IP Library Granted Patent US 10,401,395
Granted Patent B2
US 10,401,395 · App. 14/409,091 · Granted Sep 3, 2019

Monitoring a linear variable differential transformer sensor

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,401,395
App. No.
14/409,091
Granted
Sep 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for monitoring an LVDT sensor including two secondary circuits, the method including: calculating the difference between voltages at terminals of one of the secondary circuits at a given instant and at a previous instant; calculating the difference between voltages at terminals of the other one of the secondary circuits at the given instant and at the previous instant; calculating the sum of the two differences calculated; modifying an indicator according to a distance to zero of the previously calculated sum; and comparing the indicator with at least one predetermined threshold.

Claims (32)

1. A method for monitoring a sensor of a linear variable differential transformer type, the method comprising:

measuring, by the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type, physical parameters associated with an aircraft engine or a turbojet, the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type comprising a transformer that includes a primary circuit formed by a coil and two secondary circuits formed by coils and in each of which there is induced a voltage varying linearly according to a movement of a core;

calculating, after the measuring of the physical parameters, and using processing circuitry, a first difference between voltages at terminals of a first circuit of the secondary circuits at a given instant and at a previous instant;

calculating, after the measuring of the physical parameters, and using the processing circuitry, a second difference between voltages at terminals of a second circuit of the secondary circuits at the given instant and at the previous instant;

calculating, using the processing circuitry, a sum of the first and the second differences previously calculated;

modifying, using the processing circuitry, a value of an indicator indicating a fault of the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type according to a distance to zero of the sum calculated by the calculating;

comparing, using the processing circuitry, the value of the indicator, which indicates a fault of the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type, with at least one predetermined threshold; and

determining, using the processing circuitry, whether the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type is functioning normally, based on the comparing.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the value of the indicator varies between two terminals, one of which indicates that the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type is functioning normally and the other one of which indicates that the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type is faulty.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the modifying of the value of the indicator comprises incrementing the value of the indicator when the sum is between −0.1 and +0.1 and decrementing the value of the indicator when the sum is not between −0.1 and +0.1.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the comparing of the value of the indicator comprises comparison of the value of the indicator with a first threshold and comparison of the value of the indicator with a second threshold, so that a change from a normal operating state to a fault state is effected for a value different from that of a change from the fault state to the normal operating state.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer program comprising instructions for executing the method according to claim 1 when the computer program is executed by a computer.

6. A device for monitoring a sensor of linear variable differential transformer type, the device comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

receive, from the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type, measurements of physical parameters associated with an aircraft engine or a turbojet, the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type comprising a transformer that includes a primary circuit formed by a coil and two secondary circuits formed by coils and in each of which there is induced a voltage varying linearly according to a movement of a core,

calculate, after receiving the measurements of the physical parameters, a first difference between voltages at terminals of a first circuit of the secondary circuits at a given instant and at a previous instant,

calculate, after receiving the measurements of the physical parameters, a second difference between voltages at terminals of a second circuit of the secondary circuits at the given instant and at the previous instant,

calculate a sum of the first and the second differences previously calculated,

modify a value of an indicator indicating a fault of the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type according to a distance to zero of the sum,

compare the value of the indicator, which indicates a fault of the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type, with at least one predetermined threshold; and

determine whether the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type is functioning normally, based on the comparing.

7. A measuring chain integrating a sensor of linear variable differential transformer type, the measuring chain comprising:

the sensor of linear variable differential transformer type, which measures physical parameters associated with an aircraft engine or a turbojet and includes

a first secondary circuit in which there is induced a voltage varying linearly according to a movement of a core, and

a second secondary circuit in which there is induced a voltage varying linearly according to the movement of the core; and

a monitoring device including processing circuitry configured to

calculate, after the sensor of linear variable differential transformer type measures the physical parameters, a first difference between voltages at terminals of the first secondary circuit at a given instant and at a previous instant,

calculate, after the sensor of linear variable differential transformer type measures the physical parameters, a second difference between voltages at terminals of the second secondary circuit at the given instant and at the previous instant,

calculate a sum of the first and the second differences previously calculated,

modify a value of an indicator indicating a fault of the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type according to a distance to zero of the sum,

compare the value of the indicator, which indicates a fault of the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type, with at least one predetermined threshold; and

determine whether the sensor of the linear variable differential transformer type is functioning normally, based on the comparing.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVER SHEET TO REMOVE APPLICATION NOS. 10250419, 10786507, 10786409, 12416418, 12531115, 12996294, 12094637 12416422 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 046479 FRAME 0807. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 24, 2018
From: SNECMA
To: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
Reel/Frame 046939/0336 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 23, 2018
From: SNECMA
To: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
Reel/Frame 046479/0807 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: CABRET, VINCENT; DJELASSI, CEDRIK
To: SNECMA
Reel/Frame 034545/0407 →