Aircraft Wing Segmentation for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft are challenging to store and maneuver due to their large size and wing span, with existing folding and swinging wing designs either adding weight, increasing cost, or failing to protect the wings from damage, and existing solutions do not effectively reduce the solid area when not in flight.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft with fixed, swinging, and folding wings made of rigid materials that can be stored within the body, reducing the aircraft's width and solid area when not in flight while maintaining efficiency during flight, utilizing pivot joints and elevons for control and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If wings are made large and rigid for efficient flight, then lifting efficiency is improved, but storage difficulty and maneuverability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is divided into multiple segments that can be folded relative to each other. The wing includes a root portion attached to the fuselage and at least one foldable section that can be folded toward the root portion, allowing the wing to be broken down into manageable segments for storage while maintaining full span for flight efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The wing transitions from a static, fixed structure during flight to a dynamic, foldable structure during storage. The wing includes movable joints and foldable sections that allow it to change configuration between a full-span rigid state for flight and a folded compact state for storage, making the structure adaptive to different operational requirements
2Area of stationary object
If wings are folded to reduce solid area for storage, then storage space is improved, but wind resistance on ground worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The wing folding mechanism reduces the wing's projection in the horizontal plane (plan view) by folding sections upward and inward toward the fuselage. This dimensional transformation minimizes the solid area footprint on the ground, reducing wind resistance and improving storage efficiency simultaneously
3Length of moving object
If wings are swung to reduce wing span for storage, then wing span is improved, but solid area in plan view remains unchanged
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is segmented into foldable sections that can be folded toward the root portion, creating a compact configuration that reduces both wing span and solid area in plan view. This segmentation allows the wing to occupy minimal space when folded, unlike swinging wings that maintain their plan area
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable wing sections are designed to nest closely against the fuselage and each other when folded, with inner sections positioned within or adjacent to outer sections. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall solid area occupied by the folded wings, allowing compact storage
4Area of stationary object
If folding wings are used to reduce solid area, then storage is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wing incorporates foldable sections only where necessary to achieve compact storage, rather than making the entire wing foldable. The foldable portions are strategically located to minimize structural complexity and weight addition while still achieving the desired reduction in solid area for storage purposes
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft with wings that may be fixed for flight and which swing and fold for storage and for maneuvering and otherwise operating the aircraft while not in flight is disclosed. An embodiment includes wings which swing backwards and through the body of the aircraft and then fold by drooping elevons which span the trailing edges of the wings along the sides of the body. Another embodiment includes wings which swing forward and control surfaces which fold upwards at the sides of the aircraft. The invention provides for a narrow width for the aircraft when not in flight using a simple mechanism.