Aircraft Weighing Scales with Adjustable Riser Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft weight and balance procedures using jacks and load cells are risky, prone to erroneous readings, and require fixed infrastructure, making them unsuitable for military aircraft and limiting facility-independent operations.
Innovation Solution
A combination of low-profile floor scales with integral leveling capabilities, using adjustable risers and ramps to support aircraft landing gear, allowing for simultaneous leveling and weighing without the need for dedicated sites, and enabling accurate weight measurements on any level surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If aircraft jacks and load cells are used to jack, level, and weigh aircraft, then weight measurement is achieved, but the procedure involves risk and can produce erroneous readings due to side loading
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the aircraft into multiple sections, placing individual scales under each landing gear assembly (nose gear, main gear). This segmentation allows independent measurement of each gear's weight contribution, eliminating the side-loading problem that occurs when using single-point jacking systems with load cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses multiple identical scale units positioned at different landing gear locations, creating redundant measurement points. This copying approach provides multiple independent measurements that can be combined to achieve accurate total weight while eliminating the single-point measurement errors inherent in traditional jack-load cell systems.
2Ease of operation
If electromechanical or hydraulic rams are used to level the aircraft, then level condition is achieved, but the system requires fixed infrastructure and significant foundation work
Solution Approach 1:
The scale units serve dual functions: they simultaneously support the aircraft weight for measurement and provide the leveling function through their height-adjustable platforms. This eliminates the need for separate leveling rams and their associated fixed infrastructure, foundation work, and pit requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses adjustable-height platforms that can be dynamically configured to different elevations to achieve proper aircraft leveling. This dynamic adjustment capability replaces fixed hydraulic rams, allowing the same equipment to adapt to different aircraft types and positioning requirements without requiring permanent infrastructure installation.
3Measurement precision
If fixed ram systems are installed in one location, then leveling and weighing is achieved, but facility-independent spontaneous procedures become impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the weighing and leveling function into multiple portable scale units that can be distributed across different locations. This segmentation enables the system to be deployed at various facilities without requiring a single fixed installation point, allowing spontaneous procedures at multiple locations while maintaining measurement accuracy through the coordinated use of all scale units.
4Measurement precision
If traditional jack and load cell systems are used, then weight measurement is possible, but the procedure is time-consuming and requires complex setup
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the leveling and weighing functions into a single integrated operation. By placing scales directly under each landing gear assembly and using the scale platforms for both support and measurement, the system eliminates the sequential process of jacking, leveling, then weighing that characterizes traditional methods, thereby reducing total procedure time while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A combination apparatus for weighing an aircraft has a plurality of weight scales, each scale being adapted to be supported by a support surface in a position for receiving landing gear of an aircraft thereon. At least one riser supports at least one scale above the support surface, and the height of each riser is selected to position an aircraft on the scales in a level attitude while a weight of the aircraft is being supported by the landing gear on the scales. At least one scale may be recessed in the support surface, and the height of each riser may be adjustable.