Composite Internal Beam Traversing Airtight Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to create a composite internal beam for aircraft structures that can effectively transfer stresses across airtight walls without relying on metallic elements, as carbon fiber composite materials are not well-suited for flexion and combining them with metal fittings leads to issues like expansion and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A composite internal beam that traverses airtight walls with a cutaway section, using sealing means to ensure sealing and made entirely of composite materials, eliminating the need for metallic elements to transfer stresses, with optional reinforcement ribs for added strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal fittings are used to connect composite beam sections at airtight walls, then stress transmission is ensured, but expansion differences and corrosion issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by making the beam entirely of composite material, eliminating the hybrid metal-composite construction. The beam sections and connecting elements are all made from the same composite material family, ensuring uniform thermal expansion characteristics and eliminating galvanic corrosion between dissimilar materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials throughout the beam structure, including the sections, fittings, and sealing elements. This allows the entire assembly to expand uniformly and eliminates corrosion issues associated with metal-composite interfaces, while still providing adequate stress transmission through the composite construction.
2Strength
If aluminum alloy beam sections are used, then stress taking-up capability is sufficient, but weight consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces aluminum alloy beam sections with composite material sections that have superior strength-to-weight ratios. The composite construction maintains adequate stress taking-up capability while significantly reducing the weight of the beam structure, contributing to reduced aircraft fuel consumption.
3Weight of moving object
If composite material sections are used for traction/compression, then weight is reduced, but flexion capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sealing means as an intermediary element that connects composite beam sections at airtight walls. These sealing elements provide the necessary flexibility and stress transmission capability that pure composite sections lack, enabling the lightweight composite construction to adequately handle flexion stresses while maintaining weight reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters at the beam sections by providing reinforcement elements and sealing means that modify the mechanical properties. This allows the composite sections to maintain their lightweight advantage while gaining sufficient flexion capability through the enhanced construction at critical locations.
4Stability of the object's composition
If airtight walls are traversed by beam sections, then structural continuity is achieved, but sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural beam function with the sealing function by integrating sealing means directly into the beam construction at the airtight wall intersections. This combination eliminates the need for separate sealing systems and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining both structural continuity and airtightness.
Data Source
AI summary
A beam for reinforcing the structure of an aircraft is located inside the fuselage of the aircraft. The fuselage includes at least one pressurized zone (P) that is separated by at least one airtight wall (18) of at least one other non-pressurized zone (16), the beam and the at least one airtight wall being intersecting. The beam traverses the at least one airtight wall (18) that includes a cutaway that is adapted to the section of the beam, whereby sealing elements (30) are provided to ensure the sealing between the beam and the airtight wall (18) that is traversed.