Aircraft Coupling Assembly for Easier Hole Alignment and Strong Locking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft component coupling methods require high precision alignment of through holes, which is difficult to achieve when holes are formed beforehand, leading to increased time, effort, and production costs.

Innovation Solution

The aircraft component coupling assembly includes a first plate structure with a serrated outer surface and a second plate structure with smaller insertion holes, coupled by a shaft structure with a contact structure and a pressing structure, allowing for rough alignment and precise adjustment, reducing the need for precise initial alignment and simplifying the coupling process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If through holes are formed beforehand in frame and beam, then production time is reduced, but alignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction timeVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The through hole is divided into two segments: a first through hole in the frame and a second through hole in the beam. The first through hole has a larger diameter than the second through hole, allowing the frame to be positioned on the beam with rough alignment. The shaft structure is inserted through both holes in sequence, with the larger first hole facilitating easier insertion and the smaller second hole providing precise positioning when the shaft engages with the beam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of forming precise through holes in both components and then aligning them, the invention inverts the approach by making the first through hole larger than the second through hole. This allows the components to be assembled in reverse order of precision requirements: the frame with the larger hole is positioned first on the beam, and then the shaft is inserted to achieve final precise alignment through the smaller second hole.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If high precision alignment is required, then coupling stability is improved, but time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling stabilityVSAvoidcoupling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment process is segmented into two stages: rough alignment facilitated by the larger first through hole, and precise alignment achieved when the shaft structure engages with the smaller second through hole in the beam. This segmentation allows coupling stability to be achieved without requiring high precision in the initial positioning of the frame and beam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft structure automatically achieves precise alignment when inserted through the two differently sized holes. The smaller second through hole in the beam acts as a self-aligning feature that guides the shaft into the correct position, eliminating the need for external alignment tools or procedures while ensuring coupling stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If through holes are formed beforehand, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but alignment difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidalignment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hole structure is segmented into two different sizes: the first through hole in the frame has a larger diameter for easier manufacturing and positioning, while the second through hole in the beam has a smaller diameter for precise alignment. This segmentation allows both manufacturing simplicity and alignment ease to be achieved through the differential design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different local qualities are applied to the two through holes: the first through hole has a larger diameter providing ease of manufacture and positioning, while the second through hole has a smaller diameter providing precise alignment control. This local differentiation of hole dimensions optimizes both manufacturing and assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12305690B2Aircraft component coupling assembly and coupler for aircraft components

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KK

AI summary

An aircraft component coupling assembly includes first and second plate structures placed and a coupler coupling the first and second plate structures. The first plate structure includes a first insertion hole and a first serration located on a first outer surface of the first plate structure and surrounding the first insertion hole. The second plate structure includes a second insertion hole differing in inner diameter from the first insertion hole. The coupler includes: a contact structure including a second serration and a third insertion hole; a shaft structure being fixedly engaged with one of a second outer surface the second plate structure and a third outer surface of the contact structure; and a pressing structure engaged with the shaft structure and pressing an other of the second outer surface of the second plate structure and the third outer surface of the contact structure.