Sensor for determining a liquid level for an aircraft tank, assembly of a tank and a sensor, method of using such a sensor
An assembly of an aircraft tank and a sensor for determining a liquid level in an aircraft tank. The sensor is made up of a closure device, mounted in a port of the tank, and a measuring device, removably mounted on the closure device. The closure device has a liquid line configured to conduct liquid from the port of the tank and a member for automatically sealing the liquid line when the measuring device is not mounted on the closure device and for unsealing the liquid line when the measuring device is mounted on the closure device. The measuring device has at least one pressure measuring member configured to measure a pressure difference between a liquid pressure in the liquid line and a reference pressure, which can be a gas pressure or the atmospheric pressure, so as to infer therefrom the liquid level in the tank.
1 . An assembly of an aircraft tank and a sensor for determining a liquid level for the aircraft tank, the sensor comprising:
a closure device mounted in a port of the aircraft tank and a measuring device removably mounted on the closure device,
the closure device comprising a liquid line configured to conduct liquid from the port of the aircraft tank and a sealing member having a body arranged with the liquid line for automatically sealing the liquid line when the measuring device is not mounted on the closure device,
the measuring device comprising at least one pressure measuring member configured to measure a pressure difference between a liquid pressure in the liquid line and a reference pressure so as to deduce from the liquid pressure and the reference pressure a liquid level in the aircraft tank,
the aircraft tank comprising a body with a wall having a thickness and a mouthpiece having an elongated body formed around the port, the mouthpiece being in fluidic communication with a gas phase inside the aircraft tank via a first internal gas line portion that is formed in the wall of the tank, and
the closure device comprising a second internal gas line portion in fluid communication with the first internal gas line to supply the at least one pressure measuring member with a gas pressure for the reference pressure.
2 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring device comprises an external line having an opening to an outside of the aircraft tank to measure external pressure for use as the reference pressure for deducing the liquid level.
3 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring device comprises two pressure measuring members, which include the at least one pressure measuring member configured to measure the pressure difference between the liquid pressure in the liquid line and the reference pressure and a separate second pressure measuring member to separately deduce the liquid level in the aircraft tank.
4 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the aircraft tank has a minimum liquid height defining an alert height the port is positioned at a height lower than said alert height.
5 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the port is a drain port for the aircraft tank in which a drain plug is mounted, and wherein the sensor is integrated into said drain plug.
6 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one auxiliary pressure sensor, in addition to the measuring device, configured to measure the liquid pressure at a determined height of the port so as to deduce therefrom a liquid density.
7 . The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one auxiliary pressure sensor is connected to an opening of the tank that is spaced from the port.
8 . A method of using an assembly of an aircraft tank and a sensor according to claim 1 in which the closure device of the sensor is mounted in the port of the aircraft tank and the sealing member seals the liquid line, the method comprising steps consisting of:
mounting the measuring device on the closure device so as to place the measuring member in fluidic communication with the liquid pressure, the sealing member being inactivated following the mounting,
measuring a pressure difference between the liquid pressure in the liquid line and the reference pressure so as to deduce therefrom the liquid level in the tank.
9 . The method of use according to claim 8 , further comprising a step of emitting an alarm when the liquid pressure is equal to the reference pressure.
10 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid line is unsealed when the measuring device is mounted on the closure device.
11 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the reference pressure for deducing the liquid level is atmospheric pressure.
12 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is a non-return valve.
13 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a gas line external to the aircraft tank, the gas line connects the at least one pressure measuring member and an opening formed through the aircraft tank, which is spaced from the port.
14 . The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the gas line is embodied as a flexible line or a rigid line.
15 . The assembly according to claim 14 , wherein a filler cap is located at the opening, and wherein the gas line is connected to the filler cap.
16 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the reference pressure is the gas pressure of a gas phase inside the aircraft tank.
17 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a control lever located in the closure device, the control lever having a structure configured to deactivate the automatic sealing member.
18 . An aircraft comprising an assembly of an aircraft tank and a sensor for determining a liquid level for the aircraft tank, the sensor comprising:
a closure device mounted in a port of the aircraft tank and a measuring device removably mounted on the closure device,
the closure device comprising a liquid line configured to conduct liquid from the port of the aircraft tank and a sealing member having a body arranged with the liquid line for automatically sealing the liquid line when the measuring device is not mounted on the closure device,
the measuring device comprising at least one pressure measuring member configured to measure a pressure difference between a liquid pressure in the liquid line and a reference pressure so as to deduce from the liquid pressure and the reference pressure a liquid level in the aircraft tank,
the aircraft tank comprising a body with a wall having a thickness and a mouthpiece having an elongated body formed around the port, the mouthpiece being in fluidic communication with a gas phase inside the aircraft tank via a first internal gas line portion that is formed in the wall of the tank, and
the closure device comprising a second internal gas line portion in fluid communication with the first internal gas line to supply the at least one pressure measuring member with a gas pressure for the reference pressure.