Aircraft Gutter Profile with Dynamic Drain Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gutter profiles on aircraft cause flow turbulence due to projection into air flow, leading to damage from vibrations and air flows when their cover sections hit the fuselage.
Innovation Solution
A gutter profile with a pre-tensioned drain section that automatically adjusts its cross-section based on aircraft speed, using a flow guiding device to reduce turbulence by closing the drain section during flight and opening it on the ground, eliminating the need for tensioning elements and ensuring a harmonious load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gutter profile is fixed externally on the aircraft fuselage to drain liquids, then liquid drainage function is improved, but flow turbulence increases and causes damage from vibrations and air flows
Solution Approach 1:
The drain section is made movable relative to the fuselage, transitioning between an open position (ground operation) and a closed position (flight). This dynamic adjustment eliminates the static projection into airflow, resolving the contradiction between drainage function and flow turbulence by adapting the gutter profile configuration to operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain cross-sectional area is changed as a parameter: large when open for effective liquid drainage on ground, and reduced to minimal when closed during flight to minimize airflow disruption. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by optimizing the gutter profile for different operational states.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover section projects vertically to close the drain section in flight, then flow turbulence is reduced, but the cover section hits against the fuselage during vibrations and air flows causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a rigid cover section that projects vertically and may impact the fuselage, the invention uses a movable drain section that dynamically adjusts its position. The drain section closes by moving into the fuselage contour rather than projecting outward, eliminating the impact hazard while maintaining flow turbulence reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention anticipates vibration and airflow impacts by designing the drain section to close smoothly into the fuselage contour without rigid projection. The elastic element provides controlled movement, cushioning against potential impacts before they occur, thereby protecting structural integrity.
3Device complexity
If the drain section is made elastically deformable to eliminate tensioning elements, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter by using elastically deformable material for the drain section, allowing it to assume different shapes (open/closed positions) through elastic deformation rather than mechanical actuation. This eliminates complex tensioning elements while the one-piece injection molding process manages manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain section and connecting section are merged into a one-piece integral structure produced by injection molding. This combining of components simplifies the overall device by eliminating separate tensioning elements and assemblies, though it requires precise mold design to control elastic deformation characteristics.
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 reduces flow turbulence and minimizes damage by automatically adjusting the gutter profile's position with increasing aircraft speed, optimizing airflow and reducing fuel consumption and external noise.
Implementation Method 1
the drain section is pre-tensioned into a ground position which opens the drain cross-section
Implementation Method 2
with increasing aircraft speed and therefore with increasing inflow pressure on the flow guiding device, said flow guiding device brings about an automatic contact of the drain section against the connecting section
Data Source
AI summary
A gutter profile for draining liquids on an aircraft, comprising a connecting section for connecting the gutter profile to an outer skin of the aircraft and comprising a drain section for forming a drain cross-section of the gutter profile. The drain section is pre-tensioned into a ground position which opens the drain cross-section and has a flow guiding device for transferring the drain section into a flight position which closes the drain cross-section. An aircraft having such a gutter profile is also disclosed.