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Circuit Module

Technical Information

Catalogue No: C0487
Category: Engine Control
Object Type: Module/Sub-Assembly/Component
Object Name: Circuit Module
Part No: 7705-00088-03
Serial No: 011
Manufacturer: Unknown
Division: Flight Systems [FSD]
Platform(s): Boeing 747
Year of Manufacture: circa 1979
Dimensions: Width (mm): 105
Height (mm): 162
Depth (mm): 13
Weight (g): 168
Location: Rack RAA03 [Main Store]
Inscription(s):

LABEL:
Boeing 747 FFRATS Computer 1979.
Flight Systems Division
GEC-Marconi Avionics
────────────────
PCB FRONT:
A03
Ser No 011
Type No 7705-00088-03
K0656
SCD 60B80099
────────────────
PCB REAR:
Marconi-Elliott Avionics
6751-0000-745

Notes:

This is a Circuit Module from the Autothrottle Computer.. All of these modules apart from the Power Supply Unit had the connector on the short edge.

The Autothrottle Computer Unit is part of the Autothrottle system designed for the Boeing 747. FFRATS (Full Flight Regime Auto Throttle System). The system controlled engine power at the press of a button, even applying and aligning the power settings of the four engines during take-off, provided, that is, the computer had been fed with the correct information such as air temperature and atmospheric pressure beforehand. The system comprises the Autothrottle Computer and the Autothrottle TAT/EPR Limit Mode Select Panel made by Marconi Elliott Avionics and also a TAT/EPR Limit Computer and various sensors, panels and displays. There were two variants; the Total Air Temperature/Engine Pressure Ratio TAT/EPR version was for aircraft fitted with Pratt & Whitney JT9D or Rolls Royce RB211 engines and the Total Air Temperature/N1 TAT/N1 was for General Electric CF6 engines but operation was essentially the same.

 The equipment was designed to optimise speed control and throttle activity from take-off, through cruise to approach and landing. The objective was to reduce pilot workload, improve the fuel economy and enhance engine life. This system operates in three main modes:-

·         EPR Mode (Engine Pressure Ratio)  is used in take-off, climb maximum continuous thrust and go-around). This ensures that the engine with the highest EPR indication acquires and maintains the limit value (less any selected decrement). All four engines are compared and that with the highest EPR is chosen as the controlling unit. The flight crew can balance the thrust controls to equalize the EPR for all the engines.

·         Mach Hold Mode  is used during cruise and maintains the Mach number existing at the time of mode engagement.

·         Speed Select maintains the selected airspeed and is used for descent, holding approach and landing. A bias function compensates for gusts during the approach.

There are secondary modes such as Minimum speed protection, Flap speed limit protection and EPR limit protection. The modes are selected on the Autothrottle-TAT/EPR Limit Mode Select Panel. The Computer takes inputs from the TAT/EPR Limit Computer, the Central Air Data Computer, Angle of Attack and Airspeed.

FFRATS had a number of operational shortcomings and was replaced and retrofitted on all 747 aircraft by PMS (Performance Management System) which continually monitored weight, atmospheric conditions and fuel consumption.

The computers are used on  different airframe/engine variants and contain some modules unique to each variant. The Autothrottles were fitted to the Boeing 747-200 and -300 aircraft and a range of engines were used; Pratt Whiney JT9D-7 or -70, GE CF6-50 or RollsRoyce RB211-524 The Autothrottle was also fitted to the  SP version of the Boeing 747 which had  P&W JT9D-7 engines although a single SP aircraft had Rolls Royce engines (GE engines were not fitted to any SP aircraft).
The airframe/engine combination is described by the last three digits of the Boeing Part No. Thus -110 is for the -200 aircraft fitted with P&W JT9D-70 engines. The -155 and -153 was for aircraft fitted with the GE CF6-50 engines (Thanks to Alan Dedden for updates. He was a designer of the Autothrottle analogue computing))

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