Aircraft Shock Strut Servicing With Volume-Based Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shock strut servicing systems for aircraft landing gear 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 comprising a system controller, hydraulic fluid flow controller, and pressurized gas flow controller, which determines and adjusts fluid flow rates based on volume differences, using sensors to ensure precise fluid addition by communicating with ground support controllers and actuating pumps or valves to achieve desired fluid flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pump control is used for fluid servicing, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity is reduced and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical pump control with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors to detect fluid volumes and electronically controls pump operation. This substitution eliminates manual operation while significantly improving productivity through automated sequencing and precise measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the servicing equipment automatically determines when the shock strut has received the correct amount of fluid through sensor detection and electronic control. The system serves itself by automatically stopping fluid addition when target volumes are reached, eliminating the need for skilled personnel to monitor and control the process.
2Device complexity
If manual pump control is used for fluid servicing, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple manual pump control with an electronic control system that incorporates sensors and microprocessors. This increase in device complexity enables precise measurement of fluid volumes added to the shock strut, ensuring accurate servicing while eliminating the imprecision of manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor fluid volumes and provide feedback to the electronic control system. This feedback mechanism allows the system to precisely measure and control the amount of hydraulic fluid and pressurized gas added to the shock strut, ensuring accurate servicing while automatically stopping when target volumes are reached.
3Ease of operation
If manual operation is used for fluid servicing, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when the shock strut has received the correct amount of hydraulic fluid and pressurized gas through sensor measurement. It self-regulates the servicing process and automatically stops fluid addition when target volumes are reached, preventing overflow and eliminating waste without requiring manual monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control system receives continuous feedback from sensors monitoring fluid volumes in the shock strut. This feedback enables precise control of the servicing process, stopping fluid addition exactly when target volumes are reached, thereby preventing overflow and minimizing substance loss.
4Productivity
If automated flow control is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple manual pump control with an electronic control system that uses sensors and microprocessors to automatically control fluid flow rates. This electronic substitution improves productivity through automated sequencing and precise measurement while managing complexity through integrated control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control system performs multiple functions: it controls pump operation, monitors fluid volumes, determines servicing completion, and prevents overflow. By consolidating these functions into a single automated system, the patent improves productivity while managing overall device complexity through multi-functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for servicing a shock strut may comprise a system controller 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 or a pressurized gas flow controller.