Aircraft Engine Drainage Tank With Integrated Fluid Quality Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft engines face challenges in monitoring the condition of their lubricating fluids during flight due to the difficulty in collecting and analyzing samples, and integrating quality sensors into the lubrication circuit without interfering with fluid circulation.
Innovation Solution
An on-board aircraft engine drainage reservoir with integrated quality sensor assemblies, including optical, acoustic, and electrical conductivity sensors, allows continuous monitoring of fluid quality and quantity without disrupting fluid circulation, featuring compartments for separate fluid types and overflow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If quality sensors are integrated into the lubrication circuit to monitor fluid quality, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation worsen due to interference with fluid circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensor assembly from the lubrication circuit itself and places it in the drainage reservoir where drained fluid accumulates. This allows quality monitoring without requiring sensors to be integrated into the active lubrication circuit, thereby avoiding interference with fluid circulation while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage reservoir acts as an intermediary between the lubrication circuit and the sensor assembly. Instead of placing sensors directly in the lubrication circuit, the system uses the reservoir containing drained fluid as a medium to enable indirect monitoring of lubricant quality through optical, acoustic, or electrical conductivity measurements.
2Measurement precision
If fluid samples are collected and transported for analysis to monitor engine condition, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and productivity worsen due to difficult sample collection and transport during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis by continuously monitoring fluid quality parameters in the drainage reservoir during flight operations. This eliminates the need to wait until the aircraft lands to collect and transport samples, as quality assessment occurs in real-time while the engine is operating.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage reservoir system provides self-service monitoring capability onboard the aircraft. The sensor assemblies automatically analyze the drained fluid quality without requiring external laboratories or sample transport, enabling the system to monitor its own condition independently during flight.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If on-board reservoirs are used to contain drained fluids and reduce environmental pollution, then object-generated harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional containment infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage reservoir serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains drained fluids to prevent environmental pollution, stores the fluid for later disposal, and provides a medium for quality monitoring through integrated sensor assemblies. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for containment and monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the containment function and monitoring function into a single integrated system. The sensor assemblies are installed directly within the drainage reservoir, combining the fluid containment infrastructure with the quality monitoring capability in one unified device rather than requiring separate 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
Enables accurate, continuous monitoring of engine condition, identifying blockages and pollution, and triggering maintenance actions, while preventing environmental pollution by containing escaped fluids.
Implementation Method 1
This optical or acoustic sensor can be configured to carry out a measurement of the transmission, absorption, reflection and/or refraction of the fluid contained in the on-board reservoir
Implementation Method 2
This optical or acoustic sensor can be configured to carry out a measurement of the transmission, absorption, reflection and/or refraction of the fluid contained in the on-board reservoir
Implementation Method 3
This optical or acoustic sensor can be configured to carry out a measurement of the transmission, absorption, reflection and/or refraction of the fluid contained in the on-board reservoir
Implementation Method 4
the first quality sensor assembly can also comprise an electrical conductivity sensor, particularly to contribute to the detection of water and/or other pollutants in the fluid drained from the engine
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the field of aeronautical propulsion, and more particularly an on-board drainage reservoir of an aircraft engine, the on-board reservoir including a first compartment with a first intake passage for receiving fluid drained from the engine, a first closeable emptying passage, and a first quality sensor assembly for detecting at least one quality parameter of the fluid drained from the engine.