Aircraft Equipment Enclosure Drying for Water Ingress Tolerance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft equipment units face challenges in preventing water ingress due to environmental temperature, moisture, and pressure variations, with fully vented designs prone to water accumulation and sealed designs experiencing sealing deterioration over time.
Innovation Solution
An equipment unit design for aircraft incorporating an enclosure with inflow and outflow ports connected to a supply duct for heated air, which removes moisture by sweeping it through the enclosure, allowing for tolerant water ingress and maintaining lubricant temperature for predictable performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fully vented design is used, then air exchange and drainage are possible, but water accumulation occurs inside the equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by using a drying airflow that cyclically removes moisture from the equipment interior. The airflow system periodically activates to sweep moisture from critical areas, particularly around movable mechanical elements, preventing water accumulation while maintaining the vented design's air exchange capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by introducing a controlled drying airflow through the equipment enclosure. This airflow uses pneumatic force to actively remove moisture and water vapor from the interior, particularly from areas around mechanical elements, counteracting the water accumulation problem inherent in vented designs
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealed design is used, then protection against water ingress is improved, but sealing function deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static sealed design to a dynamic system with active moisture management. The drying airflow system dynamically responds to moisture conditions inside the equipment, continuously removing water vapor and preventing condensation that would degrade seals over time, thereby maintaining sealing effectiveness throughout the equipment's operational life
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively removing moisture from the equipment interior before it can accumulate and compromise the sealing function. The drying airflow system continuously prevents moisture buildup around seals and gaskets, preventing rather than reacting to seal deterioration
3Object-affected harmful factors
If drain channels are added to vented units, then moisture exit is improved, but drain channels become blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive gravitational drainage with active pneumatic moisture removal. The drying airflow system uses pneumatic forces to lift and transport moisture and water vapor away from critical areas, eliminating the need for drain channels that are prone to blocking while achieving more reliable moisture removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical drain channel system with a pneumatic airflow system. Instead of relying on gravity-driven liquid flow through channels that can block, the system uses controlled airflow to evaporate and transport moisture, replacing a mechanical drainage infrastructure with a pneumatic field-based solution
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 design effectively prevents water accumulation and maintains lubricant performance by using heated air to remove moisture, requiring minimal modifications and reducing the need for sophisticated seals, thus enhancing the robustness against water ingress.
Implementation Method 1
Air at an elevated temperature enters the enclosure via the inflow port. The air flows into the enclosure and exemplarily sweeps over the at least one mechanical component. Moisture that is present in the enclosure will be entrained into this air flow and exits the outflow port.
Implementation Method 2
Moisture that is present in the enclosure will be entrained into this air flow and exits the outflow port.
Implementation Method 3
the lubricant is continuously heated, depending on the temperature of the heated air. It is to be pointed out that the air supply duct does not require a large cross-sectional surface, as only a rather small airflow is required for drying the enclosure.
Data Source
AI summary
An equipment unit for installation in an aircraft includes an enclosure, in which at least one movable mechanical element is arranged, a supply duct, and a non-return valve, wherein the enclosure includes an inflow port and an outflow port, wherein the supply duct is connected to the inflow port, wherein the non-return valve is connected to the outflow port, wherein the supply duct is connectable to a source of heated air providable in the respective aircraft, and wherein the enclosure is designed that air supplied through the supply duct enters the enclosure through the inflow port, picks up moisture from inside the enclosure and exits through the outflow port.