Aircraft Sensor Mount Clip for Tool-Free Linear Sensor Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft linear sensors and other elongated members are often secured with heavy and expensive fasteners that require time and tools to install and remove, making maintenance and service operations cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A mount system featuring a clip and bracket configuration with a grommet, where the clip can be easily opened by hand for tool-free installation and removal of linear sensors, utilizing high-temperature polymer materials and a design that distributes stress to reduce fatigue and facilitate access to adjacent components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fasteners are used to secure linear sensors, then the mounting is strong and reliable, but the weight increases and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mount is divided into separate components: a bracket that remains fixed to the airframe and a clip that can be independently installed and removed. This segmentation allows the sensor to be quickly detached by removing only the clip, reducing maintenance time while keeping the bracket permanently secured to maintain structural reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to be easily opened and closed by hand, enabling quick installation and removal without tools. The clip's flexible yet strong construction allows it to be dynamically adjusted and repositioned while maintaining secure holding when closed, balancing ease of maintenance with mounting reliability.
2Reliability
If traditional fasteners are used to secure linear sensors, then the mounting is strong and reliable, but the complexity of installation and removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is designed to be self-servicing, allowing technicians to install and remove linear sensors by hand without requiring specialized tools or complex procedures. The clip's design enables direct manual manipulation for opening and closing, making the maintenance process simple and accessible while maintaining secure mounting when installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip incorporates dynamic features that allow it to be easily opened by hand for quick sensor removal and installation. The flexible construction enables manual manipulation while maintaining strong holding force when closed, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and mounting reliability.
3Strength
If heavy fasteners are used to secure linear sensors, then the mounting strength is sufficient, but the overall weight of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is designed as a lightweight, simple component that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than using heavy, permanent fasteners. This approach prioritizes adequate mounting strength through smart design over using massive hardware, reducing overall weight while maintaining sufficient holding capability for sensor applications.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the mount into a permanent bracket and a removable clip, the design eliminates the need for heavy fasteners that would be required to create a fully removable traditional mounting system. The bracket provides structural attachment strength while the lightweight clip enables easy sensor removal, achieving both strength and weight reduction.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mount can include a bracket and a clip. The bracket can include a foot, a riser attached to the foot, and a connecting feature. The clip can include a connection portion for connecting the clip to the bracket, a retention portion with a curved configuration of at least half of a circle, and a tab portion that extends from the retention portion towards the connection portion.