Tuned Sensor System for Aircraft Pressure Oscillation Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pressure sensors face errors due to pressure oscillations near air data system pressure inlet ports, which existing solutions attempt to mitigate through long tubing lengths, but these solutions present design challenges and maintenance issues.
Innovation Solution
A tuned sensor system with a fluidic conduit, or tuned path, that filters out high-frequency pressure variations while allowing static pressure components to reach the sensor, utilizing a shape, radius, and length configuration to act as a low-pass filter, thereby reducing maintenance needs by co-locating sensors near pressure inlet ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If long lengths of tubing are installed between the sensor and pressure inlet ports to diminish pressure oscillations, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to routing challenges and maintenance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the filtering function from the tubing itself and relocates it to a dedicated filter element positioned at the pressure inlet port. This separation allows the tubing to be short and simple while the filter handles the oscillation mitigation, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
A filter element is introduced as an intermediary component between the pressure inlet port and the sensor. This mediator blocks high-frequency pressure oscillations while allowing static pressure to pass through, achieving accurate measurements without requiring long tubing lengths
2Measurement precision
If long lengths of tubing are used to filter pressure oscillations, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of repair and maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering function is extracted from the tubing and concentrated in a removable filter element at the inlet port, making maintenance straightforward without requiring manipulation of long tubing runs throughout the aircraft
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: a short tubing section, a removable filter element, and the sensor. This segmentation allows the filter to be independently accessed and maintained, improving ease of repair while maintaining measurement precision
3Device complexity
If sensors are co-located near pressure inlet ports to simplify design, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to pressure oscillations
Solution Approach 1:
A filter element serves as an intermediary between the pressure inlet port and the sensor, enabling the sensor to be positioned close to the inlet port while still protecting it from pressure oscillations. This resolves the contradiction by allowing both simplified design and maintained precision
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element performs preliminary filtering of pressure oscillations before the pressure reaches the sensor. This preliminary action allows the sensor to be placed near the inlet port without suffering from oscillation effects, maintaining both design simplicity and measurement precision
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
The tuned sensor system effectively blocks high-frequency oscillations, minimizing their impact on air data calculations and flight control systems, while allowing static pressure to be accurately sensed, thus improving system performance and reducing maintenance complexity.
Implementation Method 1
A tuned sensor system with a fluidic conduit, or tuned path, that filters out high-frequency pressure variations while allowing static pressure components to reach the sensor, utilizing a shape, radius, and length configuration to act as a low-pass filter
Data Source
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AI summary
A tuned sensor system (2) is disclosed. The tuned sensor system may receive an unsteady pressure from an external environment via a pressure inlet port (6). The pressure may have a first component that is substantially static and a second component that varies at a relatively high frequency. The pressure inlet port (6) may conduct the unsteady pressure to a tuned path (8). The tuned path (8) may filter the unsteady pressure, blocking the second component and communicating the first component.