Aircraft Cargo Floor Integrating Fluid Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of pipes and hoses in aircraft cargo areas is challenging due to limited space, complex routing, and the need for numerous fixation means, which increases production costs and complicates maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An alternative cargo floor design featuring a substructure with elongate rails and bilge crossbeams that form fluid ducts, allowing for optimized space use and reduced component count by integrating pipes and hoses within these ducts, eliminating the need for additional mounting brackets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pipes and hoses are mounted using brackets and fixation means to the fuselage and cargo structure, then the pipes and hoses are securely fixed to prevent movement, but the number of components increases and the complexity of integration and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo floor structure is merged with the fluid duct system, where the cargo floor panels and supporting rails directly form the duct walls. Pipes and hoses are routed through channels formed by the cargo floor itself, eliminating the need for separate brackets and fixation means. The cargo floor serves dual functions: supporting cargo and providing fluid passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cargo floor structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it supports cargo weight, provides structural reinforcement through rails, and serves as the fluid duct system. The rails and panels that make up the cargo floor also form the walls of the fluid passages, reducing the need for separate components.
2Ease of manufacture
If pipes and hoses are routed through crowded areas with limited space behind and below the cargo area, then the fluid systems can be integrated into the aircraft structure, but the pipes and hoses must take longer paths and create curves, increasing the complexity of fixation means
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid duct system utilizes the vertical dimension by routing passages through the thickness of the cargo floor panels and along the height of the rails. This three-dimensional routing allows pipes to travel more directly between points rather than being constrained to horizontal paths behind the cargo area, reducing overall pipe length and complexity.
3Reliability
If the available space for receiving pipes and hoses is used to mount fixation means, then the pipes can be securely mounted, but the number of different types of fixation means increases, increasing the cost for production
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo floor structure is merged with the fluid duct system, where the cargo floor panels and supporting rails directly form the duct walls. Pipes and hoses are routed through channels formed by the cargo floor itself, eliminating the need for separate brackets and fixation means. The cargo floor serves dual functions: supporting cargo and providing fluid passage.
Data Source
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AI summary
Conventional aircraft typically have pipes and hoses for transporting fluids. However, such pipes and hoses need to be mounted in confined spaces and held by multiple brackets. The present invention relates to a cargo wall (20) for an aircraft (10). The cargo wall (20) has at least two rails (30) spaced from each other. A first panel (50) extends between and is fluidly sealed with at least two of the rails (30). A second panel (60) extends between and is fluidly sealed with at least two of the rails (30). The first and second panels (50, 60) are spaced from each other to define a fluid duct (70) therebetween.