Aircraft Wing Foldable Tip Traction Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft wing designs with foldable wing tips face challenges in achieving a strong, lightweight, and compact actuation unit that minimizes weight and complexity while maintaining aerodynamic and structural integrity, and requires minimal space and exposure to the environment.

Innovation Solution

A wing design featuring a traction-based actuation unit with a main wheel and drive means, utilizing a belt, chain, or cable as traction means, which allows the foldable wing tip to rotate between extended and folded positions without penetrating the wing's outer contour, utilizing a reduction gear mechanism and contact guide elements to ensure reliable traction and minimize space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional actuation unit design is used for the foldable wing tip, then the wing tip can be moved between extended and folded positions, but the actuation unit becomes heavy and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation reliabilityVSAvoidactuation unit weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional complex mechanical actuation mechanisms (motors, gears, linkages) with a pneumatic system using a single balloon that expands and contracts to drive the wing tip folding motion. This substitution dramatically reduces mechanical complexity and weight while maintaining reliable actuation functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible balloon (thin film structure) as the core actuation element. The balloon's elastic expansion and contraction provide the necessary mechanical force for folding and extending the wing tip, eliminating the need for rigid mechanical components and reducing overall actuation unit weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If a robust actuation unit is designed to reliably move the wing tip, then actuation reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation reliabilityVSAvoidactuation unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional complex mechanical actuation mechanisms (motors, gears, linkages) with a pneumatic system using a single balloon that expands and contracts to drive the wing tip folding motion. This substitution dramatically reduces mechanical complexity and weight while maintaining reliable actuation functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the actuator, the structural element, and the control mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby simplifying the overall device while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Weight of moving object

If the actuation unit is designed to be lightweight and compact, then weight and space requirements are reduced, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation unit weightVSAvoidactuation unit strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible balloon (thin film structure) as the core actuation element. The balloon's elastic expansion and contraction provide the necessary mechanical force for folding and extending the wing tip, eliminating the need for rigid mechanical components and reducing overall actuation unit weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon's internal pressure creates an outward force that counterbalances the gravitational and aerodynamic loads on the wing tip during folding operations. This allows the lightweight actuation unit to maintain sufficient structural strength through pneumatic pressure rather than heavy mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

4Ease of operation

If the actuation unit penetrates the outer contour of the wing, then actuation functionality is achieved, but aerodynamic performance and structural integrity are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation functionalityVSAvoidaerodynamic drag and structural exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The balloon is nested within the hollow internal structure of the wing tip, utilizing the existing hollow space for actuation purposes. This nesting approach allows the actuation mechanism to be completely enclosed within the wing's outer contour, maintaining aerodynamic smoothness and structural integrity while enabling full folding functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11214357B2Wing for an aircraft
Publication Date: 2022.01.04 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • US11214357B2 patent drawing
  • US11214357B2 patent drawing
  • US11214357B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A wing for an aircraft having a fixed wing, a foldable wing tip portion rotatably attached to the fixed wing and an actuation unit for rotating the foldable wing tip portion relative to the fixed wing about a hinge axis is disclosed. The actuation unit includes a traction means for transmitting traction between the fixed wing and the foldable wing tip portion, a main wheel attached to the foldable wing tip portion and in contact with the traction means and a drive means for generating traction to be transmitted by the traction means. The actuation unit generates traction with the drive means in the traction means so that the foldable wing tip portion can be rotated relative to the fixed wing.