Adjustable-Angle Aircraft Windshield Assembly for Visibility and Drag Trade-Off
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft windshields face a trade-off between visibility and aerodynamic drag, with higher angles improving visibility but increasing drag, and lower angles reducing drag but distorting visibility, making it challenging to optimize during different flight modes like taxiing, take-off, and cruising.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable-angle windshield assembly with a rotatable windshield and a seal that can be configured between contracted and expanded states to change the frame's angle relative to the support panel, improving visibility during critical phases and reducing drag during cruising.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If windshield angle is higher, then visibility through the windshield is less distorted, but increased drag is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield assembly is made dynamically adjustable through a hinge mechanism that allows the windshield to rotate between multiple angular positions. This enables the windshield angle to be changed from a fixed configuration to a variable one, allowing optimization between visibility and drag based on flight conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The windshield angle parameter is made variable rather than fixed. The assembly can be adjusted to different angles (e.g., higher angle for reduced distortion during taxiing/takeoff, lower angle for reduced drag during cruising), allowing the system to adapt to different operational requirements
2Object-generated harmful factors
If windshield angle is lower, then drag is decreased, but visibility is more distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the windshield angle, allowing the pilot to select between lower angles for drag reduction during cruising and higher angles for improved visibility during critical phases
Solution Approach 2:
The windshield angle parameter can be changed to different values depending on flight phase, with lower angles selected for cruising to reduce drag and higher angles selected for taxiing/takeoff to improve visibility
3Device complexity
If windshield angle is fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but performance optimization across different flight modes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The addition of a hinge mechanism transforms the windshield assembly from a static fixed-angle structure to a dynamic adjustable structure, enabling performance optimization across different flight modes while adding controlled complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable windshield assembly serves multiple functions: it provides improved visibility during taxiing and takeoff, reduces drag during cruising, and maintains structural integrity across all positions. The single assembly design with hinge mechanism replaces what would otherwise require multiple fixed-angle windshields
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
The adjustable-angle windshield assembly enhances visibility during taxiing, take-off, and landing while minimizing drag during cruising, optimizing performance across various flight modes.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge, pivotally couples the frame-inboard-leg top portion to the support panel and having a pivot axis
Implementation Method 2
a seal, located in the channel between the channel base leg and the frame inboard leg
Data Source
AI summary
A windshield assembly comprises a support panel, a windshield, and a frame, surrounding the windshield. The frame comprises a frame inboard leg, which is in contact with an inboard windshield surface. A hinge pivotally couples a frame-inboard-leg top portion of the frame inboard leg to the support panel and has a pivot axis. A channel is provided in the support panel. At least a portion of the frame-inboard-leg bottom portion, at least a portion of the frame-inboard-leg first lateral portion, and at least a portion of the frame-inboard-leg second lateral portion are located in the channel. The channel comprises a channel base leg. A seal is located in the channel between the channel base leg and the frame inboard leg.