Aircraft Hydraulic Filter Insert Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing filtering devices for aircraft hydraulic circuits face challenges due to high tightening torque requirements, leading to cumbersome and heavy torque wrenches, stress on the hydraulic block threads, and risk of fatigue degradation, especially with materials like aluminum or titanium.
Innovation Solution
A filtering device design that incorporates an insert screwed into the hydraulic block, which is not intended for frequent disassembly, and a tank with a pin and belt mechanism to secure the filter cartridge, allowing for reduced torque requirements and preventing fatigue cycling of the threads, using stainless steel for the insert to enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tank is directly screwed onto the hydraulic block with high tightening torque, then mechanical strength and thread engagement are ensured, but the torque wrench becomes heavy and difficult to handle, and the thread suffers from fatigue degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into two parts: a permanent insert screwed into the hydraulic block and a removable tank screwed onto the insert. This segmentation allows the high tightening torque to be applied only once to the insert during installation, while the tank can be removed and reinstalled without subjecting the hydraulic block thread to repeated high-stress cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert acts as an intermediary element between the hydraulic block and the tank. It absorbs the high tightening torque during initial installation and serves as a durable interface for repeated tank connections, protecting the hydraulic block thread from fatigue degradation.
2Strength
If high tightening torque is applied to ensure mechanical strength, then thread engagement is secure, but the hydraulic block thread deteriorates quickly due to fatigue cycling from frequent screwing and unscrewing
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into a permanent insert and a removable tank. The insert receives the high tightening torque once during installation and remains fixed, while the tank is screwed onto the insert's external thread for removal and reinstallation, isolating the hydraulic block thread from fatigue cycling.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is pre-installed and tightly secured into the hydraulic block before the tank is attached. This preliminary action ensures that the high-strength thread engagement is established once, and subsequent tank operations do not subject the hydraulic block thread to repeated stress cycles.
3Quantity of substance
If the tank is made large to accommodate the filter cartridge, then filtering capacity increases, but the tightening torque increases proportionally, making the torque wrench heavier and more difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a permanently installed insert and a removable tank. This allows the tank to be designed for optimal filtering capacity without being constrained by the need for frequent high-torque installations, as the insert remains fixed and the tank can be easily attached and detached.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert serves as an intermediary that provides a robust mounting base for the tank. It absorbs the high tightening torque during initial installation, enabling the tank to be made larger for increased filtering capacity without proportionally increasing the difficulty of handling the torque wrench during routine operations.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The device has a hydraulic block (1) made of titanium and receiving a removable filter (2), where the filter comprises a tank (3) for receiving a filtering cartridge (4). An insert (21) is screwed in an internal thread (20) of the block by tightening. The insert has an internal thread (22), in which the tank is screwed. A rotation stopping unit is formed of a shoulder (23) and a toothed tab (32) for stopping rotation of the tank, once the tank is screwed in the insert. The insert is made of stainless steel.