Flexible Coil Sensor Housing for Aircraft Wire Fault Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensing systems for detecting faults in aircraft wire harnesses are inefficient, often relying on visual inspections or bulky ground-level diagnostic systems prone to errors, and fail to detect connector degradation before system failures occur.
Innovation Solution
A compact, lightweight sensing system featuring a flexible coil sensor and processing device housed in a sensor unit that wraps around electrical wires, generating signals for fault detection and providing real-time feedback through a compact output device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection is used for fault detection, then the system is simple to implement, but detection accuracy is low and defects may go undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sensor, processing device, and power source into an integrated sensor housing that wraps around the wire harness. This merging of components into a single compact unit provides accurate fault detection through integrated sensors while maintaining simplicity of installation and operation, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and system complexity.
2Reliability
If ground-level diagnostic systems are used, then fault detection capability is provided, but the system is bulky and prone to errors when sensors are moved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the processing device and power source inside the sensor housing, creating a nested structure where smaller components are contained within the main housing. This nesting approach consolidates all necessary components into a compact, portable unit that is both reliable and easy to relocate, eliminating the bulkiness of ground-level systems while maintaining detection reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensors are relocated for better monitoring coverage, then detection coverage is improved, but signal attenuation increases and connection errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the sensor, processing device, and power source into a single integrated housing that moves together as one unit, the patent eliminates connection errors that would occur if components were separated. The integrated design maintains signal integrity while providing flexibility to relocate the entire sensor assembly to optimal monitoring positions, resolving the contradiction between positioning flexibility and signal loss.
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
Enhances detection accuracy and reduces signal attenuation, allowing for timely identification of faults and preventing potential arcing issues in aircraft wiring systems, improving system reliability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible coil sensor is disposed in the sensor housing; bonded substantially along the base portion and the joining portion and configured to generate a signal representative of a fault in the electrical wire
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a sensor housing having a base portion, a lid portion, and a joining portion. The joining portion is configured to be wrapped around at least a portion of an electrical wire. The lid portion includes one end detachably coupled to a first end of the base portion and another end coupled to a second end of the base portion via the joining portion. A flexible coil sensor is disposed in the sensor housing; bonded substantially along the base portion and the joining portion and configured to generate a signal representative of a fault in the electrical wire. A processing device is disposed in the sensor housing and configured to detect and locate a fault in the electrical wire in response to the signal representative of the fault in the electrical wire generated by the flexible coil sensor.