Acoustic Panel De-Icing Channel Fabrication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing panels for acoustic treatment with frost treatment capabilities face challenges in assembly complexity, inefficient acoustic performance due to large perforations, and difficulty in achieving a satisfactory seal between honeycomb ducts and channels, particularly on non-flat and complex surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the deformation of a layer to create grooves, flattening, and securing it to an acoustically resistive layer to form channels, with subsequent material removal to optimize thickness and simplify assembly, while ensuring a secure connection using techniques like diffusion welding to seal channels and honeycomb structure ends.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If two sheets are superimposed to form channels with grooves, then the assembly mode is simplified, but the perforations have relatively large length which impacts acoustic treatment efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly modeVSAvoidacoustic treatment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic intermediate layer with grooves from the assembly, replacing it with a single sheet that has channels formed by removing material between perforations. This eliminates the large-length perforations created by superimposing two sheets while maintaining the simplified assembly advantage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If strips of material are used to delimit channels, then acoustic treatment operation is maintained, but the installation time is relatively long especially for sealing edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacoustic treatment operationVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the channel-delimiting function and the acoustic treatment function into a single integrated structure. The walls formed by removing material between perforations serve both to delimit channels and to maintain acoustic treatment, eliminating the need for separate strips and their time-consuming sealing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If material is removed to eliminate layer thickness between channels, then assembly is simplified and acoustic performance is enhanced, but the sealing between honeycomb ducts and channels becomes more critical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplificationVSAvoidsealing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions to ensure sealing success: the channels are formed with precise dimensions and positions before honeycomb assembly, and the walls are designed with appropriate thickness and geometry to facilitate reliable sealing when the honeycomb structure is attached, thereby enabling assembly simplification without compromising sealing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies assembly, enhances acoustic treatment performance, and achieves a high-performance panel for both acoustic and frost treatment by ensuring a secure and efficient seal, even on complex surfaces, thereby improving defrosting efficiency and reducing noise pollution.

Implementation Method 1

deforming a layer (34) in order to obtain grooves (36) at one of its faces, in flattening and securing said deformed layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

securing said deformed layer to the acoustically resistive layer so as to delimit the channels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

removing material so as to eliminate at least part of the thickness of the layer in which the grooves between the channels are formed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical removal: Abrasion

Implementation Method 4

securing it to the acoustically resistive layer so as to delimit the channels, with subsequent material removal to optimize thickness and simplify assembly, while ensuring a secure connection using techniques like diffusion welding to seal channels and honeycomb structure ends

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion welding: Diffusion Welding

Implementation Method 5

a method for producing a panel for acoustic treatment capable of being attached to the level of a surface of an aircraft... integrating the function of treating frost with hot air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2537753B1Method for producing an acoustic treatment panel including the function of de-icing with hot air
Publication Date: 2015.05.06 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP2537753B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2537753B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D
  • EP2537753B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5B

AI summary

The object of the invention is a method for manufacturing a panel for acoustic treatment suitable for application to an aircraft surface, particularly to a leading edge such as an air intake of an aircraft nacelle. The panel comprises an acoustically resistive layer (24), at least one honeycomb structure (26), and a reflective layer (28), as well as channels (30) placed between the honeycomb structure (26) and the acoustically resistive structure (24). Each channel is delimited by a wall (32). The method consists of deforming a layer to create grooves on one of its faces, and then bonding and securing the deformed layer (34) to the acoustically resistive layer to define the channels (30). The method is characterized in that it involves removing material to eliminate at least a portion of the thickness of the layer (34) in which the channels are formed. furrows between the channels (30),prior to the assembly of the alveolar structure (26).,