Rotary-Wing Attachment Interface With Nested Ball Stud Recess
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment interfaces for rotary-wing aircrafts face challenges in efficiently securing external devices while minimizing weight, complexity, and avoiding protrusions that interfere with external equipment, particularly in scenarios like emergency floatation balloons, and require corrosion-resistant, easily repairable, and cost-effective solutions.
Innovation Solution
A rotary-wing aircraft with an attachment interface comprising an interface cap and a ball stud, where the ball stud is partially or fully housed within the airframe inner volume, allowing oblique load introduction into the airframe skin without protruding parts, using composite materials to minimize weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ball studs are used for attachment interfaces, then easy releasable connection and free rotation are achieved, but protrusions interfere with external equipment and corrosion resistance becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The ball stud is nested within a recess in the airframe skin, with the ball portion housed inside the skin thickness. This nesting approach allows the attachment interface to provide releasable connection functionality while eliminating protrusions that would interfere with external equipment such as floatation balloons.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ball studs protrude from airframe skin, then external device attachment is enabled, but corrosion resistance and interaction with external equipment are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The ball portion of the ball stud is extracted from the external environment by housing it within the airframe skin recess. This extraction eliminates the ball stud's exposure to corrosive elements while maintaining its attachment functionality through the airframe opening.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixation protrude from outer shell surface, then attachment functionality is provided, but interaction with external equipment jeopardizes functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The airframe skin is designed with localized recesses at specific attachment points, creating local quality variations that house the ball studs. This local modification provides attachment functionality while maintaining a smooth outer shell surface that does not interact with external equipment.
4Strength
If traditional attachment interfaces are used, then structural support is provided, but weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment interface is merged with the airframe skin structure itself, where the recess and opening are integral parts of the skin design. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and reduces overall weight while maintaining structural support capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present technology relates to a rotary-wing aircraft, comprising: an airframe (105) with an airframe skin (239) that forms an outer airframe loft line (400) and encloses an airframe inner volume (135), wherein the airframe skin comprises at least one airframe opening (237); and at least one attachment interface (300) that is mounted to the airframe skin (239) at the airframe opening and configured for a releasable attachment of an external device, wherein the at least one attachment interface (300) comprises an interface cap (327) with a mounting flange (367) that is rigidly attached to the airframe skin (239), wherein the interface cap comprises at least one pocket (369) that forms a pocket base (399); and a ball stud (370) with a stud shaft (371) and a ball (372), wherein the ball stud is rigidly attached to the pocket base and extends at least partly into the airframe opening.