Cable-Free Rotorcraft Fairing with Hinge Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft fairings and cowlings lack the ability to support foot traffic loads without using cables or struts, posing trip hazards and limiting access to compartments for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A cable-free, strut-free, and moveable fairing design that uses hinges and a bearing surface to transfer foot traffic loads to the fuselage, allowing for safe access and support of personnel and tools without additional contact points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional fairings use cables or struts to support foot traffic loads, then structural support is provided, but trip hazards are created and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes cables and struts from the fairing structure, extracting the harmful elements that caused trip hazards while maintaining foot traffic load support through the hinge mechanism and bearing surface integration
2Strength
If conventional fairings use cables or struts to support foot traffic loads, then structural support is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fairing structure with the hinge mechanism and bearing surface, combining multiple functions into an integrated system that eliminates the need for separate cables or struts while maintaining structural support capability
3Ease of operation
If fairings are made moveable for maintenance access, then ease of operation improves, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a moveable fairing design where the fairing can pivot between open and closed positions through the hinge mechanism, allowing dynamic access for maintenance while maintaining structural stability when closed and providing foot traffic support when open
Data Source
AI summary
One example of a fairing for a rotorcraft includes a core material, an inner housing on a side of the core material, an outer housing on another side of the core material opposite the inner housing, and a hinge. The hinge is configured to move the fairing between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the inner housing is configured to receive a foot traffic load while the outer housing is configured to transfer the foot traffic load to a fuselage of the rotorcraft. In the closed position, the inner housing is configured to stow in a compartment of the rotorcraft while the outer housing is configured to provide an outer mold line of the rotorcraft in the closed position.