Sensor, gas turbine engine, and method for measuring oil conditions in an oil tank

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of sensor, gas turbine engine and the measurement method of oil tank inner lubricating oil state.The sensor includes: housing, provides accommodating space;Resistance liquid level measurement component is located inside the accommodating space, the resistance liquid level measurement component includes guide rod part and the magnetic force float part of the periphery of the guide rod part, wherein, guide rod part includes guide rod body and the circuit board fixedly opposite with the guide rod body, the circuit board includes multiple resistors and corresponding multiple magnetic trigger switches, each the resistor is with the corresponding magnetic trigger switch The sensing unit is formed, the first part of the multiple resistors, and the first part of the multiple magnetic trigger switches form first liquid level measurement circuit;The second part of the multiple resistors, and the second part of the multiple magnetic trigger switches form second liquid level measurement circuit, the first liquid level measurement circuit and the second liquid level measurement circuit are independent of each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to sensors, gas turbine engines, and methods for measuring the state of lubricating oil in fuel tanks. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of aero-engines, capacitive level sensors and resistive level sensors are more commonly used. Among them, capacitive level sensors have a simple structure, but their accuracy is lower due to temperature influence, they have high requirements for transmission cables, and their back-end hardware acquisition circuits are more complex.

[0003] Resistive liquid level sensors are typically installed vertically from the top of the oil tank, using the characteristic of a magnetic float rising and falling with the liquid level to trigger a reed switch within the magnetic field range, thereby converting the liquid level signal into a resistance signal.

[0004] Due to space constraints, capacitive level sensors can only be designed as single-redundant structures.

[0005] Resistive level sensors can achieve heterogeneous dual-redundancy measurement by using two different circuit structures on the same magnetic float, thereby improving system safety. Simultaneously, a thermal resistance temperature measuring point is designed at the bottom of the level sensor to sense the lubricating oil temperature, thus improving the integration of engine measuring points. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a sensor.

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide a gas turbine engine.

[0008] One object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring the state of lubricating oil in an oil tank.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a sensor includes: a housing providing a receiving space; and a resistive liquid level measuring assembly located inside the receiving space, the resistive liquid level measuring assembly including a guide rod portion and a magnetic float portion sleeved around the periphery of the guide rod portion, wherein the guide rod portion includes a guide rod body and a circuit board fixed relative to the guide rod body, the circuit board including a plurality of resistors and corresponding plurality of magnetic trigger switches, each resistor and corresponding magnetic trigger switch constituting a sensing unit, a first portion of the plurality of resistors and a first portion of the plurality of magnetic trigger switches constituting a first liquid level measuring circuit; a second portion of the plurality of resistors, for... The second part of the plurality of magnetic trigger switches constitutes a second liquid level measuring circuit, and the first liquid level measuring circuit and the second liquid level measuring circuit are independent of each other; the magnetic float part can move closer to and open the corresponding magnetic trigger switch according to the axial relative displacement between the liquid level and the guide rod part; and a resistance temperature measuring component is provided at one end of the housing and protrudes outward from the housing. The resistance temperature measuring component includes a first temperature measuring circuit and a second temperature measuring circuit. The first temperature measuring circuit has a first temperature measuring resistor, and the second temperature measuring circuit has a second temperature measuring resistor. The first temperature measuring circuit and the second temperature measuring circuit are independent of each other.

[0010] In one or more embodiments of the sensor, the circuit board is integrated on the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod portion, the first liquid level measuring circuit is located on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod portion, and the second liquid level measuring circuit is located on the other side of the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod portion.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of the sensor, a plurality of magnetic trigger switches of the first liquid level measuring circuit and the second liquid level measuring circuit are distributed along the axial direction of the guide rod portion.

[0012] In one or more embodiments of the sensor, the magnetic trigger switch is a reed switch.

[0013] In one or more embodiments of the sensor, the first liquid level measuring circuit has a greater number of sensing units than the second liquid level measuring circuit.

[0014] In one or more embodiments of the sensor, the first liquid level measuring circuit has more than 40 sensing units, and the second liquid level measuring circuit has 4-10 sensing units.

[0015] In one or more embodiments of the sensor, the first temperature-sensing resistor and the second temperature-sensing resistor include PT2000 platinum resistance thermometers.

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, a gas turbine engine includes the sensors described above.

[0017] In one or more embodiments of the gas turbine engine, the sensor is disposed in the lubricating oil tank of the gas turbine engine.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for measuring the state of lubricating oil in a lubricating oil tank employs the sensor described above. The measurement method includes: measuring the level of lubricating oil in the tank using the resistive level measuring component of the sensor; and simultaneously measuring the temperature of the lubricating oil in the tank using the resistive temperature measuring component of the sensor.

[0019] The advantages of this invention include, but are not limited to, one or a combination of the following:

[0020] 1) It can reduce the impact of medium temperature on the accuracy of liquid level signal output;

[0021] 2) Reduced the complexity of backend hardware data acquisition;

[0022] 3) Improve the safety of the measurement system through dual-redundant heterogeneous design;

[0023] 4) It can measure the temperature of the medium while measuring the liquid level, thus reducing the number of engine temperature measuring points and simplifying the engine structure. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The above and other features, properties and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that the drawings are merely illustrative and are not drawn to scale, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection actually claimed by the present invention, wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a sensor according to one embodiment.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the float section of a sensor according to one embodiment.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit board structure of a sensor according to one embodiment.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit principle of a resistive liquid level measurement component of a sensor according to one embodiment.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit principle of a resistive temperature measurement component of a sensor according to one embodiment.

[0030] Figure label:

[0031] 10-Sensors

[0032] 1-Shell

[0033] 11-Accommodation space

[0034] 2-Resistance type liquid level measurement component

[0035] 21-Guide rod section

[0036] 211-Guide rod body

[0037] 212-Circuit Board

[0038] 2121-Resistor

[0039] 2122-Magnetic Trigger Switch

[0040] 2120-Sensing Unit

[0041] 2123-First Liquid Level Measurement Circuit

[0042] 2124 - Second Liquid Level Measurement Circuit

[0043] 22-Magnetic Float Section

[0044] 221-Magnetic Rod

[0045] 222-Float lower shell

[0046] 223-Float upper shell

[0047] 3-Resistance temperature measurement component

[0048] 31-First temperature measuring circuit

[0049] 311-First Temperature Sensing Resistor

[0050] 32-Second Temperature Measurement Circuit

[0051] 321 - Second temperature measuring resistor. Detailed Implementation

[0052] The following discloses various implementation methods or embodiments of the subject matter technical solutions. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of the elements and arrangements are described below. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0053] Furthermore, the use of "one embodiment," "an embodiment," and / or "some embodiments" refers to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic associated with at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, it should be emphasized and noted that "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "one or more embodiments" mentioned twice or more in different locations in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, certain features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments of this application can be appropriately combined.

[0054] The sensor described in the following embodiments is applied to a gas turbine engine, taking a turbofan engine as an example, to measure the state of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil tank of a gas turbine engine. That is, it can simultaneously measure the liquid level and temperature, but it is not limited to this. For example, it can also be used in marine gas turbine engines, land gas turbines, etc. The sensor of this case can be applied to any scenario that requires measuring the state of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil tank.

[0055] The terms used in this application have the following meanings: "redundancy" refers to a design concept where two or more faults, rather than a single fault, are required to cause a predetermined undesirable operating state. "Heterogeneous" refers to two different structures capable of performing a given function. "Reed switch" refers to an electrical switch operated by an applied magnetic field. "Magnetic float" or "magnetic buoy" refers to a component that uses an internal permanent magnet to drive an external reed switch and rises and falls with the level of the liquid being measured.

[0056] refer to Figures 1 to 5 As shown, sensor 10 is mounted vertically on top of the aircraft engine's oil tank, where "vertically" means that the sensor's cylindrical housing is perpendicular to the liquid plane. Figure 1 As shown, the sensor 10 is generally cylindrical and can be fixed to a specific position in the oil tank by fasteners. The top of the mounting plate is a socket, and the excitation signal and output signal are integrated into one socket.

[0057] The sensor 10 includes a housing 1, a resistive liquid level measuring component 2, and a resistive temperature measuring component 3. The housing 1 provides a receiving space 11. The resistive liquid level measuring component 2 is located inside the receiving space 11. The resistive liquid level measuring component 2 includes a guide rod portion 21 and a magnetic float portion 22 sleeved around the guide rod portion 21. The guide rod portion 21 includes a guide rod body 211 and a circuit board 212 fixed relative to the guide rod body 211. The circuit board 212 includes multiple resistors 2121 and corresponding multiple magnetic trigger switches 2122. Each resistor 2121 and its corresponding magnetic trigger switch 2122 constitute a sensing unit 2120. The first part of the multiple resistors 2121 and the first part of the multiple magnetic trigger switches 2122 constitute a first liquid level measuring circuit 2123. The second part of the multiple resistors 2121 and the second part of the multiple magnetic trigger switches 2122 constitute a second liquid level measuring circuit 2124. The first liquid level measuring circuit 2123 and the second liquid level measuring circuit 2124 are independent of each other. The mutual independence here, such as Figure 4As shown, the first liquid level measuring circuit 2123 and the second liquid level measuring circuit 2124 do not affect each other. For example, when the first liquid level measuring circuit 2123 fails, it does not affect the normal operation of the second liquid level measuring circuit 2124. The guide rod 21 can be a circular tube structure, and the magnetic float moves up and down along the guide rod with the liquid surface.

[0058] The magnetic float section 22 can approach and open the corresponding magnetic trigger switch 2122 based on the axial relative displacement between the liquid level and the guide rod section 21. The specific structure of the magnetic float section 22 can be as follows: Figure 2 As shown, it includes a magnetic rod 221, a lower float shell 222, and an upper float shell 223.

[0059] The circuit board 212 is fixed inside the guide rod and consists of the circuit board body, a resistor, and a magnetic trigger switch 2122. The resistor here is a high-temperature resistor, and the magnetic trigger switch 2122 is a reed switch. Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the circuit board 212 is integrated on the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod portion 21. The first liquid level measuring circuit 2123 is located on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod portion 21, and the second liquid level measuring circuit 2124 is located on the other side of the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod portion 21. Multiple magnetic trigger switches 2122 of the first liquid level measuring circuit 2123 and the second liquid level measuring circuit 2124 are distributed along the axial direction of the guide rod portion, for example... Figure 3 The reed switches shown are evenly arranged in a trapezoidal structure on the circuit board 212, which is fixed to the guide rod body 211. A float with a magnet is fitted onto the guide rod body 211 and can slide freely up and down with the guide rod body 211 under the action of liquid buoyancy. Well-sealed reed switches and high-temperature resistors are mounted on the circuit board, forming a resistor network, the principle of which is similar to a sliding rheostat. When the sensor 10 is working, the float moves up and down with the liquid level. The magnet on the float approaches the corresponding reed switch, and the magnetic field generated by the magnet magnetizes the reed's reed. The resulting magnetic force causes the reed to overcome its own restoring torque and close, thereby changing the state of the resistor network and outputting a corresponding resistance signal, thus realizing the measurement of the liquid level.

[0060] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, the number of sensing units 2120 in the first liquid level measuring circuit 2123 is greater than the number of sensing units 2120 in the second liquid level measuring circuit 2124. For example, the first liquid level measuring circuit 2123 has more than 40 sensing units 2120, while the second liquid level measuring circuit 2124 has 4-10 sensing units 2120. Specifically, as shown in the figure, the first liquid level measuring circuit 2123 has 46 reed switches and corresponding resistors arranged in a trapezoidal structure on one side of the circuit board. By adjusting the center distance between adjacent reed switches, the oil level measurement resolution of the product can be appropriately adjusted to achieve continuous liquid level measurement. The second liquid level measuring circuit 2124 has 4 reed switches and corresponding resistors fixed on the other side of the circuit board, which can achieve full liquid level, 1 / 3 liquid level, 1 / 5 liquid level and empty liquid level measurement.

[0061] The resistance temperature measuring component 3 is located at one end of the housing 1 and protrudes outward from the housing 1. The resistance temperature measuring component 3 includes a first temperature measuring circuit 31 and a second temperature measuring circuit 32. The first temperature measuring circuit has a first temperature measuring resistor 311 and the second temperature measuring circuit has a second temperature measuring resistor 321. The first temperature measuring circuit 31 and the second temperature measuring circuit 32 are independent of each other.

[0062] The mutual independence here, such as Figure 5 As shown, the first temperature measuring circuit 31 and the second temperature measuring circuit 32 do not affect each other. For example, when the first temperature measuring circuit 31 fails, it does not affect the normal operation of the second temperature measuring circuit 32.

[0063] like Figure 1 As shown, the resistance temperature measurement component 3 is located at the bottom of the sensor. The specific form of the temperature measuring resistor can be a PT2000 temperature sensitive element, which uses the characteristic that the resistance value of the platinum resistance changes with the temperature to measure the temperature, thereby realizing the oil temperature measurement function.

[0064] As described above, this invention also provides a method for measuring the state of lubricating oil in an oil tank, which uses the sensor 10 described in the above embodiments. The measurement method includes:

[0065] The resistance level measurement component 2 of sensor 10 measures the level of lubricating oil in the oil tank;

[0066] At the same time, the temperature of the lubricating oil in the oil tank is measured by the resistance temperature measurement component 3 of the sensor 10.

[0067] In summary, the beneficial effects of using the sensor, gas turbine engine, and oil tank lubrication state measurement method described in the above embodiments include, but are not limited to, one or a combination of the following:

[0068] 1) It can reduce the impact of medium temperature on the accuracy of liquid level signal output;

[0069] 2) Reduced the complexity of backend hardware data acquisition;

[0070] 3) Improve the safety of the measurement system through dual-redundant heterogeneous design;

[0071] 4) It can measure the temperature of the medium, thus reducing the number of engine temperature measurement points.

[0072] While the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to the embodiments described, it is not intended to limit the invention. Any variations and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, any modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention, without departing from the scope of the invention, fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sensor (10), characterized in that, include: The shell (1) provides a receiving space (11); A resistive liquid level measuring assembly (2) is located inside the accommodating space (11). The resistive liquid level measuring assembly (2) includes a guide rod part (21) and a magnetic float part (22) sleeved around the guide rod part (21). The guide rod part (21) includes a guide rod body (211) and a circuit board (212) fixed relative to the guide rod body (211). The circuit board (212) includes multiple resistors (2121) and corresponding multiple magnetic trigger switches (2122). Each resistor (2121) and the corresponding magnetic trigger switch (2122) constitute a sensing unit (2120). The first portion of the plurality of resistors (2121) and the first portion of the plurality of magnetic trigger switches (2122) constitute a first liquid level measuring circuit (2123); the second portion of the plurality of resistors (2121) and the second portion of the plurality of magnetic trigger switches (2122) constitute a second liquid level measuring circuit (2124), and the first liquid level measuring circuit (2123) and the second liquid level measuring circuit (2124) are independent of each other; the magnetic float part (22) can move closer to and open the corresponding magnetic trigger switch (2122) according to the axial relative displacement between the liquid level and the guide rod part (21); as well as A resistance temperature measuring component (3) is located at one end of the housing (1) and protrudes outward from the housing (1). The resistance temperature measuring component (3) includes a first temperature measuring circuit (31) and a second temperature measuring circuit (32). The first temperature measuring circuit has a first temperature measuring resistor (311), and the second temperature measuring circuit has a second temperature measuring resistor (321). The first temperature measuring circuit (31) and the second temperature measuring circuit (32) are independent of each other. The first liquid level measuring circuit (2123) has a greater number of sensing units (2120) than the second liquid level measuring circuit (2124). The first liquid level measuring circuit (2123) has more than 40 sensing units (2120), and the second liquid level measuring circuit (2124) has 4-10 sensing units (2120).

2. The sensor (10) as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The circuit board (212) is integrated on the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod (21), the first liquid level measuring circuit (2123) is located on one side of the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod (21), and the second liquid level measuring circuit (2124) is located on the other side of the outer peripheral surface of the guide rod (21).

3. The sensor (10) as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple magnetic trigger switches (2122) of the first liquid level measuring circuit (2123) and the second liquid level measuring circuit (2124) are distributed along the axial direction of the guide rod.

4. The sensor (10) as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The magnetic trigger switch (2122) is a reed switch.

5. The sensor (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first temperature measuring resistor (311) and the second temperature measuring resistor (321) include PT2000 platinum resistance thermometers.

6. A gas turbine engine, characterized in that, Includes the sensor (10) as described in any one of claims 1-5.

7. The gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, The sensor (10) is located in the lubricating oil tank of the gas turbine engine.

8. A method for measuring the state of lubricating oil in an oil tank, characterized in that, The measurement method, employing the sensor (10) as described in any one of claims 1-5, comprises: The resistance level measuring component (2) of the sensor (10) measures the level of lubricating oil in the oil tank; At the same time, the temperature of the lubricating oil in the oil tank is measured by the resistance temperature measuring component (3) of the sensor (10).

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