Aircraft Hydraulic Filter Pin Retraction Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft hydraulic circuit filtering devices face issues where the tank is mounted without a cartridge and the cartridge remains attached to the hydraulic block due to seal resistance, leading to installation and removal challenges.
Innovation Solution
A filtering device with a tank equipped internally with an elastically deformable pin featuring a polarizer and finger mechanism that retracts when a cartridge is placed, preventing improper installation and ensuring the cartridge remains attached during disassembly, utilizing a spring steel pin with a belt engaged in an annular groove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tank is mounted on the hydraulic block without a cartridge, then the installation process is simplified, but the filter device becomes unreliable and may cause operational failures
Solution Approach 1:
The polarizer protrudes from the tank to prevent mounting on the hydraulic block when no cartridge is present. This preliminary preventive action blocks the incorrect operation before it can occur, ensuring that the tank cannot be mounted without a properly inserted cartridge, thus maintaining reliability while guiding correct installation procedures
2Reliability
If the cartridge remains attached to the hydraulic block due to seal resistance, then the seal maintains its sealing function, but the cartridge cannot be properly removed from the tank during disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The finger of the pin is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adapt during assembly and disassembly. During normal operation, the finger maintains engagement with the cartridge to prevent accidental removal. During deliberate disassembly, the finger can be pressed to deform elastically, releasing the cartridge from the tank while the seal remains engaged with the hydraulic block, thus maintaining sealing function while enabling proper removal
3Device complexity
If a simple elastic pin is used to control the polarizer and retain the cartridge, then the device complexity is reduced, but the mechanism must simultaneously perform multiple functions
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic pin is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it controls the polarizer's protrusion to prevent improper installation, retains the cartridge in the tank during operation through the finger engagement, and can be actuated to release the cartridge during disassembly. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components needed in the filter device while maintaining all necessary control and retention functions
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 prevents the tank from being screwed onto the hydraulic block without a cartridge and ensures the cartridge is retained during filter disassembly, addressing the issues of incorrect installation and removal, while maintaining mechanical strength and preventing fluid spillage.
Implementation Method 1
a pin of elastically deformable material comprising a polarizer which extends towards the opening of the tank and which comprises a curved end which protrudes from one edge of the tank
Implementation Method 2
when a cartridge is placed in the tank, the finger is pushed back by the cartridge and forces the polarizer to retract
Implementation Method 3
the pin comprises a belt intended to be elastically engaged in an inner annular groove of the tank
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The device has a filter (2) comprising a tank (3) equipped with an elastically deformable stirrup. The stirrup has a guide pin (8) extended to a tank opening. A curved end (9) of the pin crosses an edge of the tank. A finger (10) of the stirrup is extended to a base of the tank such that the finger is pushed by a filtering cartridge (4) and provokes retraction of the pin, when the cartridge is placed in the tank. The pin is retracted such that the end does not radially pass over the tank. The cartridge has a cove (14) cooperating with a finger end to prevent the retraction of the cartridge.