Textron Innovations Inc.

Matthew Curtis Ledbetter

Brian Edward Tucker

Mark Adam Wiinikka

Drew Franklin Waller

Silvio Mario Lopez

John R McCullough

Jobin J Thomas

A system and method for reducing data noise for vehicle monitoring sensors using parameter-based correction. The system includes a sensor operable to make a sensor reading and generate a sensor signal, and a data server operable to acquire a condition indicator model correlating operational parameters with condition indicators, and to acquire a current condition indicator according to the sensor signal, the data server further operable to generate an adjusted condition indicator by adjusting the current condition indicator according to the condition indicator model, and to determine whether an alert condition is indicated, according to at least the adjusted condition indicator, by a condition indicator set that includes the adjusted condition indicator, and to provide an alert in response to determining that the alert condition is indicated.

Condition indicator noise reduction through operational parameter-based corrections

In an embodiment, a method includes acquiring a current condition indicator of a condition indicator set associated with an operating condition of a machine, the condition indicator set indicating sensor readings associated with an operating element of the machine under the operating condition. The method also includes determining, by a data server, a relative trend significance over a trend window of the condition indicator set based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the trend window in relation to a historical window of the condition indicator set. The method also includes determining, by the data server, whether trend criteria associated with the operating element is satisfied, where the trend criteria may include criteria related to the relative trend significance. The method also includes executing, by the data server, an alerting process in response to the determining that the trend criteria is satisfied.

Absolute and relative importance trend detection

A rotorcraft having a rotor system including a yoke, a plurality of grip assemblies, each of which is hingedly attach a rotor blade to the yoke, a plurality of flap stops, each flap stop attached to a respective grip assembly, a channel bounded by an upper and lower retaining surfaces, and a droop ring slideably disposed in the channel of the droop limiting system. The droop ring has a body with an inner surface, an outer surface, and a first end surface between the inner surface and the outer surface. The droop ring further has a first wear element removably disposed at the first end surface and extending above the first end surface and spaces the first end surface apart from the channel. Each flap stop is arranged to contact the outer surface of the droop ring and limit a downward droop of the respective rotor blade.

Droop ring with removable wear elements

A centrifugal force (CF) bearing for a rotorcraft rotor assembly includes an inner-member, an outer-member, and an elastic member interposed between the inner- and outer-members. The inner-member includes a boss configured for location to and engagement with a yoke. The boss includes a tapered profile (e.g., conic) portion. A tapered recess region of the yoke includes a profile that is substantially matched to receive and contact the tapered profile of the boss. The CF bearing is configured for attachment to a grip of the rotor assembly. The boss is configured to communicate mechanical loads (e.g., centrifugal force, lateral shear, vertical shear) from the grip to the yoke during operation of the rotor assembly.

Rotorcraft centrifugal force bearing

A system for adaptable trend detection for component condition indicator data includes a sensor operable to measure an operating condition of a vehicle and generate a sensor signal associated with the operating condition and a data server operable to acquire a current condition indicator of a condition indicator set according to the sensor signal, and to determine whether a trend in the condition indicator set is indicated according to at least the current condition indicator, at least one previous condition indicator of the condition indicator set and a volatility of at least a portion of the condition indicator set. The data server is further operable to provide an alert in response to determining that the trend is indicated.

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North Richland Hills, TX, United States of America

Matthew Curtis Ledbetter