Airfoil Catching Bracket for Roller Failure and Aerodynamic Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airfoil designs for aircraft suffer from reliability issues and suboptimal aerodynamic performance, particularly in the guidance of leading edge tracks, which can lead to reduced angles of attack and increased gaps that affect airflow and load distribution.
Innovation Solution
An airfoil arrangement featuring a movable track device with a catching bracket that engages in a force-fitted manner to support the track device, providing a secondary load path and minimizing gaps, and an aerodynamic design that includes a PTFE liner for reduced friction and improved airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If support rollers are used to guide the track device, then the track device can move smoothly between retracted and extended positions, but reliability is reduced when roller failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The catching bracket is pre-installed within the track device opening as a backup support structure. When support rollers fail, the catching bracket automatically engages to prevent track device collapse, providing beforehand cushioning against roller failure without requiring complex active monitoring or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The catching bracket is strategically positioned at specific locations within the track device opening where it can engage the track device only when needed. This localized placement provides reliability enhancement at critical failure points without adding complexity throughout the entire track device structure.
2Reliability
If the track device opening is left open to allow track device movement, then the track device can transition between positions, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to increased gaps and airflow disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The catching bracket includes an aerodynamic portion that acts as a flexible seal, extending continuously from the outer skin and flush with its surface. This thin film-like structure closes the track device opening to eliminate airflow disturbances while still allowing the track device to move between retracted and extended positions through the sealed opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodynamic portion of the catching bracket is pre-configured to extend and seal the track device opening automatically when the track device is in either retracted or extended position. This preliminary sealing action maintains aerodynamic performance without requiring additional active sealing mechanisms during operation.
3Reliability
If the catching bracket is designed to engage the track device in a force-fitted manner upon roller failure, then operational stability is maintained, but the structural complexity of the bracket increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catching bracket is designed with a bracket body configuration that enables force-fitted engagement with the track device. This beforehand prepared structural design ensures that when support rollers fail, the bracket can immediately engage in a force-fitted manner to maintain operational stability without requiring complex active control systems or multiple separate components.
4Reliability
If the aerodynamic portion of the catching bracket extends continuously to seal the opening, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic portion is designed as a continuous extension from the outer skin that can be manufactured as an integrated component. This flexible shell approach allows the aerodynamic sealing surface to be formed as a single continuous piece, improving aerodynamic performance while avoiding the need for multiple separate sealing components that would increase manufacturing complexity.
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
Enhances the achievable angle of attack by 2 to 4 degrees and maintains operational stability even in case of roller failure, while reducing airflow disturbances and side loads through effective load transfer and sealing.
Implementation Method 1
an aerodynamic design that includes a PTFE liner for reduced friction
Implementation Method 2
an aerodynamic design that includes a PTFE liner for reduced friction and improved airflow
Data Source
AI summary
An airfoil arrangement which allows an increased reliability and increased aerodynamic performance of airfoils. A catching bracket is provided which is mounted in a track device opening to reduce the area of the track device opening and, when there is a failure of at least one support roller, the catching bracket engages the track device.