초록 ▼

A measure of the enroute weight of an aircraft is continuously provided by determining the zero fuel weight during takeoff, adding the weight of total fuel as measured by fuel quantity sensors, interrupting the latter measure and holding its then current value whenever the fuel quantity sensors may

A measure of the enroute weight of an aircraft is continuously provided by determining the zero fuel weight during takeoff, adding the weight of total fuel as measured by fuel quantity sensors, interrupting the latter measure and holding its then current value whenever the fuel quantity sensors may be in error, such as when the aircraft is not level or during aircraft accelerations, and during this time computing the rate of change of aircraft weight as a function of aerodynamic and engine parameters and subtracting the time integral of this computed value from the held fuel quantity sensor value. Upon the aircraft resuming level, unaccelerated flight, the integrator is reset and the sensed fuel quantity measure restored.

대표청구항 ▼

In an engine powered aircraft, an apparatus for providing a continuous measure of the total in-flight weight comprising: means for supplying a first total in-flight aircraft weight measure dependent upon the sum of zero fuel weight of the aircraft and weight of fuel in fuel tanks as derived from fue

In an engine powered aircraft, an apparatus for providing a continuous measure of the total in-flight weight comprising: means for supplying a first total in-flight aircraft weight measure dependent upon the sum of zero fuel weight of the aircraft and weight of fuel in fuel tanks as derived from fuel level sensors disposed within said fuel tanks, and means independent of said fuel level sensors for computing and providing a measure of the weight of fuel supplied to the aircraft engines, wherein said independent fuel weight measure providing means comprises: computer means responsive to an engine operation parameter, aircraft speed and aircraft altitude for providing a measure of the rate of fuel flow to said engine, integrator means responsive to said fuel flow measure for providing a measure of the weight of fuel being consumed by said engine, means responsive to aircraft flight conditions, said flight conditions render said fuel level sensors inaccurate, and means responsive to said last-mentioned means for holding said fuel level sensor derived fuel weight measure and for subtracting from said sensor derived measure said computed fuel weight measure to thereby provide a second total in-flight aircraft weight measure during said aircraft flight conditions.