Watertight Capsule Sensor for Aircraft Weight Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-board devices for determining the weight and center of gravity of aircraft are prone to errors due to environmental impacts such as humidity, rain, and dust, which can lead to critical operational issues during flight and landing phases.
Innovation Solution
A watertight capsule encloses the sensor to protect it from environmental factors, with a connector device providing additional waterproof barriers to ensure the sensor's longevity and accuracy, allowing for direct measurement of the elastic deformation of a hollow element connected to a ground-contacting member of an aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor is exposed to the environment for direct measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to environmental impacts such as humidity, rain, and dust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a watertight capsule as an intermediary between the sensor and the environment. The capsule transmits the elastic deformation from the hollow element to the sensor while protecting the sensor from environmental factors such as humidity, rain, and dust. This mediator allows the sensor to measure deformation accurately without direct exposure to harmful environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The watertight capsule is designed with a flexible wall that can transmit elastic deformation while maintaining watertight protection. The flexible shell allows mechanical deformation to pass through to the sensor inside while preventing environmental contaminants from reaching the sensor, thus maintaining both measurement precision and reliability.
2Reliability
If additional waterproof barriers are added to protect the sensor, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protective functions into a single integrated watertight capsule structure. The capsule simultaneously provides mechanical protection, watertight sealing, and deformation transmission, eliminating the need for separate protective components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The watertight capsule serves multiple functions: it protects the sensor from environmental factors, transmits elastic deformation to the sensor, and provides structural support. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while enhancing reliability.
3Reliability
If the sensor is protected from environmental factors, then reliability is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to isolation from the measured object
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible wall of the watertight capsule acts as an intermediary that faithfully transmits the elastic deformation from the hollow element to the sensor. This mediator ensures that the sensor receives accurate deformation information while remaining protected from environmental factors, thus maintaining both reliability 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 solution provides a reliable and secure system for determining the weight and center of gravity, resistant to environmental impacts, ensuring accurate data for critical flight systems like AutoPilot and Fly-by-Wire, with the ability to maintain sensor functionality over the device's lifetime and simplify maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an apparatus for sensing an elastic deformation of a hollow element (7)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is related to an apparatus 8 for sensing an elastic deformation of a hollow element 7, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one sensor 8a that is arranged in a watertight capsule 9 which is connected in a watertight manner to a connector device 13 comprising at least one watertight electrical connector 13c that is electrically connected to the at least one sensor, the at least one watertight electrical connector forming a first waterproof barrier of the connector device between an outside of the watertight capsule 9 and the at least one sensor, and wherein the connector device comprises at least one further waterproof barrier that is formed between the first waterproof barrier and the at least one sensor.