IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,295,420
Granted Patent B2
US 10,295,420 · App. 15/095,199 · Granted May 21, 2019

Nacelle deflection measurement assembly

Inventors: Joshua V. Wood (East Hartford, CT); Michael Joseph Murphy (Windsor, CT); Justin R. Urban (Tolland, CT); Robert E. Malecki (Storrs, CT); William W. Rice (South Glastonbury, CT); David W. Lamarre (Colchester, CT)
Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
G01L5/133B64C7/02B64D27/10F01D21/003F02K1/15G01M15/14F05D2260/50F05D2270/80F05D2270/821
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 10,295,420
App. No.
15/095,199
Granted
May 21, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A deflection measurement assembly according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a nacelle arranged about an axis to define a flow path, a cable assembly arranged at least partially about the axis, and a transducer coupled to the cable assembly.

Claims (20)

1. A propulsion system, comprising:

a gas turbine engine defining an engine axis, the engine including a turbine section configured to drive a fan section;

a nacelle assembly including a fan nacelle and a core cowling arranged about the engine axis to define a bypass flow path, and the core cowling defining a core flow path, the fan nacelle including a stationary first nacelle section and a second nacelle section, the second nacelle section axially moveable along the engine axis in a direction away from the first nacelle section such that the second nacelle section defines a radial opening to the bypass flow path; and

a deflection measurement assembly, comprising:

a cable assembly coupled to the nacelle assembly, wherein the cable assembly includes at least one cable disposed at least partially about a perimeter of the second nacelle section; and

a transducer coupled to the cable assembly, the transducer configured to be actuated in response to a change in a cross-sectional area of at least one of the bypass flow path and the core flow path.

2. The propulsion system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transducer is a linear variable differential transducer.

3. The propulsion system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cable assembly is arranged at least partially about the engine axis.

4. The propulsion system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a controller coupled to the transducer, the controller operable to determine a deflection of the nacelle assembly based upon the change in the cross-section area.

5. The propulsion system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fan nacelle is fixedly attached to a pylon, the transducer is coupled to a first end of the at least one cable, and a second end of the at least one cable is coupled to the pylon.

6. The propulsion system as recited in claim 2 , comprising:

a controller coupled to the transducer, the controller operable to determine a deflection of the nacelle assembly based upon the change in the cross-section area.

7. A method of measuring deflection of a nacelle assembly, comprising:

providing a nacelle defining a flow path that extends along an engine axis, the nacelle including a stationary first nacelle section and a second nacelle section, the second nacelle section axially moveable along the axis in a direction away from the first nacelle section such that the second nacelle section a radial opening to the flow path;

positioning a cable assembly about the engine axis, the cable assembly moveable relative to the axis in response to a change in a cross-sectional area of the flow path, wherein the cable assembly includes at least one cable disposed at least partially about a perimeter of the second nacelle section; and

actuating a transducer is response to movement of the cable assembly.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the transducer is coupled to a first end of the at least one cable.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 , comprising determining a deflection of the nacelle at a location adjacent to the cable assembly based upon the step of actuating the transducer.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the step of determining the deflection of the nacelle includes comparing the change in the cross-section area to a predetermined quantity.

11. The propulsion system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the fan nacelle is fixedly attached to a pylon, the transducer is coupled to a first end of the at least one cable, and a second end of the at least one cable is coupled to the pylon.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: WOOD, JOSHUA V.; MURPHY, MICHAEL JOSEPH; URBAN, JUSTIN R.; MALECKI, ROBERT E.; RICE, WILLIAM W.; LAMARRE, DAVID W.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038240/0332 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170292882A1 · Oct 12, 2017