Shared Hydraulic Backup Source for Aircraft Landing Gear and Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft hydraulic systems lack an efficient and integrated backup mechanism to provide hydraulic pressure for critical functions such as landing gear extension/retraction and braking in the event of a primary hydraulic power source failure.
Innovation Solution
A backup hydraulic pressure source, such as an accumulator, is integrated with a controller to detect failure conditions and automatically switch to provide hydraulic pressure to both landing gear and braking systems from a single backup source, reducing the need for multiple components and minimizing weight and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate backup hydraulic pressure sources are provided for both landing gear and braking systems, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate backup hydraulic pressure sources into a single shared backup pressure source that can serve both landing gear and braking systems. This is achieved by providing one backup hydraulic pressure source that can fluidly couple to either system through valve mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity and weight while maintaining reliability through shared backup capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup hydraulic pressure source is designed with multi-functionality to serve dual purposes - it can provide backup pressure to the landing gear system or the braking system as needed. This universal design allows a single component to fulfill the role of what would traditionally require two separate components, reducing overall system complexity while preserving reliability.
2Reliability
If separate backup hydraulic pressure sources are provided for both landing gear and braking systems, then system reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate backup hydraulic pressure sources into a single shared backup pressure source that can serve both landing gear and braking systems. This is achieved by providing one backup hydraulic pressure source that can fluidly couple to either system through valve mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity and weight while maintaining reliability through shared backup capability.
3Device complexity
If a single backup hydraulic pressure source is shared between landing gear and braking systems, then device complexity and weight are reduced, but reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces valve mechanisms as intermediaries that control the fluid coupling between the single backup hydraulic pressure source and the two different systems (landing gear and braking). These valves act as mediators that can direct backup pressure to either system as needed, ensuring that the shared pressure source can reliably serve both functions without compromising system safety or performance.
4Ease of operation
If manual operation of emergency valve is required to switch backup pressure source, then ease of operation is reduced, but device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a controller that automatically detects failure conditions of the primary hydraulic pressure source and autonomously actuates the valve to switch to the backup pressure source. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual pilot intervention, improving ease of operation during critical failure scenarios while the automated control logic manages the added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors the hydraulic pressure source status and provides feedback to automatically trigger the valve switching mechanism when a failure condition is detected. This feedback loop ensures that the system can autonomously respond to failures by switching to backup pressure, improving operational ease during emergencies while the control system manages the complexity of automatic switching.
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
Ensures reliable operation of landing gear extension/retraction and braking by providing seamless backup hydraulic power, reducing component complexity and weight while maintaining system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the backup hydraulic pressure source is an accumulator arranged to receive a supply of pressurised hydraulic fluid from a primary hydraulic pressure source
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a hydraulic system (300) for an aircraft. The hydraulic system (300) comprises a backup hydraulic pressure source (216) to provide hydraulic pressure to a brake (222) in the event of a failure condition of a primary hydraulic brake pressure source. The hydraulic system (300) also comprises a landing gear backup system to provide hydraulic pressure to enable extension and/or retraction of landing gear (100). The backup hydraulic pressure source (216) is arranged to provide hydraulic pressure to the landing gear backup system in the event of a failure condition of a primary landing gear hydraulic pressure source.