The Boeing Company

Andrew Michael Robb

Jason Philip Bommer

Daniel James Kovach

Richard Neal Bostwick

Gary E Georgeson

Arun Ayyagari

Jeong-Beom Ihn

Eddie Kwon

James Patrick Irwin

Jason Scott Damazo

David William Minteer

Donald K Dabelstein

Carol Elizabeth Anway

Felix D Yuen

Richard J Nesting

John Everett Groat

William Joseph Tapia

Gregory James Sweers

Dennis Michael Lewis

Eric B Gilbert

Arlene McKeeman Brown

Stephen Lee Fahley

Wayne L Cooper

Henry Zhenhua Zhang

Steven E Klein

Jason A Fraser

Andrew F Douglass

Richard N Bostwick

Richard Neel Bostwick

Daniel J Kovach

Henry Z Zhang

Dennis M Lewis

A system includes a fuel level sensing probe inside a fuel tank and an exciter wire bundle to connect the fuel level sensing probe to a power source outside the tank. The exciter wire bundle includes an excitation wire and a grounded guard wire. The excitation wire and the grounded guard wire each include a resistive non-metallic wire. The system also includes a return signal wire bundle to connect the fuel level sensing probe to a device configured to measure a quantity of fuel within the tank. The return signal wire bundle includes a return signal wire and a grounded guard wire. The grounded guard wire of the return signal wire bundle and the grounded guard wire of the exciter wire bundle are configured to shield the return signal wire from electromagnetic interference. The return signal wire and the grounded guard wire each include a resistive non-metallic wire.

Resistive wire wiring shield to prevent electromagnetic interference

A system for power and data communications within a fuel tank and across a wall of the fuel tank includes a fuel height sensor and a sealed connector extending through a wall of a fuel tank. The system also includes an electric power connection between the fuel height sensor and the sealed connector. The system additionally includes an internal data communications connection between the fuel height sensor and the sealed connector, wherein the electric power connection comprises a resistive non-metallic wire.

Electric power and data communications within a fuel tank and across a wall of the fuel tank using resistive non-metallic wire

A system for power and data communications within a fuel tank and across a wall of the fuel tank includes an optical hybrid fuel height sensor and a sealed connector extending through a wall of the fuel tank. The system also includes an electric power connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed connector. The electric power connection includes a resistive non-metallic wire. The system also includes a sealed optical connector extending through the wall of the fuel tank. The system further includes an internal data communications connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed optical connector. The internal data communications connection includes an optical signal out connection.

Electric power and data communications within a fuel tank and across a wall of the fuel tank using resistive non-metallic wire and an optical hybrid fuel height sensor

An electromagnetic shielding system is configured to shield one or more electrical connections between one or more first electrical cables and one or more second electrical cables. The electromagnetic shielding system includes a base. A first cable coupler is frangibly coupled to the base. The first cable coupler is configured to electrically couple to the first electrical cable(s). A second cable coupler is frangibly coupled to the base. The second cable coupler is configured to electrically couple to the second electrical cable(s). A covering lid is frangibly coupled to the first cable coupler, the second cable coupler, and the base. An electrical connection chamber is defined between the base, the first cable coupler, the second cable coupler, and the covering lid. The first electrical cable(s) are configured to electrically connect to the second electrical cable(s) within the electrical connection chamber.

Electromagnetic shielding systems and methods for aircraft

A device comprises a circuit board, a Rogowski coil on the circuit board, persistent data storage on the circuit board, and a control circuit on the circuit board for collecting values representing current sensed by the coil, and storing the values in the persistent memory.

Electromagnetic effect testing

Incendivity test systems and methods are disclosed. Incendivity test systems include a non-flammable gas mixture and a test article. The non-flammable gas mixture includes a thermally reactive reagent that is formulated to thermally react to produce a reaction product. Incendivity test systems also include an energy source configured to apply an energy discharge such as a simulated lightning strike to the test article. Incendivity test systems also include a detection device configured to measure an indicator species in the non-flammable gas mixture (e.g., the thermally reactive reagent and/or the reaction product). Incendivity test methods include contacting the test article with the non-flammable gas mixture, applying the energy discharge to the test article, and then measuring the amount of the indicator species and determining the incendivity of the test article in response to the energy discharge based upon the amount of the indicator species.

Systems and methods for non-flammable indication of incendivity

An apparatus for measuring the level of fuel in a fuel tank is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an in-tank measuring system that provides an oscillating output signal generated, for example, by an oscillator such as a multivibrator, where the oscillating output signal has a frequency corresponding to the fuel level. The in-tank measuring system includes a capacitive fuel probe mounted within the fuel tank to contact the fuel. The fuel probe has a capacitance that is a function of the level of the fuel. The oscillator is configured for mounting within the fuel tank at a position in close proximity to the capacitive fuel probe. The oscillator circuit uses the capacitance of the fuel probe to generate the oscillating output signal. A communication path communicates the oscillating output signal from the clock circuit to a circuit exterior to the fuel tank.

Fuel level measurement using in-tank measuring system

A method for generating sensor data is presented. A number of wireless power signals is sent to a group of sensor units. A number of wireless data collection signals is sent to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent to the group of sensor units. Sensor data in a number of wireless response signals is received from the group of sensor units.

Wireless fuel sensor system

Incendivity test systems and methods are disclosed. Incendivity test systems include a non-flammable gas mixture and a test article in a test chamber. The non-flammable gas mixture includes a thermally reactive reagent that is formulated to thermally react to produce a reaction product. Incendivity test systems also include an energy source configured to apply an energy discharge such as a simulated lightning strike to the test article. Incendivity test systems also include a detection device configured to measure an indicator species in the non-flammable gas mixture (e.g., the thermally reactive reagent and/or the reaction product). Incendivity test methods include contacting the test article with the non-flammable gas mixture, applying the energy discharge to the test article, and then measuring the amount of the indicator species and determining the incendivity of the test article in response to the energy discharge based upon the amount of the indicator species.

A sensor device includes a capacitive probe including a first conductor and a second conductor. The sensor device also includes a radio to generate a signal based on a measurement associated with the capacitive probe and to provide the signal to the first conductor for transmission using the capacitive probe as a transmission antenna.

A method is provided that includes setting up a composite material structure under test (SUT) between a transmit coil and a receive coil. The transmit coil is driven with a RF signal over a plurality of frequencies, thereby causing the transmit coil to produce a magnetic field that by magnetic coupling through the SUT induces a voltage in the receive coil. The voltage in the receive coil is measured, and from the voltage, a measurement of attenuation of the RF signal caused by the SUT between the transmit coil and receive coil is produced. And an effective conductivity of the SUT is calculated from the measurement of attenuation.

Magnetic coupling for electrical conductivity assessment

Systems, methods, and apparatus for using aircraft bondline embedded current sensors to determine a lightning damage index are disclosed. A method of predicting lightning strike damage to at least one type of aircraft involves sensing, with at least one current sensor node embedded in at least one type of aircraft, induced current. The method further involves generating, with at least one current sensor node, at least one current signal representative of the induced current. Also, the method involves determining, electromagnetic density data associated with at least one region of at least one type of aircraft by using at least one current signal. Further, the method involves creating an index that provides a numeric representation for predicted lightning strike damage to at least one type of aircraft based on the electromagnetic density data, dimensions of at least one type of aircraft, and design features of at least one type of aircraft.

Utilization of aircraft bondline embedded current sensors in the determination of a lightning damage index

An electromagnetic barrier includes a first surface and a second surface. A first transducer is coupled to the first surface. A second transducer is coupled to the second surface such that a signal is transmittable between the first transducer and the second transducer without physically penetrating the electromagnetic barrier.

Systems and methods for communicating data through an electromagnetic barrier

A highly resistive wire includes a non-metallic wire material having a resistance of at least ten kilo-ohms per meter. In one embodiment, the wire material can be fashioned from a carbon-loaded plastic material, having an inclusion of carbon particles in a quantity that yields a resistance of no less than 10 kilo-ohms per meter. In another embodiment, the wire can include a plurality of strands of wire material where each of the strands is surrounded by a thin layer of conductive or semi-conductive material. The highly resistive wire can be used as a single strand, or as a bundle of strands, as wiring in a structure prone to transient electrical or electromagnetic events, such as static discharge or lightning strikes, that might otherwise lead to damage of the structure.

Growing community of inventors

Ravensdale, WA, United States of America

Andrew Michael Robb