Aircraft Hydraulic Pressure Setting for Autonomous Ground Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft hydraulic systems are not sufficiently autonomous, leading to increased time and costs for maintenance and testing procedures, as well as thermal loads during ground services and flight modes.
Innovation Solution
An onboard hydraulic system featuring a motor-pump unit with an electric motor and hydraulic pump, a control unit, and a pressure setting means that allows for adaptive pressure settings during ground service, maintenance, and specific flight conditions, enabling reduced pressure for testing and heat management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed nominal system operation pressure is used during all flight phases, then the hydraulic system operates reliably under standard conditions, but thermal loads increase during ground service and specific flight modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pressure adjustment by replacing the fixed pressure setting with an adjustable pressure setting means that allows the nominal system operation pressure to be adapted based on flight phase and operational requirements. This enables the system to reduce pressure during ground service to minimize thermal loads while maintaining reliability during flight operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from a fixed value to an adjustable value. The pressure setting means enables modification of the nominal system operation pressure according to different flight phases and service conditions, allowing optimization of thermal management during ground service while maintaining operational reliability during flight.
2Device complexity
If the hydraulic system lacks pressure adaptation capability, then the system structure remains simple, but autonomy is reduced and external ground carts are required for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the hydraulic system to perform maintenance and testing operations autonomously by integrating a pressure setting means and control unit that allow the system to self-regulate pressure for different operational modes. This eliminates the need for external ground carts and manual intervention, making the system self-sufficient while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the hydraulic system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both flight operations and ground service/maintenance operations using the same system components. The pressure setting means allows the system to adapt to different functional requirements without requiring separate external equipment, thereby increasing autonomy while avoiding additional complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the hydraulic system operates at fixed nominal pressure, then control is simple, but adaptability to different ground service and flight conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pressure control by introducing an adjustable pressure setting means that allows the nominal system operation pressure to be modified based on flight phase and service conditions. The control unit automatically adjusts pressure settings, maintaining operational simplicity while enabling adaptability to different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback control through the control unit that monitors flight phase and operational conditions, then automatically adjusts the pressure setting means accordingly. This maintains ease of operation as the system self-regulates while achieving adaptability to different ground service and flight conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances autonomy, reduces maintenance and testing costs, and minimizes thermal loads by allowing adaptive pressure settings, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing the need for external ground carts.
Implementation Method 1
a motor-pump unit (14) comprising an electric motor (16) and a hydraulic pump (18) driven by the motor (16)
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor (28) for sensing pressure of the pressurized hydraulic fluid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
For providing a more autonomous hydraulic system (12), and especially for reducing effort and costs during maintenance or ground services, the invention proposes an onboard hydraulic system (12) for an aircraft (10), comprising a motor-pump unit (14) comprising an electric motor (16) and a hydraulic pump (18) driven by the motor (16), a hydraulic consumer (24) supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid from the motor-pump unit (14), a fluid reservoir ,(20) a pressure sensor (28) for sensing pressure of the pressurized hydraulic fluid, a control unit (26) for controlling the motor-pump unit (14), and a pressure setting means (38) for adapting a pressure setting of the motor-pump unit (14) for ground service or maintenance or specific flight conditions.