Aircraft weight and center of gravity indicator
OwnerC. Kirk Nanceinventor
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OwnerC. Kirk Nanceinventor
Estimating the term…
An onboard system for use in measuring, computing and displaying the gross weight and location/relocation of the center of gravity, for aircraft. Temperature and pressure transducers are mounted in relation to each of the landing gear struts. Transmit those temperature and pressure signals to an onboard microcomputer/controller with redundancy for accuracy and failure protection. The system also incorporates a software correction program, along with attached hardware, to correct and compensate for physical changes to strut components due to temperature fluctuations, seal drag and hysteresis within modern day "shock absorbing" aircraft landing gear struts. The computer makes adjustments for internal temperature changes and drag; converts sustained pressures to the weight supported by each strut, and computes the aircrafts current gross weight and center of gravity. The computer is also programmed to illuminate a "Hard Landing Indicator Light" mounted on the display, when pre-programmed individual strut pressure limits are exceeded and sensed during landing. These pressure readings are stored in the computer memory and can be utilized when the aircraft is inspected and serviced.
An apparatus for determining the weight of an aircraft, said aircraft comprising plural pressurized landing gear struts, said landing gear struts experiencing friction/drag, such as friction caused by landing gear strut internal O-ring seals, said friction/drag distorting internal strut pressures as they relate to weight supported by said landing gear struts, said apparatus comprising:
A method of determining the weight of an aircraft, said aircraft being supported by plural pressurized landing gear struts, each of said landing gear struts experiencing friction/drag, such as friction caused by landing gear strut internal O-ring seals, said friction/drag distorting internal strut pressures as they relate to weights supported by said landing gear struts, said method comprising the steps of:
A method of determining the weight of an aircraft, said aircraft being supported by plural pressurized landing gear struts, each of said landing gear struts experiencing friction/drag, such as friction caused by landing gear strut internal O-ring seals, said friction/drag distorting internal strut pressures as they relate to weights supported by said landing gear struts, said method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.