Aircraft Rib Sealing Tool for External Seal Plate Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of seal plates in assembled fuel tanks of aircraft is difficult and time-consuming due to the need for manual alignment and fixing in tight spaces, which complicates the sealing of stringer-receiving openings in aircraft ribs.
Innovation Solution
A sealing tool comprising a seal member and an intermediate member that can be adjustably mounted on the rib, allowing for easy alignment and fixing of the seal member over the gap between the stringer and the rib, using guide members and adjustable fixings to facilitate precise positioning and secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seal plates are manually installed from inside the fuel tank following assembly of the covers with the ribs, then the seal plates can be installed to seal the cut-outs, but the installation becomes difficult and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a seal carrier as an intermediary component that facilitates the installation of seal plates. The seal carrier is inserted through the cut-out from the exterior side of the rib, allowing the seal plate to be positioned and installed without manual intervention from inside the fuel tank. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable sealing while significantly improving installation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional installation approach by inserting the seal carrier and seal plate from the exterior side of the rib rather than from inside the fuel tank. This inversion of the installation direction eliminates the difficulty of manual installation in tight internal spaces while maintaining sealing reliability, directly addressing the productivity issue without compromising the sealing function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cut-outs are provided with dimensions greater than those of the stringer to be received, then tolerance build-up during manufacture and assembly is accounted for, but the gap between the stringer and rib requires additional sealing measures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing function into two distinct components: the seal carrier that provides structural support and positioning, and the seal plate that provides the actual sealing barrier. This segmentation allows the sealing system to accommodate the gaps created by tolerance build-up while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The seal plate can be customized to fit the specific gap dimensions without complicating the entire sealing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing sealing features only where gaps exist between the stringer and rib, rather than creating a complex sealing system throughout the entire structure. The seal plate is positioned specifically at the gap location, and its dimensions can be adjusted locally to match the actual gap size, thereby accommodating assembly tolerances without unnecessarily increasing overall device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If an intermediate member is introduced to receive and align the seal member, then alignment and positioning become easier and more reliable, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the seal carrier and seal plate into a closely integrated assembly. The seal carrier and seal plate work together as a unified sealing system, with the seal carrier providing alignment and positioning features that directly facilitate the installation of the seal plate. This merging reduces the need for separate alignment mechanisms and minimizes the number of discrete components while maintaining high alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal carrier serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables insertion from the exterior side, ensures proper alignment of the seal plate, and facilitates installation without additional tools or mechanisms. This multi-functionality of the seal carrier eliminates the need for separate alignment devices or positioning mechanisms, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while avoiding an increase in the overall number of components.
Data Source
AI summary
Seal plates are typically mounted over stringer-receiving openings in aircraft ribs. A sealing tool for sealing a stringer-receiving opening in an aircraft rib is disclosed. The sealing tool includes a seal member arranged to seal a gap formed by the opening between the stringer and the rib. An intermediate member is configured to be adjustably mounted on the rib. The adjustable member receives and aligns the seal member over the gap.