Eaton supplies chip detection system for S-92

Sikorsky selected Eaton Aerospace's Engineered Sensors/Tedeco unit (Glenolden, PA) to supply the Smart Zapper pulsed electric chip detector system for the S-92 helicopter.

The system monitors gearbox functions with seven chip detectors that signal presence of ferrous wear debris to a power module. If detected, a controlled, low-power energy pulse clears the debris. Tedeco says the electrical pulse is limited to about 0.05 joules, which is sufficient to burn off "insignificant" debris. The system also alerts the presence of larger or increased quantities of debris that could lead to a gearbox failure.

Other features include:

• the capability to program the number of chip clearing pulses;
  
• energy profile of each pulse can be adjusted;
  
• built-in-test (BIT) checks reliability of power module, microprocessor, chip detector, and wiring on startup or on demand; and
  
• number and rate of debris clearing events are stored in memory.

Edited by David Robb
Managing Editor, AerospaceOnline.com