Aircraft Display Panel Conforming via Flexible Resin Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching display panels to aircraft surfaces often result in stress, wrinkling, and reduced lifespan due to mismatched curvatures, requiring frequent maintenance and reattachment.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a resin barrier and caul plate to conform a display panel to the aircraft surface, with a force applied to match the surface curvature, and injecting resin to cure and secure the panel in place, reducing stress and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid display panel is attached to a curved aircraft surface using bonding material, then the display panel can be secured in place, but stresses are generated that reduce the lifespan of the display panel and aircraft structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible substrate for the display panel that can conform to the curved aircraft surface without generating excessive stresses. The flexible substrate allows the display panel to adapt to the surface curvature while maintaining structural integrity, thereby extending lifespan and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the display panel by using a flexible substrate with appropriate mechanical properties that match the aircraft surface. This parameter change allows the panel to deform and conform to the curved surface, reducing stress concentrations and improving both reliability and lifespan.
2Manufacturing precision
If a rigid tool applies pressure to conform the display panel to the curved surface, then the desired curvature is achieved, but stresses are generated that may alter aircraft performance and require maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate inherently allows the display panel to conform to the curved surface without requiring rigid tools to apply excessive pressure. The flexibility of the substrate enables gentle conforming that achieves the desired curvature while minimizing harmful stresses that could degrade aircraft performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the display panel with a curved geometry that matches the aircraft surface curvature. This curvature design allows the panel to naturally conform to the surface without requiring high-pressure rigid tools, thereby achieving manufacturing precision while avoiding stress-induced performance degradation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the display panel curvature varies from the aircraft surface curvature, then installation is simpler, but frequent maintenance and reattachment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate enables the display panel to be easily conformed to the aircraft surface during installation without requiring complex rigid tools or procedures. This flexibility simplifies the manufacturing and installation process while ensuring a precise fit that reduces maintenance frequency and improves ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the display panel by using a flexible substrate that can be easily adjusted and conformed during installation. This parameter change simplifies the installation process while ensuring a precise curvature match that reduces the need for frequent maintenance and reattachment.
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 solution effectively reduces stress and wrinkling, extends the lifespan of display panels, and minimizes maintenance by securely attaching them to the aircraft surface while maintaining aerodynamic performance.
Implementation Method 1
cures the resin in the cavity while the force is applied to form a cured resin
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for conforming a display panel to a surface of an aircraft structure. The method positions the display panel within a resin barrier that is located on the surface such that a cavity is formed, places a film and the display panel together, and applies a force on the display panel that causes the display panel to conform to the surface of the aircraft structure. The display panel has a shape that changes to a first shape to match a second shape of the surface of the aircraft structure. The method also injects a resin into the cavity while the force is applied, and cures the resin in the cavity while the force is applied to form a cured resin. The cured resin holds the display panel in the first shape and attaches the display panel to the surface of the aircraft structure.