Aircraft Fuel Line Segment Double-Walled Structure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel line systems in aircraft face challenges with increased complexity and safety requirements, particularly in connecting multiple lines, which demands improved properties for damage resistance and leakage prevention while maintaining robustness under high internal pressures and varying ambient conditions.
Innovation Solution
A double-walled fuel line segment with a continuous cavity and adapter openings, featuring a robust yet lightweight design, including an inner and outer wall structure with chamfered sections and rib structures for enhanced strength and fuel flow capabilities, along with adapter flanges and rib structures for leakage detection and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-walled fuel line design is used, then the device complexity is low, but the damage resistance and leakage prevention capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a double-walled fuel line structure where an inner wall and an outer wall are nested concentrically. The inner wall forms the continuous cavity for fuel flow, while the outer wall encloses the inner wall at a uniform distance, creating an intermediate cavity between them. This nested configuration enhances damage resistance and leakage prevention capabilities while maintaining a compact design.
2Strength
If wall thickness is increased to withstand high internal pressures, then the strength is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested double-walled structure allows the fuel line to withstand high internal pressures (at least 1,200 kg/min, particularly 1,800 kg/min) while maintaining a lightweight design. The concentric arrangement of inner and outer walls distributes stress effectively, providing the necessary strength without requiring excessive wall thickness that would increase weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A line segment of a fuel line in an aircraft for connecting at least three lines is provided. In order to provide fuel channeling in an aircraft, having, for example, better damage or leakage features, a line segment is provided that has a wall structure forming a continuous cavity. The wall structure has at least three adapter openings for connecting the continuous cavity with respectively one line. The wall structure is designed double walled between the adapter openings in such a way that an intermediate cavity is formed, which encases the continuous cavity.