Optical Fluid Level Sensing Arrays for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid level sensors for aircraft fluid containers are limited by their need for manual intervention, real-time operator feedback, and customization to specific fluid types and containers, making them unsuitable for universal application and dynamic fluid level sensing in flight operations.
Innovation Solution
A modular and scalable fluid level sensing system featuring a mounting strip with collinear fluid sensing nodes, each switchable between fluid present and absent states using a prism, photoemitter, and photoreceptor, and a processor to determine fluid levels based on node states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrical fluid level sensors are used to detect fluid level, then fluid level detection is achieved, but the sensor requires tedious calibration and precise advanced knowledge of desired fluid level, making it unsuitable for universal application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical resistance-based sensing with optical sensing using a prism, photoemitter, and photoreceptor. The optical system detects fluid level through light reflection/refraction properties without requiring electrical calibration, eliminating the tedious calibration process while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor design with a mounting strip and multiple fluid sensing nodes creates a universal sensor that can be applied to various fluid containers and fluid types without customization. The sensor array can detect different fluid levels across multiple containers using the same optical principle.
2Measurement precision
If electrical fluid level sensors are customized for specific fluid containers, then detection accuracy is improved, but the sensor requires custom machined housings and hard mounting points, preventing adjustment after installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic mounting strip design that can be positioned at different locations on fluid containers without requiring custom machined housings. The mounting strip with multiple sensing nodes can be repositioned or reconfigured after installation, providing adaptability while maintaining detection accuracy through the optical sensing mechanism.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple optical fluid level sensors are installed on a fluid container, then fluid detection range is improved, but the requirement for machined mounting points increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical sensing nodes onto a single mounting strip, creating an integrated sensor array. This consolidation provides wide fluid detection range through multiple sensing points while eliminating the need for multiple separate machined mounting points, thereby reducing overall device complexity and installation requirements.
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 provides real-time, scalable, and modular fluid level detection capable of universal application across various fluid containers, eliminating the need for manual calibration and customization, and enabling accurate fluid level monitoring during flight operations.
Implementation Method 1
the photoreceptor receives greater than a threshold amount of light from the photoemitter internally reflected by the prism
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid level sensing system includes a mounting strip and fluid sensing nodes coupled to the mounting strip. Each fluid sensing node is switchable between a fluid present state and a fluid absent state. Each fluid sensing node includes a prism, a photoemitter and a photoreceptor. The photoemitter and photoreceptor are interposed between the prism and the mounting strip. In the absence of fluid around the prism, the photoreceptor receives greater than a threshold amount of light from the photoemitter internally reflected by the prism to switch the fluid sensing node to the fluid absent state. When the prism is covered in fluid, the photoreceptor receives less than the threshold amount of light from the photoemitter to switch the fluid sensing node to the fluid present state. A processor determines a fluid level based on the fluid detection states of the fluid sensing nodes.