Aircraft Peripheral Assembly Breakaway Mechanism for Collision Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft components that protrude or extend from the surface are prone to catastrophic failure upon collision, requiring substantial repair resources and design constraints for collision avoidance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a breakaway mechanism that allows peripheral assemblies, such as sensor probes, to detach from the aircraft upon receiving a threshold force, maintaining the integrity of the main structure and enabling controlled operation and easy replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If peripheral assemblies are rigidly connected to the aircraft, then structural strength is improved, but collision damage resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft structure is divided into a main body and detachable peripheral assemblies. The peripheral assemblies (sensors, antennas, etc.) are connected through breakaway mechanisms that allow them to separate upon collision, preventing damage propagation to the main aircraft structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vulnerable peripheral components are extracted as separate, detachable assemblies from the main aircraft structure. These assemblies can be removed or broken away independently, isolating them from the critical aircraft systems and preventing catastrophic failure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If peripheral assemblies are made detachable, then collision damage resistance is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic breakaway connection. The connecting features are designed to maintain a secure connection during normal operation but automatically release when subjected to collision forces exceeding a predetermined threshold.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection strength parameter is designed to change based on applied force. During normal operation, the connection maintains high strength for reliable attachment. Upon collision, the connection force drops to zero as the breakaway mechanism activates, allowing separation.
3Ease of repair
If breakaway mechanisms are incorporated, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral assemblies with breakaway mechanisms are designed as replaceable units. Rather than repairing complex mechanisms, the entire peripheral assembly can be quickly removed and replaced with a new one, simplifying the repair process and reducing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for the controlled discarding of peripheral assemblies that have experienced collision damage. The breakaway mechanism ensures clean separation, and the detached assemblies can be recovered, inspected, and replaced as needed, improving operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is an aircraft. The aircraft includes a peripheral assembly, such as a sensor probe. The aircraft further includes a release assembly connecting the peripheral assembly to a portion of the aircraft. The release assembly is configured to separate the peripheral assembly and the portion upon receipt of a threshold force. The release assembly may be configured to allow for the quick release, such as via a snap-fit connection, between the peripheral assembly and the portion of the aircraft.