GAUGE

• US 20140312171A1
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Landing Systems UK Limited
• Original Assignee: Messier-Dowty Limited (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 9,562,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/100.R
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/60 Oleo legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/06 using both gas and liquid F16F9/486 take precedence; self-pumping fluid springs B60G17/044
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3264 Arrangements for indicating, e.g. fluid level; Arrangements for checking dampers F16F9/3292 takes precedence; testing of vehicle damping G01M17/04

Abstract

A gauge for indicating whether the oil level in an oleo-pneumatic shock absorber requires modification. The gauge comprises a substrate for positioning relative to the oleo-pneumatic shock absorber. The substrate has a first region arranged to encompass a range of possible oil levels within the shock absorber, a second region corresponding to a range of possible extension states of the shock absorber and a third region comprising one or more traces. Each trace corresponds to a temperature value and is indicative of an optimum relationship between the oil levels and the range of extension states at the respective temperature value associated with the trace.

Claims

1. A gauge for indicating whether the oil level in an oleo-pneumatic shock absorber requires modification, the gauge comprising:

a substrate for positioning relative to the oleo-pneumatic shock absorber, the substrate comprising;

a first region arranged to encompass a range of possible oil levels within the oleo-pneumatic shock absorber;

a second region corresponding to a range of possible extension states of the oleo-pneumatic shock absorber; and

a third region comprising one or more traces, each trace corresponding to a temperature value and being indicative of an optimum relationship between the range of possible oil levels and the range of possible extension states at the respective temperature value associated with the trace.

2. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein the third region comprises a plurality of traces, each trace corresponding to a different temperature value.

3. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein the range of possible oil levels are a range of possible oil levels during in-use, on-ground, conditions.

4. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a hard material.

5. A gauge according to claim 4, wherein the substrate comprises aluminium.

6. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein the first region is arranged to define an x-axis and the second region is arranged to define a y-axis, the third region is arranged to define a graph between the x-axis and y-axis.

7. A gauge according to claim 1, wherein the first region comprises a space adjacent an edge of the substrate.

10. An aircraft landing gear comprising an oleo pneumatic shock absorber and a gauge according to claim 1 attached to the shock absorber such that the first region of the gauge encompasses a range of possible oil levels for the shock absorber.

11. An aircraft landing gear according to claim 10, wherein the range of possible oil levels are a range of possible oil levels during in-use, on-ground conditions.

13. An aircraft including an aircraft landing gear according to claim 10.

8. A gauge according to any 1, wherein the first region comprises a slot in the substrate.

9. A gauge according to claim 8, wherein the slot is sized to accommodate a measurement portion of an ultrasonic transducer.

12. A gauge or aircraft landing gear substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

14. A method of indicating whether a quantity of first fluid within a vessel containing the first fluid and a second fluid separated by a fluid interface requires modification, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a first point within a first region of a gauge, the first point corresponding to the interface between the first and second fluids;

identifying a second point within a second region of the gauge, the second point corresponding to an extension state of the vessel;

identifying a coordinate in a third region of the gauge, the coordinate being defined by the first and second points, the third region comprising one or more traces, the each trace corresponding to a temperature value and being indicative of an optimum relationship between the a range of possible values for the fluid interface and a range of possible values for the extension state at the respective temperature value associated with the trace;

measuring the temperature of a fluid or solid which is relatable to the fluid;

identifying a trace corresponding most closely to the measured temperature; and

comparing the coordinate with the identified trace to indicate whether the quantity of first fluid requires modification.

15. A method according to claim 14, whereby:

the step of identifying a first point within a first region comprises moving an ultrasonic sensor within the first region to identify the first point corresponding to the fluid interface; and

the step of measuring the temperature of a fluid or solid which is relatable to the fluid comprises using the ultrasonic sensor to measure the temperature of the first fluid.

16. A method substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.