METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING PRELOAD IN TILT ROTOR DOWNSTOP

摘要

PURPOSE: A method and apparatus for sensing preload in a tilt rotor downstop is provided to maintain safety of an aircraft by using distortion gage which directly measures distortion by preload of downstop assembly. CONSTITUTION: When a trough portion(117) is warped, a distortion due to downstop load is directly sensed by sensor modules(161). Each of the sensor modules generates a signal in proportion to a downstop preload due to distortion by preload. an average preload measure value is found by a plurality of preload measurements and is processed, whereby comparison with respect to a predetermined allowable range is carried out. Further, the predetermined allowable range is selected such that an appropriate preload is present between a tilt rotor assembly and a wing in order to maintain safety of an aircraft while avoiding overload at any part of structure of the aircraft. By this constitution, the sensor module and a distortion gage are used for directly measuring combined static and dynamic loads varying inside a tilt rotor aircraft.