Canopy Rail Channel Bonding With Spacers for Uniform Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for joining an aircraft canopy to a canopy rail are time-consuming and result in discontinuous forces, and the use of bonding agents requires a minimum gap, complicating the bonding process.
Innovation Solution
A method and system involving blind holes in the rail, spacers with a stem and perpendicular top portion, and a bonding agent injected into gaps between the structural component and the rail to ensure a secure and uniform bond.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bonding agent is used to bond the canopy to the canopy rail, then the joining process becomes more efficient and forces are distributed uniformly, but a minimum gap is required between the canopy and the rail surfaces which complicates the bonding process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spacers as intermediary elements positioned between the canopy and the rail. These spacers maintain the required minimum gap to allow bonding agent flow while ensuring proper positioning and enabling the bonding process to proceed efficiently without direct contact between the canopy and rail surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers are positioned in advance within the rail channel before the bonding agent is applied. This preliminary positioning ensures that the minimum gap requirement is met from the outset, allowing the bonding agent to flow properly without requiring complex adjustments during the bonding process.
2Ease of manufacture
If nuts and bolts are used to join the canopy to the rail, then the bonding process is simpler, but the process is time-consuming and results in discontinuous forces applied to the canopy assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastening system (nuts and bolts) with a chemical bonding system using bonding agents. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple fastening operations and hole drilling, significantly reducing joining time while providing continuous force distribution across the bonded surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of force application from discrete mechanical points (nuts and bolts) to a continuous chemical bond. This parameter change allows for uniform force distribution across the entire bonding surface, improving structural integrity while simplifying the overall joining process.
3Strength
If drilling holes is performed to attach nuts and bolts, then the canopy can be securely fastened, but the process is time-consuming and creates discontinuous force distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical fastening system requiring hole drilling with a chemical bonding system. The bonding agent is injected into the channel and bonds the canopy directly to the rail without requiring any holes, eliminating the time-consuming drilling and fastening operations while maintaining secure attachment strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding agent serves as an intermediary substance that creates a strong chemical bond between the canopy and the rail. This intermediary layer distributes forces uniformly across the bonding surface, providing secure attachment without the need for discrete mechanical fasteners that would require hole drilling.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a system for an aircraft. The system includes a rail having a bottom surface, and a first and a second sidewall extending from the bottom surface. The first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the bottom surface define a channel. The rail also includes blind holes, located in the bottom surface. The system also includes spacers, each comprising a stem and a top portion, extending substantially perpendicular to the stem. The stem of each of the spacers is configured to be positioned in a respective one of the blind holes such that a longitudinal axis of the top portion of each of the spacers is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel. The system also includes a structural component, a portion of which is configured to be positioned into the channel such that the structural component rests on the top portion of each of the spacers.