Aircraft Fuselage Rail System for Guided Assembly Aid Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of aircraft interior components is time-consuming due to the need for individual connection and securing of components, pipelines, and electrical lines to the aircraft structure, with complex and poorly accessible lines requiring extensive testing.
Innovation Solution
A rail system with complementary securing and guide devices allows for the introduction of assembly aids, such as transport devices, into the aircraft fuselage at a defined spacing, enabling guided displacement and simplifying the assembly process by providing a structured pathway for components and aids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If components are individually connected and secured to the aircraft structure, then each component can be precisely positioned and secured, but the assembly process becomes very time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the assembly process into two stages: pre-assembly of components outside the aircraft, and rapid installation using a rail system inside the aircraft. This segmentation allows precise positioning during pre-assembly while enabling fast installation during final assembly, resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and assembly speed.
Solution Approach 2:
Components are pre-assembled and tested outside the aircraft before being installed using the rail system. This preliminary action allows complex positioning and testing to be done in advance, so that during final installation only simple coupling is required, thus maintaining precision while improving assembly speed.
2Reliability
If pipelines and electrical lines are individually secured to the aircraft structure, then each line can be properly installed, but the installation and testing process becomes complex and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges pipelines and electrical lines into integrated bundles or trays that are installed together as single units using the rail system. This combining reduces installation complexity while maintaining reliability, as all lines are secured simultaneously rather than individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail system acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates the installation of pipelines and electrical lines. By providing a standardized coupling mechanism, the rail system simplifies the installation process while ensuring proper positioning and secure attachment, thus reducing complexity without compromising reliability.
3Reliability
If lines and interfaces are checked in the assembled state, then the proper functioning can be verified, but the testing becomes complex due to poor accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the testing process into pre-testing of components outside the aircraft and final testing after assembly. Critical functionality tests are performed on pipelines and electrical lines before installation, when they are easily accessible. This allows comprehensive verification without the difficulty of accessing tightly packed installed components.
Solution Approach 2:
Testing of pipelines for leaks and electrical lines for proper functioning is performed as a preliminary action during pre-assembly outside the aircraft. This preliminary testing ensures functionality is verified when components are easily accessible, eliminating the need for complex testing procedures after installation.
4Ease of operation
If assembly aids are introduced into the aircraft fuselage, then components can be assembled inside the aircraft, but the aids require precise positioning at defined spacing from the aircraft structure
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system serves as an intermediary structure that is coupled to the aircraft structure and provides reference surfaces for positioning assembly aids. This intermediary rail system translates the positioning requirement from the aircraft structure to the assembly aid, enabling easy operation while maintaining precise positioning through the standardized coupling interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A rail system for use when assembling a component in an aircraft comprises a first rail element having a securing device which is designed to be complementary to a first securing device provided in the region of a floor of an aircraft fuselage element and is adapted to cooperate with the first securing device in order to releasably secure the first rail element in the region of the floor of the aircraft fuselage element, wherein a section of the first rail element projects beyond an edge of the floor of the aircraft fuselage element in the connected state of the first rail element and the aircraft fuselage element. The first rail element furthermore comprises a guide device, which is designed to be complementary to a first guide device provided on an assembly aid, which is to be introduced into the aircraft fuselage element, and is adapted to cooperate with the first guide device to enable a guided displacement of the assembly aid to be introduced into the aircraft fuselage element relative to the rail system. The rail system furthermore comprises a second rail element having a securing device which is designed to be complementary to a second securing device provided in the region of the floor of the aircraft fuselage element and is adapted to cooperate with the second securing device in order to releasably secure the second rail element in the region of the floor of the aircraft fuselage element, wherein a section of the second rail element projects beyond an edge of the floor of the aircraft fuselage element in the connected state of the second rail element and the aircraft fuselage element. The second rail element furthermore comprises a guide device, which is designed to be complementary to a second guide device provided on an assembly aid, which is to be introduced into the aircraft fuselage element, and is adapted to cooperate with the second guide device to enable a guided displacement of the assembly aid to be introduced into the aircraft fuselage element relative to the rail system.