초록 ▼

A flap angle measurement system is disclosed for a helicopter rotor blade. The blade includes a trailing edge and a flap hinged to at least a portion of the trailing edge about a pivot axis. The flap angle measurement system includes a Hall effect sensor mounted to the trailing edge of the rotor bla

A flap angle measurement system is disclosed for a helicopter rotor blade. The blade includes a trailing edge and a flap hinged to at least a portion of the trailing edge about a pivot axis. The flap angle measurement system includes a Hall effect sensor mounted to the trailing edge of the rotor blade. The Hall effect sensor has a sensing face. A magnet is mounted to the flap at a location spaced apart from the pivot axis. The magnet has a pole axis that is located parallel to the sensing face of the Hall effect sensor. A power source supplies power to the Hall effect sensor. A controller receives output signals from the Hall effect sensor which are indicative of the location of the magnet with respect to the sensing face of the Hall effect sensor. The position of the flap relative to the trailing edge is determined based on the received signals from the Hall effect sensor. In one embodiment of the invention, there is a second Hall effect sensor mounted on the other end of the flap. The sensing face of the second Hall effect sensor points in a direction opposite from the sensing face of the first Hall effect sensor.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A flap angle measurement system for a helicopter rotor blade, the rotor blade including a trailing edge and a flap hinged to at least a portion of the trailing edge, the flap being pivotable about a pivot axis, the flap angle measurement system comprising:a first Hall e

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A flap angle measurement system for a helicopter rotor blade, the rotor blade including a trailing edge and a flap hinged to at least a portion of the trailing edge, the flap being pivotable about a pivot axis, the flap angle measurement system comprising:a first Hall effect sensor mounted to the trailing edge of the rotor blade adjacent to an inboard end of the flap, the first Hall effect sensor having a sensing face;a first magnetic element mounted to the flap on an inboard end at a location spaced apart from the pivot axis, the first magnetic element having a pole axis, the first magnetic element being positioned such that the pole axis is parallel to the sensing face of the first Hall effect sensor;a second Hall effect sensor mounted to the trailing edge adjacent to an outboard end of the flap, the second Hall effect sensor having a sensing face, the sensing face of the second Hall effect sensor pointing in a direction that is opposite from the direction that the sensing face of the first Hall effect sensor points;a second magnetic element mounted to the flap at a location spaced apart from the pivot axis and on the outboard end, the second magnetic element having its pole axis positioned parallel to the sensing face of the second Hall effect sensor;a power source for supplying power to the Hall effect sensor; anda controller for receiving output signals from the Hall effect sensors indicative of the location of the first magnetic element with respect to the sensing face of the first Hall effect sensor and of the location of the second magnetic element with respect to the sensing face of the second Hall effect sensor.