Aircraft Engine Oil Level Sensing With Redundant Sensor Ladders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil level sensing systems for aircraft engines lack reliability, often providing incorrect and misleading data due to faulty sensors, which can compromise safety during pre-flight checks.
Innovation Solution
A redundant oil level measurement system using two sensor ladders with reed switches and a magnetic float, where signals from both ladders are compared to determine the oil level and detect faults, ensuring accurate readings and preventing incorrect data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single sensor is used to measure oil level, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the measurement system deteriorates due to potential sensor faults providing incorrect data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different functional characteristics within the sensor system: primary sensors for normal measurement and secondary sensors for fault detection and verification. This allows the system to maintain high reliability through localized redundancy without requiring complete duplication of the entire measurement system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements beforehand cushioning by incorporating secondary sensors and fault detection capabilities in advance, before actual faults occur. The controller continuously monitors sensor signals and can detect potential failures before they compromise measurement accuracy, cushioning against the impact of sensor faults on system reliability.
2Reliability
If redundant sensors are implemented to improve reliability, then the reliability of oil level measurement is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple sensor ladders and signal comparison requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor system into distinct primary and secondary sensor ladders, each with specific functions. This segmentation allows for modular fault detection and isolation, where the controller can independently evaluate signals from each ladder and identify faults in specific segments without affecting the entire system's operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying by implementing secondary sensors that replicate the measurement function of primary sensors. These copied sensors provide redundant measurement capabilities, allowing the controller to compare signals and detect faults. The copying approach ensures reliability through verification while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized sensor designs.
3Measurement precision
If fault detection capabilities are added to the system, then the accuracy of oil level data is improved, but the loss of time increases due to additional signal processing and comparison operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by continuously monitoring and comparing sensor signals in real-time, rather than processing data only when needed. The controller is pre-configured with fault detection algorithms that continuously evaluate sensor signals, so that when oil level measurements are required, accurate data is already available without additional processing delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously receives signals from primary and secondary sensors, compares them, and adjusts its operation based on the comparison results. This closed-loop feedback system ensures measurement precision through continuous verification while optimizing processing time by using the feedback signals for real-time fault detection without requiring separate verification steps.
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
The system enhances reliability by identifying and mitigating sensor faults, providing accurate oil level measurements and reducing the risk of incorrect data, thus improving safety during aircraft engine pre-flight checks.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic float disposed in the aircraft engine; a first sensor ladder configured for sensing a position of the magnetic float
Data Source
AI summary
An oil level measurement system for an aircraft engine includes a magnetic float disposed in the aircraft engine, a first sensor ladder configured for sensing a position of the magnetic float, and a second sensor ladder configured for sensing a position of the magnetic float. A controller is configured to determine an oil level of an engine based on an engine status signal, a first signal from the first sensor ladder, and a second signal from the second sensor ladder. An oil level sensing method for measuring an oil level within an aircraft engine when the aircraft engine is off includes comparing a first signal from a first sensor ladder with a second signal from a second sensor ladder, indicating a fault when the first signal is different from the second signal, and determining an oil level of an aircraft engine when the first signal matches the second signal.