Device for detecting impacts on an aeronautic propeller

Abstract

A device for detecting and recording impacts along several axes on an aeronautic propeller assembly, which has a hub and two blades, is provided. The device has a plurality of accelerometers integrated with the hub of the aeronautic propeller assembly and arranged at the respective root end of a plurality of blades, and an electronic module for recording during the life span any occurrence of shocks at various predetermined levels.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . A device for detecting and recording impacts along several axes of an aeronautic propeller assembly having a hub and a plurality of blades with each blade having a root, the device comprising: 
 a plurality of accelerometers integrated at the hub, each of said plurality of accelerometers being positioned at one of the roots of the plurality of blades; and    an electronic module to record, during a service life of the aeronautic propeller assembly, any occurrence of the impacts at predetermined levels.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said electronic module is integrated into the hub.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of accelerometers are directly connected to said electronic module for reading the recording.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of accelerometers are remotely connected to said electronic module for reading the recording, and wherein said remote connection uses infrared signals.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein at least one accelerometer of said plurality of accelerometers has at least two axes integrated in the hub and positioned in a plane of the plurality of blades.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of accelerometers are directly connected to said electronic module for reading the recording.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of accelerometers are remotely connected with said electronic module for reading the recording, and wherein said remote connection uses infrared signals.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a transmitter or a receiver, wherein said electronic module comprises a transmission unit capable of communicating with said transmitter or said receiver.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said electronic module is integrated into the hub.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of accelerometers are directly connected to said electronic module for reading the recording.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of accelerometers are remotely connected with said electronic module for reading the recording, and wherein said remote connection uses infrared signals.  
   
   
       17 . A device for detecting and recording impacts along several axes of an aeronautic propeller assembly having a hub and a plurality of blades with each blade having a root, the device comprising: 
 a plurality of accelerometers integrated at the hub, each of said plurality of accelerometers being positioned at one of the roots of the plurality of blades; and    an electronic module to record, during a service life of the aeronautic propeller assembly, any occurrence of the impacts at predetermined levels, wherein said electronic module has a power supply, a circuit for the processing of accelerometer signals, an analog/digital converter, a microprocessor and a memory for storing a number of the occurrences of the impacts.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein at least one accelerometer of said plurality of accelerometers has at least two axes integrated in the hub and positioned in a plane of the plurality of blades.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said electronic module is integrated into the hub.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of accelerometers are directly connected to said electronic module for reading the recording.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of accelerometers are remotely connected with said electronic module for reading the recording, and wherein said remote connection uses infrared signals.  
   
   
       22 . A method of detecting and recording impacts along several axes of an aeronautic propeller assembly comprising: 
 obtaining data representative of the impacts via a plurality of accelerometers integrated with a hub of the aeronautic propeller assembly;    communicating said data from each of said plurality of accelerometers to an electronic module;    comparing said data to predetermined levels;    storing occurrences of the impacts beyond said predetermined levels in memory; and    providing for reading a number of said occurrences via a memory reading device.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said memory reading device receives signals representative of the number of said occurrences via a direct connection.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said memory reading device receives signals representative of the number of said occurrences via remote transmission.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said remote transmission is via infrared signals.