1. Title of the invention

Intelligent Electrical interface test unit to check Electrical parameters of mechanical systems for Aerospace applications.

2. Field of invention

It is an Intelligent Electrical interface test unit used to verify / capture electrical parameters of mechanical systems before and after integrating utility system Electronic units on aerospace vehicles.

3. Use of invention

The Intelligent Electrical interface test unit here onwards called as USMS-ITU (Utility System Monitoring System- Interface Test Unit) is a PC based electrical interface test unit designed mainly to test the following utility sub system parameters.

1. Temperature sensor resistance and default voltage level checks

2. Hydraulic pressure sensor default voltage level checks

3. Brake pedal sensor resistance checks

4. Nose wheel steering pedal sensor resistance checks

5. Servo valve and shut off valve coil resistance checks

6. Motorized and solenoid valve operation and its feedback checks

7. Fuel gauging capacitance probe checks

8. Pressure switch status checks

9. Cockpit switch status checks

10. Cockpit indicator health checks

11. Wiring integrity checks of Electrical system, Engine system, Fuel system, Undercarriage system, Starting system, Secondary power system, Fire detection and warning system, Brake system, Nose wheel steering system, Fuel system, Environmental system.

12. Simulation of Engine system analog parameters to check the performance of utility system Electronic unit.

Figure-2 shows Block diagram of USMS-ITU (Present invention). Satisfactory checks hence¬forth carried out with the aid of the USMS-ITU paves the way for safe integration of the USMS Electronic units in an aerospace vehicle.

4. Prior art

Mechanical interface test units

Figure-1 shows the block diagram of USMS -ITUs (Old invention). There are four mechanical interface test units was designed and developed by Aircraft Research & Design Centre to capture/verify the electrical parameters of mechanical systems. That is HEEM-ITU, ECFM-ITU, SECU SIMULATION BOX and ENGINE-ITU. Each ITU is having switches, sockets and LED indicators along with separate power supply unit, function generator, shorting links and Digital multimeter were used.

HEEM- Hydraulic Engine & Electrical Monitoring
ECFM- Environmental Control & Fuel Management
SECU - Starting Electronic Control unit
ITU - Interface Test Unit

5. Draw backs of prior art
In order to test the utility system Electronic units interfaces in an aerospace vehicle, the mechanical interface test unit was used which contains switches, LED indicators and sockets along with powers supply unit, function generator, shorting links and Digital multimeter were used.

1 With the use of Mechanical interface test unit the logistics required to test the interfaces are more ( i.e. power supply unit, function generator, shorting links and Digital multimeter)

2 It requires more time to check utility system Electronic unit interfaces.

3 Man power requirement is more.

4 During testing, need to record the results manually.

5 Complexity of connecting the test set up and carrying out tests.

6 During testing if any power supply link is out from socket and touching the chassis of mechanical ITUs leads short circuit.

7 Four ITUs were made to check the interfaces of Engine system, Electrical system, Brake system, Nose wheel steering system, Undercarriage system, Hydraulic system, Fuel system and Environmental system. Hence the weight of these ITUs is more.

6. Comparison between prior art and present invention

The old conventional ITU's which includes mechanical switches, sockets and LEDs along with power supply unit, function generator, shorting links and Digital multimeter are replaced with USMS-ITU which employs state-of-the-art technology. The USMS-ITU is a microprocessor based system, which hosts add on cards and provides a user friendly graphical user interface. It also eliminates the draw backs mentioned in the previous paragraph.

7. Aim of the invention

The main objective of this invention is to Design and Develop a PC based Intelligent Electrical interface test unit (USMS-ITU). This unit is used to verify / capture electrical interfaces and electrical parameters of mechanical system before and after integration of utility system Electronic units in an aerospace vehicle. It is a portable unit and within a stipulated period of time electrical interfaces and electrical parameter checks of mechanical system can be carried out.

8. Summary of the present invention

The USMS -ITU is a standalone PC based Intelligent electrical interface test unit designed to test the electrical interfacing inputs to the line replaceable units like utility system electronic units and simulating outputs and analog parameters from USMS-ITU in an aerospace vehicle. The USMS-ITU uses a PCI based DMM card for measurements and two 8 channel PCI DAC card to generate analog voltage and frequency signals on command. The system is portable unit and enclosed in a rack for easy movement. The measurement of any signal and simulation of analog signal parameters is controlled by the application software.

Specifications:

1. Power supply input - 110V/220V AC
2. Measurement of AC/DC Voltage - 240mV- 330V
3. Measurement of resistance - 0 Ohm to 24M Ohm
4. Frequency and period - 10Hz to lOOKHz
5. Generation of DC voltage - 0 to +10V
6. Generation of AC voltage - 8Vrms
7. Generation of frequency - 10Hz to 200KHz
9. Components list
The USMS-ITU consists of the following components as shown in figure-3.
1. Industrial PC with Digital multimeter PCI card(DMM) and PCI DAC cards
2. Signal Switching Unit (SSU)
3. Sliding monitor and keyboard
4. Industrial 19" rack
5. Interface cables/harness

10. Statement of invention

With the design and development of USMS-ITU the following are the advantages while carrying out integration checks of utility system electronic unit before and after installation on Aerospace vehicle.

1. The time required to carry out tests on aerospace vehicle in present invention is less as compared with old test facility.

2. Logistics required with present invention is less as compared with old invention (i.e. function generators, power supply unit, Digital Multimeters, shorting links, mechanical ITU etc.)

3. The present invention is a rugged, compact ,more efficient and user friendly graphical user interface

4. Man power requirement is less for present invention as compared with old invention method of testing.5. The test results can be viewed / replayed after test or during test in the present invention.

6. Test report will be generated automatically after conducting tests in the present invention by clicking test report. But in case of old invention test report to be generated manually.

7. The movement of present test unit from one place another place is easy as it is mounted on a trolley.
Figure-1 Block Diagram of USMS-ITUs (Old invention)

Electrical interface test unit

Figure-2 Block diagram of USMS-ITU (Present invention)
Figure-3 Components of USMS-ITU (Present invention)

CLAIMS:

We claim that

1. Time required to carry out test on aerospace vehicle is less in the present invention as compared with old invention.

2. Logistics required are less as compared with old invention (i.e. function generators, power supply unit, Digital multimeters, shorting links, mechanical ITU etc.)

3. Present invention is a rugged, simple, compact, efficient and a user friendly graphical user interface to test.

4. Man power requirement is less for present invention as compared with old invention method of testing.

5. Test results can be viewed/ replayed after test or during test in the present invention.

6. Test report will be generated automatically after conducting tests in the present invention by clicking test report by the user. But in case of old invention test report to be generated manually.

7. Movement of test unit from one place other place is easy, as it is mounted on a trolley.

8. Any change in aircraft hardware can be easily tested by simple modification of software and use of spare hardware components.

9. This Intelligent Electrical interface test unit (USMS-ITU) can be easily modified to test any electronic unit interfaces in a system.