Airship Mainframe Jig for Ground-Based Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction of airships poses safety and efficiency challenges due to the need for assembling large structures in mid-air, which can expose workers to risks and is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A jig system with detachable wheels allows the mainframe of an airship to be assembled on the ground, using a semi-circular configuration that enables rotation and assembly without exposing workers to aerial risks, utilizing carbon-fiber connectors and 3D printing molds for efficient manufacturing of pyramid and geodesic structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If airship assembly is performed in mid-air, then the airship structure can be assembled in its final configuration, but worker safety is compromised and construction time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional assembly approach by assembling the airship mainframe on the ground rather than in mid-air. The completed mainframe is then lifted and attached to the envelope, reversing the traditional sequence and eliminating the safety hazards of aerial assembly while maintaining configuration accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The mainframe is assembled in advance on the ground using a semi-circular jig system, allowing workers to safely construct the rigid structure before it is lifted into its final position. This preliminary ground-based assembly resolves the contradiction by completing the precision work in a safe environment
2Manufacturing precision
If airship assembly is performed in mid-air, then the final structure can be achieved, but construction time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mainframe is pre-assembled on the ground using a semi-circular jig that provides precise positioning and alignment. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for time-consuming aerial construction operations while ensuring the structural configuration meets design requirements
Solution Approach 2:
By inverting the assembly sequence to build the mainframe on the ground first and then attach it to the envelope, the patent eliminates the time loss associated with mid-air assembly operations while maintaining the required structural precision
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional assembly methods are used, then workers can assemble the airship structure, but they are exposed to aerial risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally inverts the assembly location from aerial to ground-based, allowing workers to assemble the mainframe in a safe ground environment while still achieving the required assembly capability through the semi-circular jig system
Solution Approach 2:
The semi-circular jig acts as an intermediary device that enables precise mainframe assembly on the ground. This mediator allows the mainframe to be constructed with the required accuracy without exposing workers to aerial hazards, as the jig provides all necessary positioning and alignment functions at ground level
Data Source
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AI summary
A jig for constructing a mainframe of an airship structure, comprising: a first rail and a second rail (5511) that are configured to be parallel to each other, the first rail and the second rail each forming an arc; a plurality of first supporting structures (5512) coupled to the first rail, wherein the plurality of first supporting structures (5512) have non-uniform heights to support a curvature of the arc of the first rail (5511) ; and a plurality of second supporting structures (5512) coupled to the second rail (5511), wherein the plurality of second supporting structures (5512) have non-uniform heights to support a curvature of the arc of the second rail (5511); wherein the first rail and the second rail (5511) are configured to interface with detachable wheels (5700) coupled to an outer surface of the mainframe and enable the mainframe to be rotated along its axis on the jig.