Stretch Sensor Assembly for Accessible Evacuation Inflatable Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Coupling stretch sensors to inflatable evacuation systems, such as aircraft slides or rafts, is tedious and requires accessibility for periodic health checks, while existing systems face challenges due to varying gas densities affecting inflation pressure with temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
A stretch sensor assembly comprising a stretch sensor with mounting ends, housings, and releasable connections, integrated with a printed circuit board and electrical connectors, is mounted to the inflatable tube, allowing easy installation and removal for health checks, and a control system using real-time data to manage inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If stretch sensors are coupled directly to the inflatable tube, then the sensor is accessible for health checks, but the coupling process is tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is divided into separate modular components: the stretch sensor, housing, patches, and releasable connections can be assembled and tested independently before being coupled to the inflatable tube. This segmentation allows the sensor unit to be pre-assembled and stored ready for quick attachment, eliminating the need for complex on-site coupling procedures while maintaining accessibility for health checks through the releasable connection mechanism.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the sensor assembly is made robust and sealed, then protection from external elements is improved, but accessibility for maintenance and health checks becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The releasable connection mechanism transforms the static sealed assembly into a dynamic system that can transition between sealed and accessible states. The housing maintains its protective sealed structure during operation, but the releasable connections allow the entire sensor assembly to be quickly detached and reattached, providing both protection during use and accessibility for maintenance without compromising either requirement.
3Reliability
If multiple components are integrated into the sensor assembly, then functionality and protection are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components (stretch sensor, housing, patches, electrical connectors, and releasable connections) into a single integrated sensor assembly unit. This merging improves reliability by ensuring all components work together as a pre-tested system and simplifies installation by treating the entire assembly as one unit that can be quickly coupled to the inflatable tube, offsetting the internal complexity through external simplification.
Data Source
AI summary
A stretch senor assembly may comprise a stretch sensor, a first housing and a second housing. The stretch sensor may include a first mounting end, a second mounting end, and a sensing region extending between the first mounting end and the second mounting end. The first housing may define a connector opening and the first mounting end may be located in the first housing. The second housing may be located around the second mounting end.