Aircraft actuator fluid level detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11614355-B2
Application number	US-201916510219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2019
Priority date	Jul 12, 2019
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

Abstract

Disclosed is an actuator level detection system of an aircraft. The system includes an actuator containing fluid that defines a resistivity and including a first contact point and a second contact point. The system includes a first contactor disposed about the actuator cooperating with the first contact point to define a first contact resistance that includes the resistivity. The system includes sensor circuitry includes a conductive path defining a conductive path resistance, between the first contact point and the second contact point. The sensor circuitry has a total resistance that includes the first contact resistance and the conductive path resistance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator level detection system of an aircraft, the system comprising:
an actuator containing fluid that defines a resistivity and including a first contact point and a second contact point in a housing;
a first contactor disposed about the actuator cooperating with the first contact point to define a first contact resistance that includes the resistivity; and
sensor circuitry including a conductive path defining a conductive path resistance, between the first contact point and the second contact point in the housing, the sensor circuitry having a total resistance that includes the first contact resistance and the conductive path resistance to detect a change in fluid level corresponding with a change in sensor circuitry resistance over time,
wherein maintenance of the actuator is controlled based on the detected change in fluid level in the actuator and the actuator is a mechanical actuator.

2. The actuator level detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller having stored instructions operable upon execution to quantify the total resistance.

3. The actuator level detection system of claim 2 , wherein the stored instructions are further operable upon execution to indicate actuator fluid loss based on the total resistance falling outside a loss threshold.

4. The actuator level detection system of claim 2 , wherein the stored instructions are further operable upon execution to indicate contaminated fluid based on the total resistance falling outside a contamination threshold.

5. The actuator level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor circuitry is part of radiofrequency identification circuitry having an antenna.

6. The actuator level detection system of claim 5 , wherein the radiofrequency identification circuitry includes a resistor having a resistor resistance based on an impedance of the antenna that defines a transmission distance of the radiofrequency identification circuitry.

7. The actuator level detection system of claim 5 , wherein the radiofrequency identification circuitry includes an identifier associated with the actuator.

8. The actuator level detection system of claim 7 , further comprising reader circuitry having an impedance substantially equal to the total resistance.

9. The actuator level detection system of claim 8 , wherein the reader circuitry is configured to energize the radiofrequency identification circuitry and receive the identifier.

10. The actuator level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a composition that is air.

11. The actuator level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a composition that is a lubricant.

12. The actuator level detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a second contactor disposed about the actuator cooperating with the second contact point to define a second contact resistance that includes the resistivity.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Ankney Darrell E

Classifications

• B64D45/00

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F16N29/04

  enabling a warning to be given; enabling moving parts to be stopped · CPC title

• G01F23/24 Primary

  by measuring variations of resistance of resistors due to contact with conductor fluid · CPC title

• F16N2250/18

  Level · CPC title

• F16N29/02

  for influencing the supply of lubricant · CPC title