Gearbox internal sensor integration
An exemplary internal wireless sensor monitoring system includes a wireless sensor positioned inside of an enclosed housing to monitor a condition in the housing, a wireless gateway positioned outside of the housing, a gateway antenna located in the housing configured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless sensor, and a conductor extending through a penetration in the housing and connecting the gateway antenna and the wireless gateway.
1. An internal wireless sensor monitoring system comprising:
a wireless sensor positioned inside of an enclosed housing to monitor a condition in the housing;
a wireless gateway positioned outside of the enclosed housing;
a gateway antenna located within the enclosed housing and configured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless sensor; and
a conductor extending through a penetration in the enclosed housing and connecting the gateway antenna and the wireless gateway.
2. The internal wireless sensor monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosed housing encloses gears.
3. The internal wireless sensor monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless sensor comprises an energy harvesting device configured to convert energy into electric energy.
4. The internal wireless sensor monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the penetration passes a component of an operational system.
5. The internal wireless sensor monitoring system of claim 4 , wherein the wireless sensor comprises an energy harvesting device configured to convert energy into electric energy.
6. The internal wireless sensor monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the penetration passes a conduit of a lubrication system.
7. The internal wireless sensor monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein the wireless sensor comprises an energy harvesting device configured to convert energy into electric energy.
8. A rotorcraft comprising:
a wireless sensor positioned inside of a gearbox housing;
a wireless gateway positioned outside of the gearbox housing;
a gateway antenna located within the gearbox housing and configured to wireles sly communicate with the wireless sensor; and
a conductor extending through a penetration in the gearbox housing and connecting the gateway antenna and the wireless gateway.
9. The rotorcraft of claim 8 , wherein the wireless sensor comprises an energy harvesting device configured to convert energy into electric energy.
10. The rotorcraft of claim 8 , wherein the penetration passes an additional component.
11. The rotorcraft of claim 10 , wherein the additional component is a component of a lubrication system.
12. The rotorcraft of claim 8 , further comprising an imaging system comprising a first component located inside of the gearbox housing, a second component located outside of the gearbox housing, and a wired connector passing through the penetration and connecting the first component and the second component.
13. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the wireless sensor comprises an energy harvesting device configured to convert energy into electric energy.
14. The rotorcraft of claim 8 , further comprising a second wireless sensor located inside of the gearbox housing;
a second wireless gateway positioned outside of the gearbox housing;
a second gateway antenna located within the gearbox housing and configured to wirelessly communicate with the second wireless sensor; and
a second conductor extending through a penetration in the gearbox housing and connecting the gateway antenna and the wireless gateway.
15. The rotorcraft of claim 14 , wherein the wireless sensor comprises an energy harvesting device configured to convert energy into electric energy.
16. A method comprising:
positioning a wireless sensor inside of a gearbox housing, the wireless sensor comprising a controller, a transducer, and a sensor antenna;
transmitting, via the sensor antenna, data from the wireless sensor to a gateway antenna positioned within the gearbox housing;
communicating the data from the gateway antenna over a wired connection to a wireless gateway located outside of the gearbox housing, the wired connection passing through a penetration in the gearbox housing; and
transmitting the data from the wireless gateway to a rotorcraft computer.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising converting energy into electric energy and supplying the electric energy to the wireless sensor.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the penetration passes an additional component.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising an imaging system comprising a first component located inside of the gearbox housing, a second component located outside of the gearbox housing, and a wired connector passing through the penetration and connecting the first component and the second component.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising converting energy into electric energy and supplying the electric energy to the wireless sensor.