Shock Strut Fluid Servicing With Sensor-Based Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shock strut servicing systems are manually operated, leading to inefficiencies, requiring skilled personnel, and often result in inaccurate fluid addition, with potential for overflow and waste.
Innovation Solution
An automated system using sensors and controllers to determine and adjust fluid volumes in shock struts based on real-time data from pressure, temperature, and position sensors, allowing for precise and efficient fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pump control is used for fluid servicing, then maintenance personnel can control the fluid addition process, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires skilled personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical pump control system with an automated electronic control system. The automated fluid servicing system uses electronic controllers to manage pump operations, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing service time while maintaining precise control over fluid addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the automated fluid servicing equipment performs fluid addition without requiring skilled maintenance personnel. The system autonomously manages the entire servicing process including fluid transfer, monitoring, and completion, making the operation independent of human expertise.
2Ease of operation
If manual pump control is used for fluid servicing, then personnel can monitor the process, but accuracy decreases and overflow/waste may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The automated fluid servicing system incorporates feedback mechanisms through sensors and controllers that continuously monitor fluid levels, pump operation status, and system parameters. This real-time feedback enables precise control of fluid addition, preventing overflow and ensuring accurate filling, thereby eliminating the imprecision inherent in manual monitoring.
3Productivity
If automated fluid control is implemented, then service time is reduced and accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated fluid servicing system is designed with multi-functional capabilities that consolidate various servicing operations into a single integrated platform. The system can service multiple shock struts, handle different fluid types, and perform various maintenance tasks, which justifies the increased complexity by delivering superior productivity and precision across diverse applications.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for servicing a shock strut may comprise a system controller (140) and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the system controller. The tangible, non-transitory memory may have instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the system controller, cause the system controller to perform operations, which may comprise: receiving, by the system controller, a hydraulic fluid volume difference or a pressurized gas volume difference from a ground support controller; determining, by the system controller, a desired fluid flow rate based on the hydraulic fluid volume difference or the pressurized gas volume difference; and outputting, by the system controller, a desired fluid flow rate signal corresponding to the desired fluid flow rate to at least one of a hydraulic fluid flow controller (160) or a pressurized gas flow controller (150).