Ceramic-Lined Metallic Aircraft Cable Raceway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft electrical cable raceways are inadequate for high-power cables, as they fail to protect against higher temperatures and do not optimize spatial efficiency, especially in areas like the aircraft wing where space is limited and aerofoil shape needs to be maintained.
Innovation Solution
An electrical cable raceway formed partially or fully from ceramic materials, combined with a metallic frame, to provide thermal protection and potentially embedded, layered, or sprayed ceramic inserts or coatings, using materials like alumina, silicon nitride, or aluminium nitride, to enhance thermal resistance and cable shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional aluminium raceways are used for high-power cables, then the structure is simple and lightweight, but the cables are not protected from high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining ceramic material (for thermal protection) with metallic material (for structural strength and conductivity). The ceramic liner or coating is integrated within or onto the metallic frame, creating a composite structure that provides both high-temperature resistance and mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between thermal protection and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements the nesting principle by placing a ceramic liner inside a metallic frame, or applying ceramic coating onto the metallic structure. The ceramic component is nested within the metallic raceway body, allowing the smaller ceramic element to provide thermal protection while the larger metallic frame provides structural support, thus achieving thermal protection without excessive complexity.
2Temperature
If separate protection methods are used for high-power cables, then thermal protection is improved, but the space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated raceway structure. The ceramic-lined metallic raceway simultaneously provides thermal protection, electromagnetic shielding, mechanical support, and cable routing functions. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate protection components, thereby providing thermal protection while maintaining space efficiency in the aircraft wing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By using composite materials with distinct functional properties (ceramic for thermal protection, metal for structural and shielding functions), the patent achieves multiple protection functions within a single raceway component, optimizing the use of limited space in aircraft cable routing applications.
3Temperature
If ceramic material is used for the raceway body, then thermal protection is enhanced, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using ceramic material only in specific locations where thermal protection is most needed (as a liner or coating on the cable-contacting surfaces), rather than making the entire raceway body from ceramic. The metallic frame constitutes the majority of the structure, providing strength with lower weight, while localized ceramic application provides targeted thermal resistance, optimizing the weight-protection trade-off.
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 ceramic and metallic composite raceway effectively protects high-power cables from extreme temperatures and optimizes spatial efficiency by integrating thermal protection and electromagnetic shielding within the aircraft's structural design.
Implementation Method 1
the ceramic material can protect the raceway and other cables from higher temperatures which may be associated with high power cables
Implementation Method 2
shielding the cables from electro-magnetic hazards (EMH)
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical cable raceway for an aircraft, the electrical cable raceway being formed at least in part from a ceramic material.