Bootstrap Hydraulic Reservoir Using Accumulator Backup Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic fluid systems in aircraft require redundant accumulators for backup power, which increase weight and complexity, affecting efficiency and cost.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic accumulator is configured to serve a dual purpose of maintaining pressure within a bootstrap chamber and providing backup hydraulic power, eliminating the need for a dedicated accumulator by using its stored energy to pressurize the system during shutdowns or failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated hydraulic accumulator is provided for each redundant hydraulic system, then backup hydraulic power is available during system failures, but weight and complexity of the hydraulic system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of the hydraulic reservoir and hydraulic accumulator into a single integrated unit. The reservoir stores hydraulic fluid while the accumulator stores energy, and both functions are achieved within the same component structure. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated accumulators for each redundant system, thereby reducing weight while maintaining backup power capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated reservoir-accumulator unit performs multiple functions: it serves as both a hydraulic fluid reservoir and an energy storage device for backup power. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components, reducing overall system weight and complexity while ensuring reliability.
2Reliability
If a dedicated hydraulic accumulator is provided for each redundant hydraulic system, then backup hydraulic power is available during system failures, but complexity of the hydraulic system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reservoir and accumulator into one integrated component, reducing the number of separate parts in the hydraulic system. This consolidation simplifies the overall system architecture, reduces installation complexity, and decreases the number of connections and components that need to be maintained, while still providing the necessary backup power functionality.
3Reliability
If multiple redundant hydraulic systems are provided with dedicated accumulators, then backup power is available for multiple actuators, but weight penalty is multiplied by the number of redundant systems
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated reservoir-accumulator unit serves as a universal backup power source that can support multiple actuators across redundant hydraulic systems. Instead of requiring individual accumulators for each system, this multi-functional unit provides backup power to multiple actuators simultaneously, eliminating the multiplicative weight penalty while maintaining reliability for all redundant 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
This configuration reduces the weight and complexity of the hydraulic fluid system, enhancing the aircraft's efficiency by providing backup power without additional accumulators, thus addressing the weight and cost penalties of redundant systems.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic accumulator configured to serve a dual purpose of maintaining pressure within a bootstrap chamber and providing backup hydraulic power
Implementation Method 2
The piston chamber is configured to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pressure line... that moves the piston and thereby pressurizes a volume of hydraulic fluid contained within the bootstrap chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
A bootstrap hydraulic reservoir includes a bootstrap chamber to hold hydraulic fluid, a piston chamber fluidly connected to a pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system, a piston having a bootstrap end portion held within the bootstrap chamber and a pressure end portion held within the piston chamber, and a hydraulic accumulator fluidly connected to the pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system. The hydraulic accumulator accumulates pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pressure line. The bootstrap hydraulic reservoir also includes a valve fluidly connected to the pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system between the hydraulic accumulator and an outlet of a pump of the hydraulic fluid system. The valve includes an actuator selectively moves the valve to an open position when the pressure line of the hydraulic fluid system is de-pressurized.