Patent ID: 7347083

Claim:
A method of operating a hydraulic system in an aircraft, the hydraulic system including a reservoir, conduit operatively connected to the reservoir, and fluid, the method comprising: setting a leak detection level to a value indicative of an initial level of the fluid in the reservoir; sensing a current level of the fluid in the reservoir; comparing the current level with the leak detection level; if the current level is less than the leak detection level, isolating at least a portion of the conduit from the reservoir; if the current level is not less than the leak detection level: sensing a current temperature of the fluid; calculating a temperature expansion volume of the fluid based on the current temperature of the fluid; calculating a fault detection level based on the initial volume and the temperature expansion volume; if the fault detection level is not greater than the initial level or less than the default level, setting the leak detection level to a fault detection level; re-sensing the current level of the fluid in the reservoir; and re-comparing the current level with the leak detection level.