Patent · US Expired

Helicopter autorotation detection and recovery

US5046923A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
11References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 2, 1989
Grant dateSep 10, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 2, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF05D2270/04
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The existence of autorotation of a load (e.g., a helicopter rotor system) coupled to the free turbine of a gas turbine engine is determined and a signal indicative thereof enables an integrator which, upon autorotation, integrates rate-based recovery anticipation provided thereto, the integrator output providing a time-composite bias signal to the main control portion of the engine fuel control to increase the speed of the gas generator of the engine in anticipation of rotor reengagement with the free turbine. The amount of recovery error is determined from the rotor speed error and is multiplied with the integrator output, the product being fed, upon completion of autorotation recovery, to the integrator input whose output now provides a controlled removal of the bias signal from the main control portion so as to minimize transients induced therein.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.