Aircraft Connector Protection System for Overcurrent and Ground Faults
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical connectors for grounded aircraft face issues with overcurrent, overtemperature, and ground fault conditions, leading to potential fires, equipment damage, and safety hazards due to loose pins and conductor degradation.
Innovation Solution
A protection system with a plug housing containing a sensing device and a protection device that measures operating parameters, such as current and temperature, to detect overcurrent and ground fault conditions, and triggers notifications or circuit tripping to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the electrical connector is used multiple times for plugging and unplugging, then the connector provides power to the grounded aircraft, but the pins and conductors become loose leading to unsafe electrical conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing monitoring and protection functions before unsafe electrical conditions develop into hazards. The system continuously monitors operating parameters (current, temperature) and detects anomalies early, allowing preventive action to be taken before pins become loose or conductors degrade to dangerous levels. This proactive approach extends connector service life while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through continuous monitoring of electrical and thermal parameters during connector operation. The system measures current, voltage, and temperature, compares these against safe operating thresholds, and provides real-time feedback to detect degradation. This feedback mechanism allows the system to identify loose connections and conductor issues before they cause unsafe conditions, resolving the contradiction between extended use and maintained reliability.
2Power
If overcurrent operation occurs in the electrical connector, then power is delivered to the grounded aircraft, but increased temperatures cause potential fire hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback by continuously monitoring current and temperature parameters during power delivery. The system measures these parameters in real-time and compares them against predetermined safe thresholds. When overcurrent conditions are detected that would lead to dangerous temperature increases, the system provides feedback to trigger protective actions, thereby maintaining power delivery capability while preventing fire hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring and protection system between the power source and the grounded aircraft. This intermediary device measures electrical and thermal parameters, and when unsafe conditions are detected, it intervenes by triggering alarms or disconnecting the connection. This intermediary layer enables safe power delivery by mediating between power需求和safety constraints, preventing overcurrent from causing fire hazards.
3Power
If ground fault occurs in the electrical connector, then power is transmitted to the grounded aircraft, but electrical short damages equipment on the aircraft and neighboring circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring electrical parameters including current balance across phases and ground fault detection. The system measures these parameters during power transmission and compares them against safe operating limits. When ground fault conditions are detected, the feedback mechanism triggers immediate protective actions to disconnect or alarm, preventing equipment damage while maintaining normal power transmission during safe operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary protection system that acts as a mediator between power transmission and equipment protection. This system monitors for ground faults and other unsafe conditions, and when detected, it intervenes to prevent damage to aircraft equipment and neighboring circuits. The intermediary device enables safe power transmission by filtering out harmful ground fault conditions before they can damage equipment.
4Reliability
If sensing and protection devices are added to the electrical connector, then safety is improved by detecting overcurrent and ground fault conditions, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating multiple monitoring and protection functions into a unified system within the connector housing. Rather than adding separate independent devices for current monitoring, temperature sensing, and ground fault detection, the system combines these functions into an integrated protection unit. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring for overcurrent, temperature, and ground fault conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a multi-functional protection system that performs multiple safety functions through integrated components. The sensing devices and protection circuitry are designed to monitor multiple parameters (current, temperature, ground faults) and execute multiple protection functions (alarms, disconnections) within a single unified system. This multi-functional approach improves safety reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity compared to multiple separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A protection system is described herein for an electrical connector providing power to a grounded aircraft. The system includes receiving a sensing device electrically coupled to each of a number of power conductors. The sensing device generates an operating parameter. The system also includes a protection device that measures the operating parameter, determines that the operating parameter exceeds a threshold, and sends an overcurrent notification. The system may also include a shunt that is electrically coupled to the power conductors and generates a different operating parameter. The protection device may determine a difference between operating parameters of the shunt and sensing device and send an overtemperature notification when the difference exceeds an operating threshold. The system may also include a ground fault detection device. Some or all components of the system may be located in a removable adapter.