Aircraft Wing Load Transfer Interlock Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing load transfer apparatuses in aircraft structures, such as wings, face challenges in reliably transferring shear loads due to play caused by wear, tolerances, and deflections, which can lead to increased weight and bulk when redundant interlocks are used to ensure safety.

Innovation Solution

A load transfer apparatus comprising a master interlock and multiple slave interlocks, where the master interlock members are stiff to prevent movement, and slave interlock members are less stiff to accommodate movement, allowing both to transfer loads even with play, reducing the need for redundant master interlocks and facilitating a lightweight design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple redundant interlocks are used to transfer shear loads, then reliability is improved, but weight and bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload transfer reliabilityVSAvoidapparatus weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The interlock system is segmented into two distinct types: master interlocks with stiff members and slave interlocks with compliant members. This segmentation allows each type to perform specialized functions - master interlocks provide stable load transfer paths while slave interlocks accommodate movement and tolerances, achieving reliable load transfer with fewer total interlocks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different local qualities are assigned to different interlock members: master interlock members are made stiff to maintain structural integrity and provide stable load paths, while slave interlock members are made compliant to tolerate movement and misalignment. This local differentiation optimizes the overall system performance without requiring all members to be overly robust

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If stiff interlock members are used, then structural integrity is improved, but tolerance to movement and misalignment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterlock stiffnessVSAvoidtolerance to play

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different stiffness qualities to different parts of the interlock system. Master interlock members are designed with high stiffness to maintain structural integrity and provide stable load transfer, while slave interlock members are designed with compliance to tolerate movement, wear, and misalignment. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between strength and tolerance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If redundant interlocks are provided for safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload transfer safetyVSAvoidinterlock system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into master and slave interlocks with clearly defined roles. Master interlocks form the primary load transfer structure with stiff members, while slave interlocks provide supplemental load transfer with compliant members. This segmentation creates a hierarchical system that is more manageable and less complex than a uniform array of identical redundant interlocks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making all interlocks stiff and redundant (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the strategy by making some interlocks compliant. The slave interlocks with compliant members tolerate movement and maintain load transfer capability, reducing the need for multiple stiff redundant interlocks and thereby simplifying the overall system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9944381B2Load transfer apparatus for transferring loads in an aircraft structure

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD

AI summary

An aircraft wing comprising a load transfer apparatus arranged to transfer transverse shear loads from a first component such as a wing skin to a second, adjacent component such as a wing skin. The apparatus comprises a master interlock, and a plurality of slave interlocks. Each master interlock comprises a master male member received in a master female member to form the master interlock. Each of the plurality of slave interlocks comprises a slave male member received in a corresponding female member to form the slave interlocks. The master male and female members are sufficiently stiff that the master male member and the master female member are fixed, whereas the slave male and/or female members are less stiff than the master male and female members such that the slave male and/or female members are able to tolerate some movement, in the transverse direction.