Jet Engine Hydraulic Tank Fluid Level Detection Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic fluid tanks in jet engines face measurement deviations between sight glasses and sensor devices due to inclinations, leading to non-compliance with strict tolerance requirements and complex mounting and calibration processes.

Innovation Solution

A structural unit with a viewing device and sensor device arranged in close proximity, mounted via a fastening device, allowing independent determination of fluid levels regardless of tank inclination, with preassemblable components for simplified calibration and reduced assembly time and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the sight glass and sensor device are arranged separately on the hydraulic fluid tank, then the mounting and calibration processes become complex, but the measurement results deviate significantly when the tank is inclined

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement result consistencyVSAvoidmounting and calibration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sight glass and sensor device into a single integrated assembly that is mounted together on the hydraulic fluid tank. This merging ensures both devices share the same reference plane and mounting orientation, eliminating measurement deviations caused by tank inclination while simplifying the mounting and calibration processes to a single operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the sight glass and sensor device are mounted separately, then assembly time and costs increase, but individual mounting positions can be adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly time and costVSAvoidmounting position alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated assembly merges the sight glass and sensor device into a single pre-aligned unit with a common mounting interface. This allows both devices to be installed simultaneously in one operation, reducing assembly time and costs while ensuring precise alignment through the unified mounting structure that eliminates the need for separate position adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sight glass and sensor device are pre-assembled and pre-aligned in the correct relative positions before being mounted on the tank. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment is achieved during manufacturing of the assembly itself, rather than requiring complex field adjustments during installation, thereby reducing both assembly time and ensuring manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2915961B1Unit for assembly on a hydraulic fluid tank of a jet engine
Publication Date: 2017.05.03 ROLLS ROYCE DEUT LTD & CO KG
  • EP2915961B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2915961B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2915961B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A component (21) for mounting on a hydraulic fluid tank of a jet engine is proposed, comprising a sighting device (23) and a sensor device (25), by which the level of a hydraulic fluid contained in a hydraulic fluid tank (1) can be determined independently of each other when the component (21) is mounted on the hydraulic fluid tank. A fastening device (27) is provided for securing the component (21) to the hydraulic fluid tank.