US 12,391,362 B2
System and method for measuring an axial position of a rotating component
Antwan Shenouda, Missisauga (CA)
Assigned to PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed by PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/135,968.
Prior Publication US 2024/0351679 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 11/30 (2006.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); F01D 7/00 (2006.01); F01D 17/02 (2006.01); F01D 17/06 (2006.01); F01D 17/24 (2006.01); F01D 21/00 (2006.01); F01D 21/14 (2006.01); G01B 7/02 (2006.01); G01B 7/30 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 11/301 (2013.01) [B64D 45/00 (2013.01); B64D 45/0005 (2013.01); F01D 17/02 (2013.01); F01D 17/06 (2013.01); F01D 17/24 (2013.01); F01D 21/003 (2013.01); F01D 21/14 (2013.01); G01B 7/023 (2013.01); G01B 7/30 (2013.01); F01D 7/00 (2013.01); F05D 2270/821 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for measuring an axial position of a phonic wheel, the system comprising:
the phonic wheel rotatable about a rotation axis and translatable along the rotation axis, the phonic wheel including:
a body;
an inclined tooth attached to the body and extending axially, a top surface of the inclined tooth being inclined relative to the rotation axis; and
a reference tooth attached to the body and extending axially, a top surface of the reference tooth being parallel to the rotation axis;
an inclined sensor adjacent the phonic wheel and configured to generate a positioning signal indicative of a gap between the top surface of the inclined tooth and the inclined sensor along a sensor axis of the inclined sensor as the phonic wheel is rotated relative to the inclined sensor, the sensor axis of the inclined sensor being non-perpendicular to the rotation axis;
a reference sensor adjacent the phonic wheel and configured to generate a reference signal indicative of a gap between the top surface of the reference tooth and the reference sensor along a sensor axis of the reference sensor as the phonic wheel is rotated relative to the reference sensor, the sensor axis of the reference sensor being perpendicular to the rotation axis; and
a computer operatively connected to the inclined sensor and to the reference sensor, the computer being configured to generate an output indicative of the axial position of the phonic wheel based on the positioning signal and the reference signal.
 
19. A method for measuring an axial position of a phonic wheel, the method comprising:
directing a first magnetic field from a first sensor toward a location that a first tooth of the phonic wheel is expected to occupy as the phonic wheel rotates about a rotation axis relative to the first sensor, the first tooth extending axially relative to the rotation axis and having an axially non-uniform radial height, the first sensor being inclined relative to an orientation perpendicular to the rotation axis;
detecting a variation in the first magnetic field caused by movement of the first tooth in the first magnetic field;
generating a first feedback signal based on the detection of the variation in the first magnetic field;
directing a second magnetic field from a second sensor toward a location that a second tooth of the phonic wheel is expected to occupy as the phonic wheel rotates relative to the second sensor about the rotation axis, the second tooth extending axially relative to the rotation axis and having an axially uniform radial height;
detecting a variation in the second magnetic field caused by movement of the second tooth in the second magnetic field;
generating a second feedback signal based on the detection of the variation in the second magnetic field; and
generating an output indicative of the axial position of the phonic wheel based on the first feedback signal and the second signal.