Optically powered remotely interrogated liquid gauging system

• US 10,641,673 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Crowne, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huls, Natalie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jenkins, Jermaine L
• Application Number:
  US15/694,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20190072446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/34 Tanks constructed integrally with wings, e.g. for fuel or water
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/005 Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/02 Tanks tanks constructed integrally with aircraft wings B64C; shape or construction of tanks per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/164 using a diaphragm, bellow as transmitting element
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/18 Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/086 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/141 Monolithic housings, e.g. molded or one-piece housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0076 using photoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

An optically powered pressure sensor for sensing pressure of a liquid in a tank includes a hermetically sealed housing with at least a portion of the housing having a diaphragm, at least one sensor within the hermetically sealed housing, at least one optical emitter, and a photocell array. The hermetically sealed housing forms at least a portion of a hermetically sealed wall of the tank. The at least one sensor within the hermetically sealed housing is configured to sense the pressure of the liquid. The at least one optical emitter is configured to transmit data corresponding to the sensed pressure. The photocell array is configured to receive light and provide power to the at least one sensor and the at least one optical emitter.

Claims

1. An optically powered pressure sensor for sensing pressure of a liquid in a tank comprising:

a hermetically sealed housing with at least a portion of the housing having a diaphragm, the hermetically sealed housing forms at least a portion of a hermetically sealed wall of the tank;

at least one sensor within the hermetically sealed housing configured to sense the pressure of the liquid;

at least one optical emitter configured to transmit data corresponding to the sensed pressure; and

a photocell array configured to receive light and provide power to the at least one sensor and the at least one optical emitter.

2. The optically powered pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical emitter is a light emitting diode configured to transmit data using infrared light.

3. The optically powered pressure sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the liquid; and

wherein the at least one optical emitter is further configured to transmit data corresponding to the sensed temperature.

4. The optically powered pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the liquid is fuel of a fuel tank of an aircraft.

5. The optically powered pressure sensor of claim 4, wherein the hermetically housing is electrically coupled to a wing skin of the aircraft.

6. The optically powered pressure sensor of claim 4, wherein the hermetically sealed housing is stainless steel.

7. A system comprising:

an optically powered pressure sensor for sensing pressure of a liquid in a tank comprising;

a hermetically sealed housing with at least a portion of the housing having a diaphragm, the hermetically sealed housing forms at least a portion of a hermetically sealed wall of the tank;

at least one sensor within the hermetically sealed housing configured to sense the pressure of the liquid;

at least one optical emitter configured to transmit data corresponding to the sensed pressure of the liquid; and

a photocell array configured to receive light and provide power to the at least one sensor and the at least one optical emitter; and

an optical interrogator configured to provide high power light to the photocell array and receive data from the at least one optical emitter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical interrogator comprises:

one or more optical emitters configured to provide the high power light;

at least one optical receiver configured to receive the data corresponding to the sensed pressure of the liquid from the optical emitter; and

at least one pressure sensor configured to sense an ambient pressure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the optically powered pressure sensor further comprises at least one temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the liquid;

and

wherein the at least one optical emitter is further configured to transmit data corresponding to the sensed temperature.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the optical interrogator further comprises:

a memory configured to store a geometry of a tank holding the liquid; and

a processor configured to determine a fuel quantity of the liquid using the data corresponding to the sensed temperature of the liquid, the data corresponding to the sensed pressure of the liquid, data corresponding to the sensed ambient temperature, and the geometry of the tank holding the liquid.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a computing device communicatively coupled to the optical interrogator, wherein the computing device is configured to receive data corresponding to the determined fuel quantity from the optical interrogator.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is configured to display, using a graphical user interface, the fuel quantity to a user.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is a tablet.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more emitters is one or more white light emitting diodes.

15. A method comprising:

receiving light from an optical interrogator via a photocell array;

generating, in response to receiving the light, power from the received light using the photocell array;

sensing, in response to generating the power, a pressure of a liquid using at least one sensor, the at least one sensor powered by the photocell array; and

transmitting, in response to measuring the pressure, data corresponding to the pressure of the liquid using at least one optical emitter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one optical emitter is a light emitting diode configured to transmit data using infrared light.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sensing, in response to generating the power, a temperature of the liquid using at least one temperature sensor; and

transmitting, in response to sensing the temperature, data corresponding to the sensed temperature of the liquid using the at least one optical emitter.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the liquid is fuel of a fuel tank of an aircraft.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the hermetically housing is electrically coupled to a wing skin of the aircraft.