Displaceable Aircraft Cabin for Center of Gravity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The fixed cabin in aircraft restricts the ability to optimally shift the center of gravity during different flight phases, limiting maneuverability, controllability, and drag force management, especially during the critical cruise phase.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a cabin positioned within a hollow section of the aircraft, moved using a displacement unit with a drive unit and carriage, coupled via a shaft, allowing rotation and horizontal maintenance, with a clutch to restrict oscillation and thrusters for pitch and roll control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cabin is fixed to the aircraft as an integral part, then the structural stability is improved, but the ability to shift the center of gravity during different flight phases is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft structure is divided into separate components: the fixed airframe and the movable cabin. The cabin can be detached from the airframe and repositioned along its length, allowing the center of gravity to be adjusted for different flight phases while the airframe maintains its structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cabin is transformed from a static, fixed component to a dynamic, movable component. The displacement unit enables the cabin to move along the length of the aircraft, dynamically adjusting the center of gravity position according to flight requirements while maintaining structural stability through controlled movement mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the cabin is made movable to shift the center of gravity, then the maneuverability and controllability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical displacement unit is replaced with a thruster-based system. The thruster provides controlled forces to move the cabin along the length of the aircraft, simplifying the mechanical complexity while improving maneuverability and controllability through direct thrust application.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement unit is designed to perform multiple functions: moving the cabin for center of gravity adjustment, maintaining horizontal position during movement, and enabling rotation about the shaft axis. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cabin is moved along the length of the aircraft using a displacement unit, then the center of gravity positioning flexibility is improved, but the structural weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design parameters of the displacement unit are optimized to minimize weight while maintaining functionality. The thruster-based system uses controlled thrust parameters to move the cabin, and the horizontal position maintenance mechanism uses minimal intervention forces, reducing the overall weight of the displacement unit while preserving center of gravity positioning flexibility.
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 flexible positioning of the cabin to optimize the aircraft's center of gravity, enhancing maneuverability and controllability across various flight phases, particularly during cruise.
Implementation Method 1
The drive unit (131) comprises a screw, which is in contact with the carriage (132) and an actuator which rotates the screw. The rotation of the screw causes the carriage (132) to move along the length of the screw and hence along the length (140) of the aircraft (100).
Implementation Method 2
In a first embodiment, a center of gravity of the cabin is designed to be below the axial axis of the shaft so that the cabin tends to stay in the horizontal position with respect to the ground due to inertia.
Implementation Method 3
The method of the first embodiment further includes restricting an oscillation of the cabin about the axial axis of the shaft using a clutch.
Implementation Method 4
The method of the first embodiment finally includes controlling at least one of the pitch of the aircraft and a roll of the aircraft using a thruster.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
According to the present invention, a device and method for changing the pitch of an aircraft (100) is presented. The aircraft (100) comprises at least a hollow section (110). The aircraft (100) further comprises a cabin (120), wherein the cabin (120) is configured to be placed within the hollow section (110). The aircraft (100) further comprises a displacement unit (130), wherein the displacement unit (130) includes at least a drive unit (131) and a carriage (132). The drive unit (131) is configured to move the carriage (132) in at least along a length (140) of the aircraft (100). The cabin (120) is coupled to the carriage (132) using a shaft, hence when the carriage (132) is moved by the drive unit (131), the drive unit (132) moves the cabin (120) along the length (140) of the aircraft (100). The cabin (120) is further configured to rotate about an axial axis of the shaft so that the cabin (120) can stay in a horizontal position with respect to the ground independent of the change in pitch of the aircraft (100).