Color-Coded Aircraft Fasteners for Accurate Assembly Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The aviation industry faces challenges in ensuring the correct use of fasteners due to their similar appearances, leading to potential misapplication and compromising the structural integrity and safety of aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A fastening system where multiple groups of fasteners, each with specific structural characteristics and identical within their group, are differentiated by a distinct color represented by CIE Lab coordinates (L, a, b), ensuring easy identification and correct usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional inspection methods (visual inspection or manual measurement) are used to verify correct fastener use, then inspection accuracy can be maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the sheer number of fasteners and subtle differences between them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color coding to fasteners where different colors represent different fastener types, materials, or specifications. This allows inspectors to quickly identify and verify the correct fastener without time-consuming manual measurements, while maintaining accuracy through the visual distinction provided by color markers.
2Ease of manufacture
If fasteners are made with similar appearances to meet aesthetic or standardization requirements, then manufacturing consistency is improved, but it becomes difficult to distinguish between different fastener types, leading to potential misapplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color coding to specific local features of fasteners (such as the head, shaft, or tip) while maintaining the overall standardized appearance and dimensions. This allows different fastener types to be visually distinguished through localized color markers without compromising manufacturing consistency or requiring changes to the fundamental fastener design and production processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fastening system includes a plurality of groups of fasteners. Each group includes a plurality of identical fasteners. Each fastener includes a fastener body and a coating applied to at least a portion of the fastener body. The coating includes a binder and a colorant. Each group of fasteners has a specific structural characteristic that differs between the groups, and each group of fasteners has a distinct color represented by a set of CIE Lab coordinates (L, a, b).