Aircraft Tether Assembly for Pitot Cover and Lock Pin Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing procedures for removing pitot tube covers and landing gear lock pins from aircraft prior to flight are prone to human error, leading to potential structural damage and unnecessary expenses due to their frequent failure to be removed on time.
Innovation Solution
A tether assembly made of heat and environment-resistant materials that interconnects pitot tube covers with landing gear lock pins, using a temperature-resistant woven aramid lanyard with a biasing sleeve and elastic members to ensure removal during preflight checks, along with visible banners for reminders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If established procedures for removing covers and lock pins are used, then the aircraft can operate normally, but human error causes covers and lock pins to remain on the aircraft leading to structural damage and unnecessary expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protective devices (pitot tube covers and landing gear lock pins) into a single tethered assembly. The covers are attached to straps that connect to a central sleeve, which is further connected to the lock pin via a connecting strap. This merging ensures that removal of one component necessitates removal of all components, eliminating the possibility of leaving any behind and preventing structural damage from forgotten protective devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the protective devices and the removal action. The elastic member within the sleeve provides a mechanical intermediary that physically links the covers and lock pin, creating a system where the intermediate tether components ensure that removal compliance is maintained across all attached protective devices.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pitot tube covers are installed during ground maintenance, then protection from damage and contamination is provided, but the covers must be removed prior to flight or the plane must return to base creating loss of time and productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The tether assembly is installed on the aircraft during ground maintenance along with the protective covers and lock pins. This preliminary installation of the tethered system ensures that when removal is needed, all components are already linked together, making the removal process quick and ensuring compliance without requiring a return to base.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the removal actions for multiple protective devices into a single operation through the tether assembly, the patent eliminates the need to return to base. Ground personnel can remove the entire tethered assembly in one action during preflight checks, preventing time loss and maintaining productivity.
3Reliability
If a tether assembly is used to interconnect protective devices, then removal compliance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tether assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: pitot tube covers with attached straps, a central sleeve containing an elastic member, and a connecting strap with lock pin attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity. The modular design makes the assembly easy to understand, install, and remove, offsetting the apparent complexity with functional clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of flexible straps and an elastic member within the sleeve creates a compliant tether system that adapts to the aircraft structure without requiring rigid, complex mounting mechanisms. The flexibility of these components simplifies installation and removal while maintaining reliable connection, reducing the overall device complexity despite the increased reliability function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tether assembly effectively reduces the chances of pitot tube covers and lock pins being left on the aircraft at takeoff, ensuring safer flight operations and reducing structural damage risks by integrating a reliable and visible removal system.
Implementation Method 1
the other strap has a proximal end connected to first end of an elastic member carried in said passage, said elastic member having a second end connected to said sleeve member whereby the length of the tether assembly is less that the distance about the fuselage between the pitot tubes and in assembly the elastic member is stretched to provide a biasing of the tether assembly against the fuselage
Implementation Method 2
The assembly is made of heat and environment resistant materials that avoid instrument and air craft damage during installation and residence
Implementation Method 3
an expandable tether assembly having opposed elongated straps, each having a distal end connected to one of said pitot tube covers... The ground maintenance assembly may have the straps and said sleeve member formed of a heat and environment resistant woven material, such as a meta-aramid polymer
Implementation Method 4
The elastic member of the ground maintenance assembly may be an elastomer subject to ultraviolet degradation upon exposure to ambient sunlit conditions wherein the elastic member in said sleeve assembly is shielded from said condition in said passage
Data Source
AI summary
A highly visible tether assembly for use on parked aircraft that interconnects the pitot tube covers with the landing gear lock pin thereby assuring removal of both the covers and the lock pin as part of the aircraft preflight check list. The assembly is made of heat and environment resistant materials that avoid instrument and air craft damage during installation and residence.