Aramid Fabric Aircraft Plug With Heat-Resistant Foam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft covers and plugs are not heat resistant enough to be installed immediately after landing, require fasteners that can damage aircraft surfaces, and are cumbersome to install, leading to potential damage and delays.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft plug or cover designed with a heat-resistant foam and aramid fabric exterior, utilizing a compression fit for secure placement without fasteners, and featuring a tool-operable design for easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional vinyl and foam materials are used for aircraft plugs, then the plugs are easy to manufacture and install, but they are not heat resistant enough to be installed immediately after landing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining heat-resistant foam core material with an aramid fabric outer cover. This composite approach allows the plug to withstand high temperatures from engine exhaust while maintaining structural integrity and ease of installation. The foam provides thermal resistance and the aramid fabric provides heat protection and durability.
2Ease of operation
If fasteners such as zippers are used to secure the plug, then the plug can be easily attached and removed, but the fasteners can damage the inner surfaces of the equipment and are subject to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates fasteners such as zippers and external attachment hardware entirely. Instead, the plug uses a compression fit design where the aramid fabric cover is stretched over the foam core and secured internally without external fastening mechanisms. This removes the harmful fasteners that could damage aircraft surfaces or corrode from cleaning agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug achieves secure attachment through its own structural design - the aramid fabric cover tensions over the foam core and compresses against the opening, creating a self-securing mechanism that requires no external fasteners. The design serves its own attachment function through material properties rather than additional components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the plug is designed to fit securely without fasteners using compression fit, then the aircraft surface is protected from damage, but the plug may not be as securely held in place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the materials used - specifically selecting aramid fabric with appropriate tensile strength and foam core with specific density and compression characteristics. These parameter selections enable the compression fit to generate sufficient friction and normal force to securely hold the plug in place without fasteners while protecting the aircraft surface.
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
The solution provides a secure, heat-resistant, and damage-free method for covering aircraft openings, eliminating the need for fasteners and allowing for immediate post-flight installation, thereby reducing delays and risks of damage.
Implementation Method 1
The outer cover and body are configured to hold the plug in place via friction
Implementation Method 2
Aircraft plug or cover designed with a heat-resistant foam
Data Source
AI summary
A cover for an opening on the exterior of an aircraft that contains a fire-resistant, high-temperature tolerant foam encased in a cover made of an aramid fabric. The cover is friction-fitted to the interior of the orifice. The cover can contain one or more durable rings embedded in the fire-resistant, high-temperature tolerant foam meant to protrude outward from the rest of the cover of the body to contact an interior of the orifice into which they are inserted holding the cover in place with friction instead of fasteners.