One-Piece Sheet Metal Mounting for Aeronautical Apparatuses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aeronautical equipment supports made from bent sheet metal require welding for reinforcement, increasing manufacturing time and cost, and existing solutions with integrated ribs complicate the bending process.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece support formed from a folded sheet metal plate with two ribs extending between a flange and a console, connected by elbow connectors in oblique directions, eliminating the need for welding and simplifying manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If welded ribs are used to reinforce the support, then the structural strength and solidity are improved, but the manufacturing time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rib reinforcement elements with the main support body by forming both from a single sheet metal blank through bending operations. The ribs are integrated as continuous portions of the same blank, eliminating the need for separate welding operations to attach reinforcement ribs to the support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs are pre-formed as integral parts of the blank before final assembly. The blank is designed with rib portions that are bent and positioned in advance, allowing the ribs to be automatically positioned and connected to the flange and console through the folding process rather than requiring post-assembly welding operations.
2Strength
If welded ribs are used to reinforce the support, then the structural strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components (flange, ribs, console) into a single integrated part made from one blank. This eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly operations for reinforcement ribs, reducing labor costs, material waste, and manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blank itself provides the reinforcement function through its own geometry. The rib portions of the blank automatically reinforce the support structure through their folded configuration, eliminating the need for additional reinforcement components or welding operations to achieve structural strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If ribs are bent to have a bent section while remaining continuously connected to flat flange and console, then the support becomes one-piece without welding, but the manufacturing complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blank into distinct functional zones (flange zone, rib zones, console zone) with clear folding lines. Each zone is designed to fold independently into its final three-dimensional position, simplifying the bending process by breaking down the complex transformation into a sequence of manageable folding operations rather than requiring complex simultaneous bends.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multi-axis folding to transform a two-dimensional blank into a three-dimensional structure. The ribs are formed by folding the blank along lines that create oblique angles relative to the main planes of the flange and console, allowing the ribs to connect these components in three-dimensional space without requiring complex bent sections or welding operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a mounting (13) for auxiliary apparatuses such as cables or pipes, consisting of a single portion of sheet metal that is cut then folded to form bent couplings (19) between the bracket (18), supporting means (10) for attaching the apparatuses, a flange (14) for attachment to the apparatus, and two intermediate ribs (16, 17). The contour, which is either closed or substantially that of the mounting, and the parallel or trapezoidally convergent ribs, ensure proper stress transmission and proper stress distribution: The mounting is sturdy, even if manufactured from a somewhat thin piece of sheet metal. The invention can be used in aeronautics for supporting, for example, the means for supplying electricity and fluid to the engines.