Aircraft Wing Pylon Fastening via Eccentric Rings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft assemblies require spigots to absorb shear forces in the XY plane, which complicates the assembly process and increases the need for counter-drilling, making it inefficient and prone to pairing tasks during final assembly.

Innovation Solution

The proposed assembly uses a mast with an upper spar and side scoops, along with a wing having longitudinal spars and fittings, employing eccentric rings and a rotation stop system to absorb shear forces without spigots, utilizing screws with smooth and threaded zones, and nuts to securely fasten the components, reducing tolerance gaps and eliminating the need for spigots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If spigots are installed to absorb shear forces in the XY plane, then the structural stability is improved, but the assembly complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase due to the need for counter-drilling and pairing tasks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the spigots from the assembly system by transferring the shear force absorption function to the tension bolts. The tension bolts are designed with sufficient surface area and positioning to directly absorb shear forces in the XY plane, making the separate spigot components unnecessary and simplifying the overall assembly structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tension bolts are given multiple functions: they not only absorb vertical forces (Z direction) but also absorb shear forces in the XY plane. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate spigot components, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining structural stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If spigots are used to ensure force absorption, then the reliability of force transmission is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to tolerance gaps and alignment needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce transmission reliabilityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the force absorption functions of both spigots and tension bolts into a single integrated system. The tension bolts are positioned and dimensioned to simultaneously handle vertical and shear forces, eliminating the need for separate spigot components and their associated alignment requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the critical parameters by increasing the surface area of the tension bolts and optimizing their positioning. This allows the bolts to directly absorb shear forces without requiring the tight tolerance gaps and precise alignment that would be necessary if separate spigot components were used

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If tension bolts with large clearance are used to accommodate tolerance gaps, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the force absorption capacity in the XY plane is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidshear force absorption capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the tension bolts with optimized surface area and positioning before final assembly. This preliminary design ensures that the bolts are capable of absorbing shear forces from the outset, eliminating the need for large clearance accommodations and subsequent counter-drilling operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3984888B1Assembly for an aircraft, said assembly comprising a pylon and a wing
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembly (200) comprising a mast (106) with an upper spar (202) and four side blades (212a), a wing with a skin (210), longitudinal spars (206a-b) and fittings (208), and for each side blade (212a), two fastening assemblies (250), wherein the skin (210) and the fitting (208) each have a first bore (251) and wherein the upper spar (202) and the side blade (212a) each have a second bore (253), wherein each fastening assembly (250) has a screw (254) passing through the first and second bores (251, 253), a nut (255), two eccentric rings (256, 258), threaded one on the other and on the screw (254), and a rotation stop system (260) for the eccentric rings (256, 258).The assembly makes it possible to do without the use of spigots while ensuring the absorption of shear forces contained in the XY plane by the bolts due to the reduced tolerances between the different bores (251,253), the external and internal surfaces of the eccentric rings (256, 258) and the smooth areas of the screws (254).