Aircraft Cargo Hold Surface Unit Preassembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of functional devices and surface units within an aircraft cargo hold is complex and requires separate installation, which is inefficient and difficult, especially when replacing devices or installing new ones.

Innovation Solution

A preassembled surface unit with integrated functional devices is designed to be brought into the aircraft and connected to supporting structures, using screw fastening and a hybrid core construction for stability and sealing, allowing for easier assembly and replacement of devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If functional devices are installed separately within the cargo hold, then installation flexibility is maintained, but assembly complexity increases and installation time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cargo hold interior is divided into modular surface units that can be pre-assembled outside the aircraft and then installed as complete modules. Each surface unit contains integrated functional devices, allowing parallel preparation of multiple components before final installation, thereby reducing on-site assembly complexity and time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Surface units with integrated functional devices are pre-assembled and prepared outside the aircraft cargo hold before the actual installation. This preliminary preparation includes mounting functional devices on surface units, securing them to supporting structures, and performing quality checks, which significantly reduces the complexity and time required for final installation within the aircraft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Weight of moving object

If surface units are made thin for weight reduction, then weight decreases, but structural stability and load-bearing capacity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface unit weightVSAvoidload-bearing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The surface units utilize composite material construction combining lightweight materials with high strength-to-weight ratio. The supporting structures integrated into the surface units are designed with optimized geometry and material selection to provide sufficient load-bearing capacity while maintaining thin overall thickness, thus reducing weight without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If functional devices are integrated into surface units, then assembly is simplified, but replacement difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly complexityVSAvoiddevice replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The surface units are designed as replaceable modules that can be efficiently removed and replaced as complete units. This modular approach allows functional devices to remain integrated during operation for simplified assembly, while enabling straightforward replacement by simply removing the entire surface unit module, thus maintaining ease of repair without compromising assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3271242B1Mounting device
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 TELAIR INTERNATIONAL GMBH
  • EP3271242B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3c
  • EP3271242B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3271242B1 patent drawingFigure 8

AI summary

A mounting device for mounting functional devices within a cargo hold of an aircraft. The mounting device includes at least one surface unit and a plurality of functional devices which can be mounted on the surface unit in such a way that the surface unit can be inserted together with functional devices mounted thereon into the aircraft cargo hold in the manner of a template in such a way that all the functional devices come to lie in defined mounting locations in the cargo hold and can be mounted on supporting structures of the aircraft or the cargo hold without adjustment in relation to the surface unit.