Washer Fluid Reservoir Piston Sensing Under Sloshing Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems struggle to accurately measure liquid levels in washer fluid reservoirs due to dynamic changes in orientation and sloshing during vehicle maneuvers, particularly in aircraft, which affects timely refilling and fluid management during critical visibility situations.
Innovation Solution
A system with a piston configured to maintain contact with the washer fluid surface, a position sensor to track piston position, and a motor-driven shaft to continuously measure fluid level, ensuring accurate and continuous measurement despite vehicle maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional liquid level sensing methods are used in a washer fluid reservoir, then the system is simple in structure, but the liquid level measurement becomes inaccurate during vehicle maneuvers due to sloshing and orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
A piston is introduced as an intermediary element that directly contacts the liquid surface and transmits its position to an external sensor. The piston moves with the liquid level while maintaining a sealed connection, allowing accurate measurement without complex sensors inside the reservoir. This mediator isolates the sensing mechanism from the dynamic liquid environment, solving the accuracy problem during maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional electronic liquid level sensors with a mechanical-piston-based system. The piston mechanically tracks the liquid surface position, and this mechanical displacement is converted to an electrical signal for measurement. This mechanical approach provides stable, accurate readings during vehicle maneuvers without the complexity of sophisticated electronic sensing systems.
2Reliability
If the piston is designed to maintain contact with the washer fluid surface during vehicle maneuvers, then liquid level measurement accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases due to additional sealing and positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The piston is designed to move freely with the liquid surface, maintaining equilibrium contact without requiring active positioning systems. The piston's weight and buoyancy are balanced to allow it to naturally follow the liquid level during vehicle maneuvers, pitch, and roll. This passive equipotential design ensures reliable measurement without complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston incorporates flexible sealing elements that maintain contact with the liquid surface while accommodating movements during vehicle maneuvers. These flexible seals ensure the piston remains properly positioned and sealed throughout the range of motion, providing reliable fluid level indication without requiring rigid, complex positioning structures.
3Productivity
If a position sensor is disposed on the piston to track liquid level, then continuous measurement capability is improved, but the device complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The piston structure itself serves as the measurement element, with its position directly indicating the liquid level. The piston's mechanical displacement is self-evident and can be measured by simple external sensors or even visual indicators, eliminating the need for complex integrated sensor systems. The system uses the piston's own movement to provide the measurement signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston performs multiple functions: it seals the liquid, tracks the liquid level, transmits position information, and maintains pressure equilibrium. By making the piston multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate components, thereby decreasing overall system complexity while maintaining continuous measurement capability throughout the reservoir's operation.
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
Ensures stable fluid mass and precise fluid level indication, preventing sloshing and ensuring fluid availability for windshield cleaning, even under dynamic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a position sensor disposed on the piston configured to sense a position of the piston within the interior volume. The position sensor can be disposed on the second side of the piston such that the position sensor corresponds to a liquid level of the washer fluid in the reservoir.
Implementation Method 2
A motor can be operatively connected to drive the piston via a drive shaft. The motor can be configured to rotate the drive shaft to drive the piston along the drive shaft between a first position and a second position.
Implementation Method 3
a piston configured to force the washer fluid through the outlet to produce a jet of washer fluid at the outlet
Implementation Method 4
The piston can include a relief channel extending from the first side to the second side of the piston to allow air on the second side of the piston, above the surface of the washer fluid, to escape to the first side of the piston as the motor drives the piston to meet the surface of the washer fluid
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes a wiper system having at least one wiper arm configured to wipe a windshield of a vehicle, a reservoir configured to hold washer fluid, and a fluid line fluidly connected between the reservoir and the wiper system configured to provide the jet of washer fluid from an outlet of the reservoir to the wiper arm for spraying onto the windshield. The reservoir includes, an interior volume having an outlet, and a piston configured to force the washer fluid through the outlet to produce a jet of washer fluid at the outlet.