Aircraft Wing High-Lift Assembly With Rotatable Alignment Connector

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of constructing aircraft wings with high lift assemblies requires precise alignment and installation of connection assemblies, which complicates modular construction and repair, as slight misalignments are difficult to adjust.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable primary connector system allows for easy alignment and secure locking of connection assemblies to the main wing, enabling modular construction and simplifying the installation process with minimal personnel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the connection assembly is rigidly fixed to the main wing during assembly, then precise alignment is achieved, but modular construction and repair become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidmodular construction capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is designed with rotational freedom, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation during assembly to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and achieve precise alignment, while maintaining the ability to be easily disassembled and repositioned for modular construction and repair operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the connection assembly is assembled in multiple discrete steps, then modular construction is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular construction capabilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is pre-designed with inherent rotational adjustment capability built into its structure, so that when components are assembled in discrete modular steps, the connector can automatically compensate for alignment variations through rotation, ensuring precise final alignment without requiring complex adjustment procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple workers are required for assembly, then alignment precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector design enables a single worker to perform the alignment and assembly operation independently by simply rotating the connector to the correct position, eliminating the need for multiple workers to manually adjust and align components, thereby maintaining precision while significantly improving assembly productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4613639A1A wing for an aircraft and method of connection of a connection assembly
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP4613639A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4613639A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4613639A1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4C

AI summary

Described is a wing (3) for an aircraft (1), method for connecting a connection assembly (209) to a wing (3) for an aircraft (1), and an aircraft (1). The wing (3) comprises a main wing (5) and a high lift assembly. The high lift assembly comprises a high lift body (206) comprising a high lift structure and a connection assembly (209) comprising a slat track (117) and a roller bearing (27) that movably connects the high lift body (206) to the main wing (5), such that the high lift body (206) is movable between a retracted position and at least one extended position, and the connection assembly (209) comprising a primary connector (212) and a secondary connector (232). The primary connector (212) is mounted to the main wing (5) via a primary mount profile (214) and the secondary connector (232) is mounted to the main wing (5) via a secondary mount profile (234). The primary connector (212) is configurable to engage the primary mount profile (214), and the secondary connector (232) is configurable to engage the secondary mount profile (234). The primary connector (212) is rotatable relative to the primary mounting profile (214) and at least one of the connection assembly (209) and the main wing (5) so as to configure the primary connector (212) and mounting profile (214) between a decoupled configuration in which the primary connector (212) may be moved into so as to be engaged with, and removed from so as to be disengaged from, the primary mounting profile (214), and a locked configuration in which movement between the primary mounting profile (214) and the secondary mounting profile (234) is restricted.