Patent Application
20240174361
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, EP Patent Application No. 22210012.5, filed Nov. 28, 2022 and titled “LIQUID LEVEL SENSING SYSTEM & FLIGHT PHASE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT GALLEY INSERTS,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
This disclosure relates to liquid level sensing system for galley insert appliances in aircraft galley inserts.
This disclosure also relates to flight phase detection systems for galley insert appliances in aircraft galley inserts.
It is known to monitor the liquid level in aircraft galley insert appliances, for example to ensure that a coffee jug is not too full, for user safety. However, in appliances such as coffee makers it can be challenging to measure the brew level when the aircraft is not flying level.
When viewed from a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a liquid level sensing system for a galley insert appliance in an aircraft galley insert comprising:
This liquid level sensing system can improve the accuracy of liquid level evaluation for a galley insert appliance by compensating for the variation in the reflected signal path due to changes in aircraft angle. The liquid level sensor will pitch, yaw and roll with the aircraft but the liquid surface remains perpendicular to the direction of gravity. It is possible that the aircraft angle compensation controller alters the angle and/or position of the liquid level sensor via a software adjustment. For example, a processor in the liquid level sensor that evaluates the liquid level may be programmed to adjust its evaluation based on the input from the gyroscopic sensor. In other examples, the aircraft angle compensation controller alters the angle and/or position of the liquid level sensor via a hardware adjustment. In one example, the system further comprises at least one actuator which is arranged to alter the angle and/or position of the liquid level sensor under control of the aircraft angle compensation controller. The at least one actuator can stabilize the liquid level sensor so that it remains substantially parallel to the liquid surface despite changes in aircraft angle.
It is possible to only account for variation of aircraft angle in one axis, for example to accommodate for the pitch of the aircraft only. In one example, the at least one actuator controls the angle of the liquid level sensor about a first axis and a second axis. This can enable the liquid level sensing system to account for aircraft angle variation in more than one axis, such as at least two of the pitch, yaw and roll of the aircraft.
Any two axes of rotation of the liquid level sensor could be chosen. In one example:
In another example:
It is possible for the liquid level sensor to comprise a singular sensor. In various examples, the liquid level sensor comprises a plurality of sensors. In various examples, the plurality of sensors are arranged to all be angled towards the liquid surface at the same angle, optionally perpendicular to the liquid surface. In other examples, the plurality of sensors are arranged to be angled towards the liquid surface at various angles. This can enable a more accurate evaluation of the liquid level, using readings from various of the sensors.
In some examples, the liquid level sensor comprises a non-contact sensor, preferably an electromagnetic or acoustic sensor. In some examples, the liquid level sensor comprises an optical (e.g. infra-red) sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.
In some examples, the liquid level sensor comprises a contact sensor, preferably a fibre-optic column arranged to be partially submerged in the liquid in a galley insert appliance.
In some examples, the liquid level sensing system further comprises means for evaluation of the liquid level and (e.g. direct or indirect) control of a liquid flow rate in the galley insert appliance depending on the liquid level. For example, the liquid level sensing system can be arranged to turn off the liquid flow if the liquid level is too high in order to prevent the liquid overflowing.
In some examples, the liquid level sensor is operably connected to the aircraft angle compensation controller. In one example, the aircraft angle compensation controller (e.g. directly or indirectly) controls the liquid flow rate in the galley insert appliance depending on the liquid level. In these examples, only one controller is required to adjust both the angle/position of the liquid level sensor and also the liquid flow rate, a separate controller is not required for each function.
In one example where the aircraft angle compensation controller indirectly controls the liquid flow rate in the galley insert appliance, the aircraft angle compensation controller is operably connected to an appliance controller such that the appliance controller controls the liquid flow rate in the galley insert appliance depending on the liquid level.
In various examples, the means for evaluation of the liquid level is one of the liquid level sensor, the aircraft compensation controller or the appliance controller.
In various examples, the aircraft angle compensation controller is also the appliance controller. This provides the benefit that the aircraft angle compensation controller and the appliance controller are one integrated system and not distinct controllers that need to interface with each other to perform various tasks.
In various examples, the liquid level sensing system is arranged to stop flow of the liquid in the galley insert appliance once the liquid level has reached a pre-determined threshold.
In various examples, the gyroscopic sensor may be part of the aircraft control system, or located anywhere within the aircraft or aircraft galley. In one example, the liquid level sensing system further comprises the gyroscopic sensor. This can be a benefit as the aircraft control system, i.e. the primary control system for controlling the aircraft, is a safety critical system and it can be beneficial to keep this system isolated from other systems, such as the liquid level sensing system in the aircraft galley.
In some examples, the aircraft angle compensation controller is further arranged to evaluate the input from the gyroscopic sensor to detect the flight phase of the aircraft. For example, the controller might detect that the aircraft is in take-off phase, climb phase, cruise phase, descent phase, approach phase, or taxi phase. The aircraft compensation controller may use knowledge of the flight phase to selectively alter the angle and/or position of the liquid level sensor, for example only making an adjustment to the liquid level sensor during a certain flight phase or not during a certain flight phase.
In one example, the aircraft compensation controller is further arranged to adjust operation of the galley insert appliance (e.g. directly or indirectly) depending on the detected flight phase of the aircraft. For example, the aircraft angle compensation controller might be arranged to stop flow of the liquid in the galley insert appliance during the descent phase.
In various examples, the liquid level sensing system may further comprise at least one additional liquid level sensor according to any of the previous examples for the same liquid, another liquid within the same galley insert appliance and/or another liquid in another galley insert appliance in either the same aircraft galley insert or another aircraft galley insert.
In various examples, the liquid level sensing system may be a standalone system that can be installed in at least one galley insert appliance. In one example, an aircraft galley insert appliance system comprises the liquid level sensing system and at least one galley insert appliance in an aircraft galley insert. These examples provide the benefit that the aircraft galley insert appliance system is an integrated system comprising the liquid level sensing system and the galley insert appliance, which reduces the complexity of the system, and can reduce the extent to which various controllers are required to interface with each other.
In various examples, the aircraft galley insert appliance system further comprises at least one appliance controller for the at least one galley insert appliance. In some examples, each galley insert appliance has a separate controller. In some examples, one appliance controller controls at least two of the galley insert appliances. In various examples, the aircraft compensation controller is operably connected to each of the at least one appliance controllers. In other examples, the aircraft compensation controller is also the appliance controller for at least one of the galley insert appliances. In these examples, the controller for aircraft angle compensation of the liquid level sensor is integrated within the same system as the appliance controller, which can greatly reduce the complexity of the system as a whole.
In some examples, any of the respective at least one appliance controllers for the at least one galley insert appliance is operably connected to the respective liquid level sensor. The appliance controller evaluates the liquid level and controls the liquid flow rate in the galley insert appliance depending on the liquid level. This can allow for direct control of the liquid flow rate by the appliance controller based on the signal from the liquid level sensor, instead of indirect control of the liquid flow rate via the aircraft compensation controller.
In one example, the aircraft galley insert appliance system comprises the gyroscopic sensor for the liquid level sensing system, which may be in addition to or instead of the aircraft compensation controller comprising a gyroscopic sensor. In some examples, at least one galley insert appliance comprises the gyroscopic sensor. This can be a benefit even if other gyroscopic sensors are present in the aircraft, for example in the aircraft control system, i.e. the primary control system for controlling the aircraft, as this is a safety critical system and it can be beneficial to keep this system isolated from other systems, such as the aircraft galley. Multiple gyroscopic sensors, such as when the aircraft compensation controller comprises a gyroscopic sensor and the galley insert appliance also comprises a gyroscopic sensor, can be beneficial as multiple readings can help the aircraft compensation controller to make more accurate adjustments to the liquid level sensor.
In various examples, any of the at least one galley insert appliance may be a catering appliance such as a hot beverage maker, a steam oven, a trolley for storage and/or transport of hot beverage jugs, or a water heater.
When viewed from a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a flight phase detection system for at least one galley insert appliance in an aircraft galley insert comprising:
For example, the flight phase detection controller could be arranged to turn off all galley insert appliances during the descent phase. In another example, the flight phase detection controller could be arranged to turn on the appliances during the climb phase. In a further example, the flight phase controller could be arranged to turn on some function of a galley insert appliance, such as a water heating element in a water heater, during, for example, the climb phase to ensure that the water is heated by the time the aircraft enters the cruise phase.
In various examples, the flight phase detection controller is the aircraft angle compensation controller according to any of the examples described above.
In various examples, the gyroscopic sensor may be part of the aircraft control system, or located anywhere within the aircraft or aircraft galley. In various examples, the flight phase detection system further comprises the gyroscopic sensor. This can be a benefit as the aircraft control system, i.e. the primary control system for controlling the aircraft, is a safety critical system and it can be beneficial to keep this system isolated from other systems, such as the aircraft galley.
In various examples, the flight phase detection system may be a standalone system operably connected to the at least one galley insert appliance. In various examples, the flight phase detection system may be distributed between at least two of the at least one aircraft galley inserts. In one example, one of the at least one aircraft galley inserts comprises the flight phase detection system. Various of these examples can provide an integrated system that reduces the overall complexity.
One or more non-limiting examples will now be described. By way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The liquid level sensor (221) in the example in
While the example of an infra-red sensor is given, the liquid level sensor (221) in
While in this example, the liquid level sensor (221) is arranged to be at an angle perpendicular to the liquid surface (212), one skilled in the art will understand that the liquid level sensor (221) could be arranged to be angled at any angle towards the liquid surface.
While in this example, the liquid level sensor (221) consists of a singular sensor, in various examples the liquid level sensor (221) could further comprise at least one additional sensor. Each sensor could be arranged to be angled at the same angle towards the liquid surface (212), or at various angles towards the liquid surface (212). One skilled in the art will also appreciate that these various sensors could all be sensors of the same type, or could be of a variety of different sensor types. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that a combination of contact sensors and non-contact sensors is also possible.
Referring to
The liquid level sensing system (320) further comprises an actuator (322) for the liquid level sensor (321) and an aircraft angle compensation controller (not shown). In this example, the actuator (322) is arranged to alter the angle of the liquid level sensor (321) under control of the aircraft angle compensation controller, depending on an input to the aircraft angle compensation controller from a gyroscopic sensor (316).
Referring again to
In this example, the galley insert appliance (210) is a coffee maker comprising a valve (213) which controls the flow of liquid into the brew head (214), and a brew cup (215) which contains the liquid (211), in this case coffee, once it has percolated from the brew head (214) into the brew cup (215). In this example, the aircraft compensation controller, which also controls the appliance, receives a signal from the liquid level sensor (221) when the liquid level is above a threshold value, and in response to this signal, the aircraft compensation controller sends a signal to close the valve (213) to ensure that the liquid (211) in the brew cup (215) will not overflow.
In various examples, it is clear to one skilled in the art that the liquid flow rate can be varied between a minimum and maximum flow rate and the valve (213) does not have to operate on and off. In various examples, where the appliance controller is distinct from the aircraft compensation controller, the liquid level sensor (221) is operably connected to the aircraft compensation controller, which is operably connected to the appliance controller. In other examples, where the appliance controller is distinct from the aircraft compensation controller, the liquid level sensor is operably connected directly to the appliance controller. In various embodiments, any of the liquid level sensor, aircraft compensation controller, appliance controller or some other means evaluates the liquid level based on the data from the liquid level sensor (221).
In this example, the galley insert appliance (210) comprises the gyroscopic sensor (216) which provides the input to the aircraft compensation controller. In this example, the aircraft compensation controller is further arranged to also detect the flight phase of the aircraft based on the input from the gyroscopic sensor (216). In this example, the aircraft compensation controller is arranged to close the valve (213) if the detected flight phase is the descent phase.
Referring to
In this example, the first aircraft galley insert (420) comprises a first appliance controller (421) for a first galley insert appliance (422) and an aircraft angle compensation controller (411) of the liquid level sensing system (410). The second aircraft galley insert (430) comprises a second appliance controller (431) and a second galley insert appliance (432); and the nth aircraft galley insert (440) comprises an nth appliance controller (441) and an nth galley insert appliance (432).
In this example, each galley insert appliance (422, 432, 442) has its own appliance controller (421, 431, 441), however one skilled in the art will appreciate that two or more galley insert appliances (421, 431, 441) may share an appliance controller (421, 431, 441) and/or the aircraft angle compensation controller (411) may also be the appliance controller (421, 431, 441) for one or more galley insert appliance (422, 432, 442).
In this example, the liquid level sensing system (410) comprises an aircraft angle compensation controller (411), a gyroscopic sensor (423) to provide an input to the aircraft compensation controller (411); a first actuator (412) for a first liquid level sensor (413) for the first galley insert appliance (422); a second actuator (414) for a second liquid level sensor (415) for a second galley insert appliance (432); and a nth actuator (416) for a nth liquid level sensor (417) for a nth galley insert appliance (442). In this example, each galley insert appliance (422, 432, 442) has only one respective liquid level sensor (413, 415, 417) associated with it, however in various examples, a galley appliance could have multiple liquid level sensors associated with it.
In this example, the liquid level sensing system (410) is operably connected to each of the aircraft galley insert appliance controllers (421, 431, 441); however in various examples, one of the aircraft galley inserts (420, 430, 440) comprises the liquid level sensing system (410), or the liquid level sensing system (410) may be distributed between at least two of the galley inserts (420, 430, 440).
In this example, the aircraft angle compensation controller (410) receives an input from the gyroscopic sensor (423) and sends a signal to the actuators (412, 414, 416) to adjust the angle of their respective liquid level sensors (413, 415, 417).
In this example, the liquid level sensors (413, 415, 417) evaluate the liquid level and send this information to the aircraft angle compensation controller (411); which then sends a signal to the respective appliance controllers (421, 431, 441) to stop the flow of liquid in their respective galley insert appliances (422, 432, 442) if the respective liquid level in the galley insert appliance (422, 432, 442) is above a threshold value.
In various examples, the aircraft galley insert appliance system (400) also controls the flow rate of liquid in each of the galley insert appliances (422, 432, 442) depending on the detected flight phase of the aircraft.
Referring to
In this example, the flight phase detection controller (501) detects the flight phase of the aircraft using the input from the gyroscopic sensor (502) and adjusts operation of the galley insert appliances (512, 522, 532) based on the detected flight phase. In this example, all the galley insert appliances (512, 522, 532) are turned off during the descent phase.
While in this example the flight phase detection system (500) comprises the gyroscopic sensor (502), in various examples the gyroscopic sensor (502) is operably connected to the flight phase detection system (500), but the flight phase detection system (500) does not comprise the gyroscopic sensor (502).
In this example, each aircraft galley insert (510, 520, 530) only comprises one galley insert appliance (512, 522, 532), however in various examples a single aircraft galley insert (510, 520, 530) could each comprise multiple appliances (512, 522, 532).
In this example, each galley insert appliance (512, 522, 532) has its own controller (511, 521, 531), however in various examples, one controller (511, 521, 531) could control at least two galley insert appliances (512, 522, 532). In various examples, the flight phase detection controller (501) could also be the appliance controller for at least one galley insert appliance (512, 522, 532).
In various examples, one galley insert (510, 520, 530) comprises the flight phase detection system (500), however in this example the flight phase detection system (500) is a standalone system. In other examples the flight phase detection system is distributed between at least two of the galley inserts (510, 520, 530).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22210012.5 | Nov 2022 | EP | regional |
