Aircraft Interior Composite Component with Reinforced Bushings
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft interior components face challenges in balancing strength, lightweightness, and resistance to deformation under high g-forces and vibrations, with metals being too dense and thermoplastics being weak and prone to deformation.
Innovation Solution
A composite component featuring bushings, a fibrous material, and a thermoplastic that encases them, where the bushings can be made of a stiffer material than the thermoplastic to enhance strength and resistance to deformation, and the fibrous material is aligned to reinforce the component along the direction of maximum stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal components are used for aircraft interiors, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a thermoplastic matrix material combined with fibrous reinforcement materials (such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, or aramid fibers). This composite construction achieves high strength-to-weight ratio by combining the structural support capability of fibers with the lightweight matrix material, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and weight in aircraft interior components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates discrete reinforcement elements (fibers, fabrics, or mats) strategically placed within the thermoplastic matrix at specific locations where strength is most needed. This localized reinforcement approach optimizes the strength-weight ratio by concentrating material properties where required rather than uniformly throughout the entire component.
2Weight of moving object
If thermoplastic components are used for aircraft interiors, then weight is reduced, but strength and resistance to deformation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite system where a thermoplastic matrix material is reinforced with fibrous materials (carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, or natural fibers). The thermoplastic provides lightweight properties while the fibrous reinforcement compensates for the lower strength, achieving both weight reduction and adequate strength for aircraft interior applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and mechanical parameters of the thermoplastic material by incorporating fibrous reinforcements, thereby changing the composite's overall properties. The fiber content, orientation, and distribution are adjusted to achieve the desired strength characteristics while maintaining the lightweight advantage of thermoplastics.
3Weight of moving object
If thermoplastic components are used for aircraft interiors, then weight is reduced, but resistance to deformation over time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a thermoplastic matrix with fibrous reinforcement materials to create a composite structure that resists deformation over time. The fibrous network embedded in the thermoplastic matrix provides structural stability and prevents creep and elongation, addressing the deformation issue while maintaining the weight advantage of thermoplastics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent strategically places fibrous reinforcement materials within the thermoplastic component at locations subject to repeated loading or potential deformation. This localized reinforcement prevents deformation in critical areas while maintaining the overall lightweight construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A component for a structure of an aircraft interior, wherein at least a portion of the component extends between a first point and a second point, defining a longitudinal axis of the component. The component includes at least one bushing. The at least one bushing is located at the first point and/or the second point. The component further includes a fibrous material that extends between the first point and the second point. The component further includes a thermoplastic that at least partially encases the at least one bushing and the fibrous material.