detected acoustic signals;
a processor constructed and arranged to process said amplified detected acoustic signals, and to generate a damage report;
a transmitter constructed and arranged to transmit said damage report;

a server constructed and arranged to exchange data with the mobile module, said server comprising:
a receiver constructed and arranged to receive the damage report;
a storage device constructed and arranged to store said damage report,

wherein the anomalies are detectable by said device without providing said device onboard the aircraft, and
wherein the directional sensor is movable to follow a trajectory of the aircraft.

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the directional sensor is a microphone.

Assignees

• Snecma

Inventors

• Lacaille Jérôme Henri Noël

Classifications

• G06F17/00

  Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) · CPC title

• G05B23/0243

  model based detection method, e.g. first-principles knowledge model · CPC title

• G05B23/0213

  Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols · CPC title

• G01N29/09

  by measuring mechanical or acoustic impedance · CPC title

• G01M7/00

  Vibration-testing of structures; Shock-testing of structures (G01M9/00 takes precedence) · CPC title