Aircraft Trailing Edge Rib Common Tooling Manufacturing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft lifting surfaces, such as wings and tail planes, face challenges in achieving commonality in the design and manufacturing of trailing edge ribs and bearing ribs, which are typically different in shape and configuration, leading to increased costs and complexity in production.
Innovation Solution
The method involves manufacturing trailing edge ribs and bearing ribs using simple C-shaped or L-shaped parts, with the same tooling used for both types, allowing for a common rib concept that simplifies production and reduces costs by using the same tooling for all ribs, regardless of their function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different shapes and configurations are used for trailing edge ribs and bearing ribs to fulfill their specific functions, then functional performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single rib structure that can serve both as a trailing edge rib and a bearing rib. The rib is configured with a web and flanges that can fulfill both structural support functions depending on its installation location and orientation, eliminating the need for separate specialized rib designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib structure is segmented into modular components including a web and flanges that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows the same basic rib structure to be adapted for different functions by varying the configuration and arrangement of its segments rather than requiring completely different rib designs.
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized tooling is used for manufacturing different types of ribs, then manufacturing precision is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality in tooling by designing a single specialized tooling system that can manufacture both trailing edge ribs and bearing ribs. The tooling is configured to produce the modular rib components with precise geometry, which can then be used for both rib types, eliminating the need for separate specialized tooling sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the configuration parameters of the same basic rib structure (such as flange dimensions, web thickness, and geometric orientation) to create different rib types from the same tooling, rather than requiring different tooling for each rib variant.
3Device complexity
If a common rib design is used for both trailing edge ribs and bearing ribs, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but functional adaptability may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rib structure is divided into functional segments (web and flanges) that can be independently dimensioned and configured. This segmentation allows a single common rib design to be adapted for different functions by modifying the parameters of individual segments rather than requiring completely different rib structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes to achieve functional adaptability from a common rib design. By varying geometric parameters such as flange width, web thickness, and rib orientation, the same basic rib structure can fulfill different functional requirements for trailing edge support and bearing functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing the trailing edge ribs and the bearing ribs of trailing edges of aircraft lifting surfaces, in which the trailing edge ribs and the bearing ribs are made by joining simple C-shaped parts and/or simple L-shaped parts so as to obtain the final trailing edge ribs and bearing ribs. The manufacturing of the simple C-shaped parts uses the same tooling both for the trailing edge ribs and the bearing ribs, and the manufacturing of the simple L-shaped parts uses the same tooling both for the trailing edge ribs and the bearing ribs.