Aircraft Shock Strut Fluid Adjustment for On-Ground Servicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft landing gear shock strut servicing is time-consuming and costly due to degradation issues, requiring multiple cycles to remove trapped gas and affecting other components, necessitating a more efficient method for independent servicing of gas and oil within the shock strut.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for monitoring and servicing aircraft landing gear shock struts that allows independent servicing of gas and oil without lifting the aircraft, using sensors to measure fluid levels and pressure, and a controller to adjust fluid levels based on threshold values, enabling on-ground servicing without the need for traditional procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional shock strut servicing is performed by lifting the aircraft and cycling the strut multiple times, then trapped gas can be removed from the shock strut, but the servicing process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shock strut servicing into independent gas servicing and oil servicing operations. The gas can be serviced separately from the oil, allowing targeted maintenance without requiring complete disassembly or multiple cycling operations. This segmentation enables technicians to service only the specific component needing attention, reducing overall servicing time while maintaining shock strut reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary monitoring and detection of fluid levels and contamination before servicing is required. Sensors continuously monitor gas pressure, oil level, and contamination thresholds, allowing proactive scheduling of servicing operations. This preliminary action prevents degradation from occurring and eliminates the need for emergency or repeated servicing cycles, reducing total time loss.
2Ease of repair
If the aircraft is lifted to service the shock strut in the fully extended position, then the shock strut can be serviced, but the process requires special equipment and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the shock strut to service itself through integrated sensors and monitoring systems that automatically detect fluid levels, pressure conditions, and contamination thresholds. The system can automatically initiate servicing operations or provide real-time guidance to technicians, eliminating the need for complex manual procedures and special positioning equipment. The shock strut effectively monitors and manages its own maintenance needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal servicing system that can handle both gas and oil servicing through a single integrated platform. The monitoring system detects multiple parameters (pressure, level, contamination) and coordinates different servicing operations through one interface, eliminating the need for separate procedures and equipment for gas versus oil servicing. This multi-functional approach simplifies the overall servicing process.
3Duration of action of moving object
If shock strut performance degrades over time, then the shock strut can continue operating, but damage occurs to other landing gear components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback monitoring through sensors that track gas pressure, oil level, and contamination thresholds in real-time. When parameters approach critical thresholds, the system provides feedback alerts and can automatically initiate corrective servicing operations. This closed-loop feedback prevents performance degradation from progressing to a point where damage occurs to bearing and other landing gear components, extending service life through proactive maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by establishing monitoring thresholds and servicing triggers before damage can occur. The system detects early signs of degradation (fluid level changes, pressure variations, contamination) and initiates servicing operations in advance, cushioning against the harmful effects of degradation before they can propagate to bearing components and other critical landing gear elements.
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
This approach simplifies the servicing process by allowing on-ground maintenance of aircraft landing gear, reducing time and costs associated with traditional methods, while ensuring accurate fluid levels and pressures are maintained, thus extending the service life of shock strut components.
Implementation Method 1
a piston that compresses a fluid within a sealed chamber. The fluid typically includes a gas segment and a liquid segment
Implementation Method 2
using sensors to measure fluid levels and pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
System and methods for servicing and monitoring shock struts (104) are provided. A method for servicing a shock strut (104) may include calculating a first fluid level; generating a first datum corresponding to the first fluid level; moving fluid into the shock strut (104) in accordance with the first datum; calculating a second fluid level; generating a second datum corresponding to the second fluid level; and storing a final fluid level.