Inflatable Air Intake Protection Envelope for Trolley Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air intakes for aircraft engines, when moved on trolleys, are prone to collisions with other air intakes or surrounding elements, leading to damage and potential safety hazards for operators.

Innovation Solution

An inflatable protection item in the form of a closed envelope, typically a sausage or torus of flexible material, is placed around the widest part of the air intake on the trolley, providing cushioning during movement and collisions, with attachment features and an inflation valve for easy installation and pressure control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the air intake is moved on a trolley for transportation and storage, then the ease of operation and productivity are improved, but the air intake becomes vulnerable to collisions with other air intakes or surrounding elements, leading to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of moving air intakeVSAvoidcollision damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An inflatable protective envelope is placed around the air intake before it is mounted on the trolley. The envelope is inflated to create a cushioning layer that absorbs collision forces, preventing damage to the air intake during transportation and storage operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable envelope acts as an intermediary protective layer between the air intake and external elements such as other air intakes or barriers. This mediator absorbs the impact energy during collisions, protecting the air intake from direct contact and damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the air intake has a large lateral size for engine compatibility, then the adaptability is improved, but the risk of collision with surrounding elements during trolley movement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with engineVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable envelope provides beforehand cushioning for the large-lateral-size air intake, allowing it to maintain its engine-compatible dimensions while being protected from collisions during trolley movement through the cushioning effect of the inflated envelope.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective structure is added around the air intake, then the protection from collision is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from collisionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible inflatable envelope made of thin material is used instead of a rigid protective structure. This flexible shell can be inflated to provide protection and deflated when not needed, reducing device complexity and space requirements compared to permanent rigid protective structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protective envelope transitions from a deflated state (low profile, minimal space) to an inflated state (protective barrier). This dynamic transformation allows the protection system to adapt to different operational phases, providing protection only when the air intake is being moved on the trolley.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 system effectively protects air intakes from collisions, enhancing safety by preventing damage and reducing the risk of operator-air intake collisions during trolley movement.

Implementation Method 1

an inflatable protection item in the form of a closed envelope which is placed around the widest part of the air intake

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatics: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 2

An inflatable protection item in the form of a closed envelope which is placed around the widest part of the air intake

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11377224B2System comprising an air intake of an aircraft engine and an inflatable protection item for said air intake

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

A system comprising a trolley which comprises a platform and wheels attached beneath the platform, an air intake of an aircraft engine, where the air intake rests on the platform so as to have its narrowest part at the top and its widest part at the bottom, and an inflatable protection item in the form of a closed envelope which is placed around the widest part of the air intake. A system of this kind makes it possible to protect the air intake from collisions that it might experience during movement of the trolley, and to increase safety by avoiding collisions between operators and the air intake.