Dormant Electronics for Emergency Oxygen Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft emergency oxygen systems require significant electrical power, which increases fuel consumption and weight, and existing solutions do not efficiently manage power usage or allow for lightweight construction and reduced maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
An emergency oxygen system with a breathing gas supply circuit, flow control valve, and electronics board that can be electrically inert until activated, using a stored power source and switching device with low power consumption, allowing for autonomous operation without relying on aircraft power and reducing standby power waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stored power source is used to power the emergency oxygen system, then the system can operate autonomously during emergencies, but the weight of the aircraft increases and maintenance costs increase due to battery charging and replacement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the power source configuration changeable - the system can switch between being powered by the aircraft's electrical system during normal operation and using a stored power source during emergencies. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to optimize for weight during normal flight while ensuring autonomous operation when needed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight.
2Reliability
If the system uses significant electrical power during normal operation, then the emergency oxygen system can remain ready and responsive, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the system draw electrical power from the aircraft during normal operation periods when emergencies are not occurring, and then switching to a stored power source during emergency periods. This periodic switching allows the system to remain responsive and ready without continuously consuming significant power, thereby reducing overall fuel consumption while maintaining reliability.
3Speed
If pyrotechnic-activated devices are used to break seals on oxygen bottles, then the oxygen system can be activated quickly in emergencies, but the power requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary - a stored power source - that mediates between the low power available from the aircraft during emergencies and the high power requirements of pyrotechnic activation. The stored power source acts as a buffer, providing the necessary activation power when needed while allowing the system to operate with minimal power during normal conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between activation speed and power requirement.
Data Source
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AI summary
An emergency oxygen system (1) for aircraft comprising: a breathing gas supply circuit (10) to be connected upstream to a source of breathing gas (12) and downstream to at least one mask (14), a flow control valve (15, 18) configured to adjust the flow of breathing gas supplied to the mask (14), an electronics board (20) configured to control the flow control valve (15, 18), a power source (2), a switching device (30) interposed between the power source (2) and the electronics board (20), the switching device comprising a switch (T1) configured to have a first state in which power from the power source (2) is supplied to the electronics board (20) and a second state in which the electronics board (20) is not supplied with power from the power source (2).