Aircraft Windshield Sensor Integration for Moisture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft windshields face reduced operating efficiency and premature failure due to moisture ingress and damage to electrical components, leading to untimely repair needs and emergency maintenance, as the existing moisture seals fail and delamination occurs, affecting the windshield's defrosting capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Integration of sensors such as impact, rupture, arcing, temperature, and moisture sensors within the windshield's structure to monitor real-time performance and detect potential issues, allowing for scheduled maintenance and preventing further damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If moisture seals are used to prevent moisture ingress, then the windshield's service life is extended, but the seals eventually fail due to erosion and cracking, allowing moisture to enter and cause delamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by integrating sensors that detect moisture ingress at the earliest stages, before delamination occurs. The sensors monitor for the presence of moisture between windshield layers and trigger alerts that enable proactive maintenance scheduling, preventing the progression to catastrophic seal failure and delamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through a monitoring system that continuously detects moisture conditions between windshield layers and provides real-time information about seal integrity. This feedback loop enables operators to assess the actual condition of moisture seals and schedule maintenance based on measured degradation rather than predetermined intervals.
2Loss of information
If sensors are integrated into the windshield structure, then real-time monitoring capability is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating sensors directly into the windshield structure, combining the monitoring function with the existing windshield assembly. The sensors are embedded within or attached to the windshield layers, allowing performance monitoring without requiring separate external monitoring equipment or complex external sensor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing a monitoring system that can detect multiple failure modes through a single integrated sensor array. The sensors are configured to detect moisture ingress, delamination, and potentially other anomalies, providing multi-functional monitoring capability that reduces the need for separate specialized sensors for each type of defect.
3Reliability
If moisture enters between the windshield layers, then delamination occurs and conductive coating is damaged, but early detection is difficult without sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by using sensors as mediator elements that detect the presence of moisture between windshield layers. The sensors act as intermediaries between the concealed moisture condition and the external monitoring system, translating the hidden physical condition into detectable electrical signals that indicate moisture ingress and potential delamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical inspection methods with electrical sensing. Instead of requiring physical disassembly or visual inspection to detect moisture ingress, the system uses electrical sensors embedded in the windshield structure to detect moisture presence through changes in electrical properties, eliminating the need for mechanical intervention.
4Loss of time
If scheduled maintenance is implemented based on sensor data, then emergency maintenance is reduced, but the initial implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a monitoring system that detects issues before they require emergency intervention. The sensors provide advance warning of moisture ingress and potential failures, enabling maintenance to be scheduled at convenient times rather than requiring emergency repairs when failures occur, thus reducing operational disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by implementing a condition-based maintenance system that automatically monitors windshield health and triggers maintenance alerts based on actual sensor data. This eliminates the need for manual inspections and allows the windshield system to essentially monitor and report its own condition, enabling optimized maintenance scheduling based on actual rather than assumed needs.
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 sensors enable timely detection and scheduling of repairs, extending the windshield's service life by preventing moisture-related degradation and maintaining defrosting functionality, reducing the need for emergency maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically conductive coating, or a plurality of electrically conductive wires, between and connected to a pair of spaced bus bars to heat the windshield to prevent the formation of, and/or remove fog and ice on and/or from, respectively, the outer surface of the windshield
Implementation Method 2
sensors responsive to property changes of the transparency, e.g. responsive to chemical changes, physical impact and/or electrical changes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A transparency, e.g. an aircraft laminated windshield, includes one or more sensors to monitor performance of one or more properties, e.g. a heating arrangement of the windshield, and to generate signals representative of the performance of the properties. One part of a connector, external of the transparency and connected to the sensors is connected to a system positioned in the aircraft. The system receives a signal from each of the sensors, and processes the signals to determine difference between performance of the property as indicated by the signal received and a preferred performance of the property to provide real time monitoring of the performance of the windshield. With this arrangement information regarding the performance of the windshield is available to schedule timely repair or replacement of the windshield that is performing outside of acceptable limits.