Aircraft Rotational Joint With Dual-Use Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft with foldable wings face challenges in designing rotational joints due to limited volume and constraints in wing structure, which affects the internal layout and location of essential components, and existing solutions do not efficiently manage the transition between flight and ground configurations while maintaining aerodynamic and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft featuring a wing tip device that is rotatable relative to the fixed wing, utilizing a dual-use locking mechanism with first and second receiving members to reduce the number of bores and complexity, allowing for a more optimal design by efficiently locking the wing tip device in flight and ground configurations, and incorporating a backup locking member for load transfer in case of failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotational joint is designed with multiple locking members and receiving members to ensure reliable locking in flight and ground configurations, then the reliability of the locking mechanism is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The second receiving member is designed to receive locking members in multiple configurations: it receives the second locking member when the wing tip device is locked in the flight configuration, and it receives the first locking member when the wing tip device is locked in the ground configuration. This multi-functional design allows a single receiving member to serve multiple locking purposes, reducing the total number of receiving members needed while maintaining reliable locking in both configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wing tip device is made rotatable to reduce ground span for airport compliance, then the adaptability to airport clearance requirements is improved, but the device complexity and structural constraints increase due to limited wing volume
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation mechanism and locking mechanism are merged into a single integrated rotational joint assembly. The locking members and receiving members are positioned within the rotation mechanism structure itself, combining the functions of rotation and locking in one compact unit. This integration reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate rotation and locking systems.
3Weight of moving object
If the number of bores in the rotational joint is reduced to decrease size and weight, then the weight of the rotational joint is improved, but the reliability of the locking mechanism may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The second receiving member serves multiple functions: it locks the wing tip device in the flight configuration by receiving the second locking member, and it locks the wing tip device in the ground configuration by receiving the first locking member. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of receiving members (and associated bores) needed while maintaining reliable locking in both configurations, thereby reducing weight without compromising reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A wing (1) having a fixed wing (3) and a wing tip device (4) rotatable between a flight configuration and a ground configuration, a rotational joint (10) rotatably couples the wing tip device (4) to the fixed wing (3) and a locking mechanism (46) locks the wing tip device (4) in the flight and ground configurations. The locking mechanism (11) includes first and second locking members (51, 52) and first and second receiving members (53, 54), the locking mechanism (11) being configured to lock the wing tip device (4) in one of the flight configuration and ground configuration by receiving the first and second locking members (51, 52) in the first and second receiving members (53, 54) respectively, and to lock the wing tip device (4) in the other of the flight configuration and ground configuration by receiving the first locking member (51) in the second receiving member (54).