초록 ▼

The invention provides a fuel-tank system with an ultrasonic fuel-gauging system for an aircraft. The fuel-tank system includes a fuel tank, a transducer carrier tape covered with a separation barrier, and coupled to a surface of the fuel tank, and at least one ultrasonic transducer attached to the

The invention provides a fuel-tank system with an ultrasonic fuel-gauging system for an aircraft. The fuel-tank system includes a fuel tank, a transducer carrier tape covered with a separation barrier, and coupled to a surface of the fuel tank, and at least one ultrasonic transducer attached to the transducer carrier tape. An ultrasonic signal from at least one ultrasonic transducer is reflected from a fuel-air surface and a reflected signal is received by at least one ultrasonic transducer to determine a fuel level in the fuel tank.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel-tank system comprising:a fuel tank; a transducer carrier tape coupled to a surface of the fuel tank; at least one ultrasonic transducer attached to the transducer carrier tape, wherein an acoustic emission from at least one ultrasonic transducer is reflected from a fuel-air surface and a r

1. A fuel-tank system comprising:a fuel tank; a transducer carrier tape coupled to a surface of the fuel tank; at least one ultrasonic transducer attached to the transducer carrier tape, wherein an acoustic emission from at least one ultrasonic transducer is reflected from a fuel-air surface and a reflected signal is received by at least one ultrasonic transducer to determine a fuel level in the fuel tank; and a separation barrier disposed on the transducer carrier tape, wherein the separation barrier isolates the transducer carrier tape from fuel in the fuel tank. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the fuel tank comprises a composite material.3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transducer carrier tape comprises one of a flex circuit or a flex tape.4. The system of claim 3 wherein the transducer carrier tape comprises at least one layer of metallic interconnections.5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transducer carrier tape is embedded in a base of the fuel tank.6. The system of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezoelectric disk.7. The system of claim 1 wherein the separation barrier comprises a composite material.8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:a controller operably connected to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, wherein the fuel level in the fuel tank is determined by measuring a transit time between the acoustic emission and the reflected signal from at least one of the ultrasonic transducers. 9. A method of determining fuel level in a fuel tank, the method comprising:sending an ultrasonic emission from an interior surface of the fuel tank; receiving a reflected signal from a fuel-air surface in the fuel tank; determining the fuel level based on the sent ultrasonic emission and the received reflected signal; measuring the fuel temperature of fuel in the fuel tank; and compensating the fuel level determination based on the fuel temperature. 10. A method of determining fuel level in a fuel tank, the method comprising:sending an ultrasonic emission from an interior surface of the fuel tank; receiving a reflected signal from a fuel-air surface in the fuel tank; determining the fuel level based on the sent ultrasonic emission and the received reflected signal; determining a shape of a fuel tank based on the sent ultrasonic emission and the received reflected signal, the fuel tank being full of fuel; comparing the determined shape of the fuel tank to a stored shape of the fuel tank; and determining a structural alteration of the fuel tank based on the determined shape and the stored shape of the fuel tank. 11. A fuel-tank system comprising:a fuel tank; a transducer carrier tape coupled to a surface of the fuel tank, the transducer carrier tape comprising one of a flex circuit or a flex tape, and the transducer carrier tape comprising at least one layer of metallic interconnections; and at least one ultrasonic transducer attached to the transducer carrier tape, wherein an acoustic emission from at least one ultrasonic transducer is reflected from a fuel-air surface and a reflected signal is received by at least one ultrasonic transducer to determine a fuel level in the fuel tank. 12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:communicating a signal characteristic of the reflected signal via a transducer carrier tape. 13. The method of claim 9 wherein the ultrasonic emission is sent from one of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers embedded in a base portion of the fuel tank.14. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of ultrasonic transducers are positioned along one of a flex circuit or a flex tape.15. The method of claim 9 wherein determining the fuel level comprises measuring a transit time between the sent ultrasonic emission and the received reflected signal.16. The method of claim 9 wherein determining the fuel level comprises measuring a plurality of transit times between the sent ultrasonic emission and a plurality of received reflected signals from a plurality of ultrasonic transducers embedded in a base portion of the fuel tank.17. The method of claim 9 further comprising:determining a shape of a fuel tank based on the sent ultrasonic emission and the received reflected signal, the fuel tank being full of fuel; comparing the determined shape of the fuel tank to a stored shape of the fuel tank; and determining a structural alteration of the fuel tank based on the determined shape and the stored shape of the fuel tank.