Aircraft Jack Pad With Self-Securing Coupler and Retractable Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current jack pad systems require multiple technicians to position and hold jack pads, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to aircraft structures due to unintended vertical displacement and lateral shifting during jacking operations.
Innovation Solution
A jack pad device with movable locator pins and couplers that automatically secure the pad to the aircraft, allowing a single technician to position and maintain the pad, and preventing damage by retracting pins when misalignment occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual positioning with vertical alignment pins is used, then the jack pad can be positioned at the intended location, but multiple technicians are required to hold the pad in place
Solution Approach 1:
The jack pad device positions and secures itself to the aircraft structure through the coupling member engaging with the elongate opening, eliminating the need for technicians to manually hold the pad in place during positioning and jacking operations
Solution Approach 2:
The device separates the positioning function (vertical alignment pins) from the securing function (coupling member with elongate opening), allowing the coupling member to independently secure the pad to the aircraft structure without requiring manual intervention
2Reliability
If the aircraft undergoes unintended vertical displacement during jacking, then the vertical alignment pins may come out of locator holes and shift laterally, but this causes the pins to advance into the fuselage structure when the aircraft settles, potentially causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member with elongate opening provides a pre-established secure connection between the jack pad and aircraft structure that prevents harmful lateral shifting and pin advancement before they can occur during unintended vertical displacement
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member acts as an intermediary securing mechanism between the jack pad and aircraft structure, providing a reliable connection that prevents direct harmful interaction between the vertical alignment pins and the fuselage structure during misalignment events
3Productivity
If multiple technicians are used to position and hold jack pads, then positioning can be achieved, but the process is inefficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The jack pad device autonomously positions and secures itself to the aircraft structure through the coupling member engaging with the elongate opening, eliminating the time-consuming manual holding process and enabling single-technician operation
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member is pre-configured with the elongate opening that automatically guides and secures the jack pad to the aircraft structure during positioning, eliminating the need for subsequent manual holding actions
Data Source
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AI summary
A jack pad device adapted to transfer loads between an aircraft and a jack device for jacking the aircraft, and a method for jacking an aircraft are provided. In one non-limiting example, the jack pad device includes a jack pad body. A jack engagement portion extends from the jack pad body and is configured to engage the jack device. A first coupler is attached to the jack pad body and is configured to couple to the aircraft to hold the jack pad device to the aircraft.