Detachable Aircraft Wing Attachment for Emergency Landing Impact Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft with wings located on the top of the fuselage face challenges in emergency landings due to increased weight from installed parachutes and difficulty in deploying them, posing safety risks and operational performance issues.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft is equipped with detachable wings connected via a severable fixing portion, such as explosive bolts, which are severed by a controller upon impact detection, allowing the wings to be separated from the fuselage during an emergency landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wings are located on the top of the fuselage, then passenger convenience is improved, but fuselage safety deteriorates due to increased impact load during emergency landing
Solution Approach 1:
The wing-fuselage connection is divided into multiple detachable fixing portions (first fixing portion and second fixing portion) that can be selectively severed. This segmentation allows the wing to be separated from the fuselage during emergency landing, reducing impact load on the fuselage while maintaining structural integrity during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing connection system transitions from a static fixed state to a dynamic detachable state based on flight conditions. The fixing portions can be severed on demand, allowing the system to adapt between maintaining structural strength during normal flight and reducing impact load during emergency landing.
2Reliability
If parachutes are installed in the aircraft for emergency rescue, then passenger safety is improved, but aircraft weight increases deteriorating operational performance
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is extracted from the fuselage during emergency landing by severing the fixing portions. This removes the heavy wing structure from the aircraft, reducing overall weight and allowing for alternative emergency rescue methods without carrying parachute weight during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing is temporarily discarded from the fuselage during emergency landing to reduce impact load, and can be recovered or reattached after the emergency situation is resolved, allowing the aircraft to maintain full operational capability when needed.
3Strength
If the wing is firmly fixed to the fuselage, then structural strength is improved, but impact resistance during emergency landing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is segmented into multiple fixing portions that can be selectively severed. This allows the connection to maintain strength during normal operation while enabling controlled detachment during emergency landing to improve impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable fixing portions are designed to be severed before the fuselage impacts the ground during emergency landing. This beforehand action of detaching the wing cushions the fuselage from the full impact load, reducing damage and improving survival chances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the impact on the fuselage by allowing the wings to contact the ground simultaneously with the fuselage, minimizing deformation and enhancing passenger safety.
Implementation Method 1
The fixing portion may include an explosive bolt, and the severing signal may be an ignition signal for igniting the explosive bolt.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment aircraft includes a fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, a fixing portion connecting a portion of the wing to the fuselage, and a controller disposed in the fuselage, wherein the controller is configured to transmit a severing signal to cause a portion of the fixing portion to be severed.