Removable Flat Pack Transducers for Pressure Belt Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure belts with fixed transducers are difficult and costly to maintain, as replacing a malfunctioning transducer requires removing and reinstalling the entire belt, which disrupts airflow measurements and weakens aircraft structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A pressure belt with removably attached flat pack assemblies, each containing a sensing element and memory component, allowing for individual replacement of malfunctioning transducers without recalibrating the entire belt, maintaining thin and water-resistant properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transducers are fixed to the flexible substrate, then the pressure belt maintains structural integrity and measurement accuracy, but replacing a malfunctioning transducer requires removing and reinstalling the entire belt, which is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure belt is divided into modular segments where individual transducers are mounted on separate flat pack assemblies that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation allows replacement of a single malfunctioning transducer without disturbing other transducers on the belt, significantly reducing replacement time while maintaining measurement accuracy through preserved positioning of remaining transducers.
2Ease of repair
If the entire pressure belt is removed for transducer replacement, then the malfunctioning transducer can be changed, but the aircraft structural integrity is weakened and airflow measurements are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure belt employs a segmented design with individual flat pack assemblies that can be independently removed. This allows repair of malfunctioning transducers without removing the entire belt from the aircraft surface, thereby maintaining aircraft structural integrity and avoiding disruption to airflow measurements at other locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The malfunctioning transducer is extracted from its flat pack assembly, which remains attached to the pressure belt. This selective extraction allows replacement of only the defective component while leaving the rest of the measurement system intact and attached to the aircraft, preserving both structural integrity and measurement continuity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a thin flat pack pressure transducer is used, then airflow disturbance is minimized, but the transducer is fixed to the substrate making individual replacement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The thin flat pack transducer is segmented into a modular assembly that includes the transducer element, mounting structure, and connection interfaces. This segmentation maintains the thin profile for minimal airflow disturbance while enabling the entire flat pack assembly to be easily removed and replaced as a single unit, combining aerodynamic efficiency with maintenance ease.
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 efficient and cost-effective replacement of malfunctioning transducers without recalibrating the entire pressure belt, reducing downtime and maintenance costs while maintaining accurate airflow measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing element disposed on the first flat pack assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure belt comprising a flexible belt, and a flat pack assembly removably attached to the flexible belt, wherein each flat pack assembly comprises at least one sensing element. Further, each flat pack assembly also comprises a memory component associated with the sensing element thereon, wherein the memory component houses data specific to the corresponding sensing element. Unlike prior art structures, each flat pack assembly is individually removable. Therefore, if one sensing element malfunctions, it may be replaced by removing the flat pack assembly comprising the malfunctioning sensing element and swapping it out for a flat pack assembly comprising an operable sensing element. This is an improvement over the prior art as it eliminates the need for replacing and recalibrating the entire pressure belt when one sensing element malfunctions, which can be both time consuming and costly.