Adjustable Lanyard Cam Assembly for Aircraft Release Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lanyard designs fail to accommodate variations in the spatial orientation between an ordinance and an aircraft-mounted bail bar, leading to issues like impulse loading, lanyard breakage, connector damage, and premature in-flight actuation, necessitating multiple lanyard lengths and cumbersome changes.
Innovation Solution
A device with an adjustment assembly featuring a housing, cam device, and elastic member allows quick and tool-free adjustment of lanyard length through a rotatable cam mechanism and sliding cover, enabling the lanyard to be locked or unlocked for precise length adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lanyard designs use fixed length, then manufacturing and storage are simplified, but the lanyard cannot adapt to different spatial orientations between ordinance and bail bar, causing impulse loading and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the lanyard length can be changed from fixed to variable. The adjustment assembly includes a cam device with an inclined surface that, when rotated, pushes the retaining mechanism to release the cable at different positions along the lanyard, enabling adaptive length adjustment to match different spatial orientations between ordinance and bail bar
Solution Approach 2:
The lanyard system is segmented into adjustable sections. The adjustment assembly divides the lanyard into a secured portion and an adjustable portion, allowing independent adjustment of cable length while maintaining the overall structural integrity and function of the complete lanyard system
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lanyards of different lengths are used to accommodate different ordinances, then adaptability is improved, but the difficulty and time required to change lanyards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment assembly serves multiple functions within a single device: it can secure the cable at multiple different positions, adjust the lanyard length on-demand, and lock the adjustment in place. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate lanyards while providing the same adaptability, significantly reducing the time and complexity of changing lanyard lengths between different ordinance configurations
3Reliability
If the lanyard is made taut with no slack, then premature in-flight actuation is prevented, but the ability to accommodate spatial orientation variations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic change of the lanyard length parameter to optimize performance for different spatial orientations. By adjusting the cable length to the precise required dimension, the system maintains appropriate tension (preventing premature actuation) while accommodating the specific spatial relationship between the ordinance receptacle and the bail bar, eliminating the need to choose between tautness and adaptability
4Adaptability or versatility
If the lanyard is made with excessive slack, then spatial orientation variations are accommodated, but impulse loading occurs and the lanyard or connector may fail
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment assembly enables precise control of the lanyard length parameter, allowing the user to set the cable to the exact length required for the specific spatial orientation. This precision prevents excessive slack that would cause impulse loading while still providing sufficient adjustment range to accommodate variations in receptacle orientation and bail bar position, thereby eliminating harmful impulse forces
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
Enables rapid and efficient adjustment of lanyard length without tools, preventing impulse loading and ensuring reliable ordinance release by accommodating varying distances between the ordinance and bail bar, reducing the need for multiple lanyard lengths.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member, such as a spring, coupled to the housing and the cam device
Implementation Method 2
The elastic member is movable between a normal state and an extended state
Implementation Method 3
The cam device includes a stop mechanism, such as a recess, for retaining the cable
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustment assembly to quickly and efficiently adjust the length of a lanyard used in conjunction with aircraft umbilical connector release mechanisms. The lanyard cable includes at least two retaining mechanisms spaced apart thereon. The adjustment assembly includes a cam portion that retains one of the retaining mechanisms when in the locked position, and allows movement of the retaining mechanisms through the adjustment assembly when in the released position. The cable length can be adjusted when in the released position.