Aircraft Tire Pressure Sensor with Position Sensor for Wheel Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft wheel rotational speed measurement systems, such as wheel rotational speed transducers, can fail to provide accurate rotational speed information during braking, leading to suboptimal braking control algorithms, especially in cases of transducer failure or low-speed conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a position sensor, like an accelerometer or gyroscope, into a tire pressure sensor to detect wheel movement and generate a wheel rotational speed signal, providing a secondary source of rotational speed data to the brake control system, ensuring continuous and accurate speed measurement even when primary transducers fail or operate below detection thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wheel rotational speed transducers are used to measure rotational speed, then rotational speed information can be provided to the brake control system, but the system fails to provide accurate rotational speed information during braking when transducers fail or in low-speed conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tire pressure sensor with a position sensor (accelerometer or gyroscope) to create an integrated sensor unit. This merging allows the system to use multiple sensing modalities - the position sensor detects wheel movement and angular velocity, which is then processed to generate rotational speed signals, providing a backup and alternative measurement method when traditional transducers fail
Solution Approach 2:
The tire pressure sensor is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it continues to monitor tire pressure while also incorporating position sensing capabilities to measure wheel movement and generate rotational speed data. This multi-functionality ensures that a single sensor unit can provide both pressure and speed information, improving system reliability
2Reliability
If a position sensor is incorporated into the tire pressure sensor, then a secondary source of rotational speed data is provided ensuring continuous measurement, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding separate independent sensor systems, the patent merges the position sensor directly into the existing tire pressure sensor housing. This integration shares common components such as the processor, power supply, and communication interfaces, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving the goal of providing continuous rotational speed data
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor unit is designed to perform multiple functions within a single device: tire pressure monitoring, wheel movement detection, and rotational speed calculation. By consolidating these functions into one multi-functional unit, the patent avoids the complexity of managing multiple separate sensors and their individual processing systems
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
Ensures reliable wheel rotational speed data is provided to the brake control system, enhancing braking performance by offering an alternative measurement source, particularly during transducer failures or low-speed conditions, thereby improving aircraft safety and control.
Implementation Method 1
The position sensor may be an accelerometer, a Hall effect sensor or magnetic sensor, a gravity sensor, a gyroscope, an inclinometer, or other sensor capable of detecting movement
Implementation Method 2
The position sensor may be an accelerometer, a Hall effect sensor or magnetic sensor, a gravity sensor, a gyroscope, an inclinometer, or other sensor capable of detecting movement
Implementation Method 3
the processor may determine the wheel rotational speed by integrating the wheel movement signal over time
Implementation Method 4
the processor may determine the wheel rotational speed by differentiating the wheel movement signal with respect to time
Data Source
AI summary
What is described is a tire pressure sensor for use in a wheel of aircraft landing gear. The tire pressure sensor includes a position sensor configured to detect a movement of the wheel and generate a wheel movement signal based on the movement. The tire pressure sensor also includes a processor coupled to the position sensor. The processor is configured to receive the wheel movement signal, determine a wheel rotational speed of the wheel based on the wheel movement signal and generate a wheel rotational speed signal based on the wheel rotational speed.