WIRELESS FUEL SENSOR

• US 20140373622A1
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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: Kline, Bruce R., Hicks, Brandon R.
• Application Number:
  US13/923,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20140373622A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/290.R
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/005 Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/18 Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/296 Acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include wireless fuel systems for an aircraft. The system include wireless fuel sensors having a sensor configured to measure an indication of an amount of fuel in a fuel tank, a transmitter coupled to the sensor, an antenna coupled to the transmitter and a generator configured to provide power to the sensor and the transmitter. The system also includes a controller configured to receive data from each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors and to responsively calculate the amount of fuel in a fuel tank.

Claims

1. A wireless fuel system for an aircraft comprising:

a plurality of wireless fuel sensors each comprising;

a sensor configured to measure an indication of an amount of fuel in a fuel tank;

a transmitter coupled to the sensor;

an antenna coupled to the transmitter; and

a battery configured to provide power to the sensor and the transmitter; and

a controller configured to receive data from each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors and to responsively calculate the amount of fuel in a fuel tank.

2. The wireless fuel system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors are at least partially disposed within the fuel tank.

3. The wireless fuel system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors are configured to periodically transmit the indication of the amount of fuel in a fuel tank to the controller.

4. The wireless fuel system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors further comprises a receiver configured to receive commands from the controller.

5. The wireless fuel system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors further comprises a low powered receiver configured to receive a wake signal from the controller.

6. The wireless fuel system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors are configured to transmit the indication of the amount of fuel in a fuel tank to the controller in response to receiving the wake signal from the controller.

7. A wireless fuel system for an aircraft comprising:

a plurality of wireless fuel sensors each comprising;

a sensor configured to measure an indication of an amount of fuel in a fuel tank;

a transmitter coupled to the sensor;

an antenna coupled to the transmitter; and

a generator configured to provide power to the sensor and the transmitter; and

a controller configured to receive data from each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors and to responsively calculate the amount of fuel in a fuel tank.

8. The wireless fuel system of claim 7, wherein the generator is a thermoelectric generator.

9. The wireless fuel system of claim 7, wherein the generator is a photoelectric generator.

10. The wireless fuel system of claim 7, wherein the generator is a vibration energy harvester.

11. The wireless fuel system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors are at least partially disposed within the fuel tank.

12. The wireless fuel system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors are configured to periodically transmit the indication of the amount of fuel in a fuel tank to the controller.

13. The wireless fuel system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors further comprises a receiver configured to receive commands from the controller.

14. The wireless fuel system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors further comprises a low powered receiver configured to receive a wake signal from the controller.

15. The wireless fuel system of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors are configured to transmit the indication of the amount of fuel in a fuel tank to the controller in response to receiving the wake signal from the controller.

16. A wireless fuel system for an aircraft comprising:

a plurality of wireless fuel sensors each comprising;

a sensor configured to measure an indication of an amount of fuel in a fuel tank;

a transmitter coupled to the sensor;

an antenna coupled to the transmitter;

a battery configured to provide power to the sensor and the transmitter; and

a generator configured to charge the battery; and

a controller configured to receive data from each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors and to responsively calculate the amount of fuel in a fuel tank.

17. The wireless fuel system of claim 16, wherein the generator is a thermoelectric generator.

18. The wireless fuel system of claim 16, wherein the generator is a photoelectric generator.

19. The wireless fuel system of claim 16, wherein the generator is a vibration energy harvester.

20. The wireless fuel system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of wireless fuel sensors are at least partially disposed within the fuel tank.