Granted Patent B2

US 12,722,796 · App. 18/648,076 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Christian Kohlöffel (Amtzell, DE); Raphael Ladner (Leutkirch, DE)

Assignee: LIEBHERR-AEROSPACE LINDENBERG GMBH

B64D45/0005B64D2045/001

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . System for monitoring and/or detecting an operational state of a movable component of an aircraft, wherein the system comprises the movable component and a monitoring device, wherein the system also has a combination sensor connected to the monitoring device, which is configured to and arranged to detect a kinematic state and/or a kinetic state of the movable component,

wherein the combination sensor comprises a kinematic sensor and a kinetic sensor,

wherein the kinematic sensor and the kinetic sensor share a measuring coil,

wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor and/or detect the operational state of the movable component,

wherein the kinematic state comprises a position, a velocity, and/or acceleration of the movable component, and

wherein the kinetic state comprises a load acting on the movable component.

2 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the movable component is a flap, and wherein the operational state comprises or is a skew of the flap and/or a disconnect of the flap from a structure.

3 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor a functionality of the combination sensor.

4 . System according to claim 3 , wherein the monitoring device is configured such that the functionality can be monitored by comparing the kinematic state of the movable component detected by the combination sensor with the kinetic state of the movable component detected by the combination sensor.

5 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the kinematic sensor is a discrete and/or incremental sensor, and/or wherein the kinetic sensor is configured to detect a direction of the kinetic state of the movable component.

6 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises an actuator, wherein the combination sensor is arranged in or on the actuator, and wherein there are no combination sensors and/or sensors arranged in the movable component.

7 . System according to claim 6 , wherein the kinematic sensor and the kinetic sensor are positioned in a housing of the actuator.

8 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the movable component comprises or consists of a lift aid.

9 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a further combination sensor, wherein the monitoring device is configured such that monitoring and/or detecting the operational state of the movable component and/or monitoring a functionality of the combination sensor and/or the further combination sensor can be performed by comparing the kinematic and/or the kinetic state of the movable component detected by the combination sensor with a further kinematic and/or a further kinetic state of the movable component detected by the further combination sensor.

10 . System according to claim 9 , wherein the comparison of the kinematic state or the kinetic state of the movable component detected by the combination sensor with the further kinematic or the further kinetic state of the movable component detected by the further combination sensor can be performed by converting the kinematic state into the kinetic state, or by converting the kinematic state into the kinetic state.

11 . Aircraft, having a system according to claim 1 .

12 . System according to claim 1 , wherein a component shared by the kinematic sensor and the kinetic sensor share is only and exactly the measuring coil.

13 . System according to claim 12 , wherein the kinematic sensor and the kinetic sensor have a common housing for one or more of a leading-edge slat, a landing flap, an actuator, and a drive train.

14 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the kinematic sensor and the kinetic sensor are positioned in a single housing.

15 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the kinetic state comprises a force acting on the movable component and/or a torque acting on the movable component.

16 . Method for monitoring and/or detecting an operational state of a movable component of an aircraft having a system comprising the movable component and a monitoring device, wherein the system also has a combination sensor connected to the monitoring device, which is configured to and arranged to detect a kinematic state and/or a kinetic state of the movable component, wherein the combination sensor comprises a kinematic sensor and a kinetic sensor, wherein the kinematic sensor and the kinetic sensor share a measuring coil, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor and/or detect the operational state of the movable component,

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

detecting the kinematic and/or the kinetic state of the movable component using the combination sensor,

monitoring and/or detecting the operational state of the movable component,

wherein the kinematic state comprises a position, a velocity, and/or acceleration of the movable component, and

wherein the kinetic state comprises a load acting on the movable component.

17 . Method according to claim 16 , wherein the movable component is a flap, and wherein the operational state comprises or is a skew of the flap and/or a disconnect of the flap from a structure.

18 . Method according to claim 16 , wherein a disconnect of the movable component that takes place in an area in front of the combination sensor takes place by detecting the kinematic and the kinetic state of the movable component,

and wherein a disconnect of the movable component that takes place in a further area behind the combination sensor takes place only by detecting the kinetic state of the movable component.

19 . Method according to claim 16 , wherein monitoring and/or detecting the operational state of the movable component is performed by detecting the kinematic state of the movable component after the kinetic state of the movable component reaches or exceeds a limit value and/or in that monitoring and/or detecting the operational state of the movable component is performed by detecting the kinetic state of the movable component after the kinematic state of the movable component reaches or exceeds the limit value.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (17)