Vibration Sensor for Aircraft Door Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensors used to determine the position of aircraft doors, such as maintenance doors and hatches, face challenges including increased maintenance complexity and exposure to harsh environments, leading to inefficiencies and added complexity in wiring and components.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device equipped with an energy harvesting mechanism that detects distinct vibrations between open and closed positions of deployable systems, generating information to identify the door's position, thereby reducing maintenance needs and environmental exposure issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sensors are used to detect door position, then door position information can be obtained, but maintenance complexity increases and the system is more exposed to harsh environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/electronic door position sensors with an acoustic emission detection system. The system uses acoustic sensors to detect specific vibration frequencies and acoustic signatures generated by the door mechanism during operation, eliminating the need for direct mechanical contact sensors and complex wiring harnesses in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium to detect door position. Instead of using sensors that directly contact the door mechanism, the system detects acoustic emissions (vibrations and sounds) generated by the door mechanism during opening and closing operations, providing indirect but reliable position information.
2Ease of operation
If sensors are added to existing aircraft or manufactured with sensors, then door position monitoring is enabled, but wiring and components complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic emission detection system serves multiple functions: it monitors door position, detects door operation status (opening/closing), and can identify anomalies in door mechanism operation. This multi-functionality is achieved using existing acoustic sensing capabilities in the aircraft structure, avoiding the need for dedicated sensor systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The door mechanism itself generates the detection signal through its own operation. As the door opens and closes, it naturally produces acoustic emissions and vibrations that the detection system captures, eliminating the need for external power sources, complex wiring, or additional actuators that would be required for traditional sensor systems.
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 solution effectively identifies the position of aircraft doors with reduced maintenance complexity and environmental exposure, enhancing operational efficiency by using vibrations to determine door states without the need for additional wiring or complex components.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to detect at least one of first vibrations from a deployable system in a first position or second vibrations from the deployable system in a second position
Implementation Method 2
The energy harvesting device is configured to generate energy from vibrations. The sensor is configured to use the energy generated by the energy harvesting device.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for identifying a position of a deployable system. An apparatus comprises a sensor device. The sensor device comprises a sensor configured to detect at least one of first vibrations from a deployable system in a first position or second vibrations from the deployable system in a second position in which the first vibrations are different from the second vibrations. The sensor is further configured to generate information from detecting at least one of the first vibrations or the second vibrations.