Configurable Harness Neutral State Configuration Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft structural parts with interconnected systems through wiring harnesses face configuration challenges due to differences in harness settings, leading to inefficiencies and safety issues, particularly requiring skilled labor and complex solutions like strapping boxes.
Innovation Solution
A configurable harness system that remains neutral until configured by a device, featuring a configuration port for setting power and signal parameters, allowing for easy adaptation to various aircraft models without the need for skilled labor or complex setups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a technician dismantles the harness connector to short specific pins for configuration, then the system can be aligned with the aircraft model, but the process becomes time consuming and requires specific skilled labour
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration pins are pre-arranged in a configuration port on the harness, and the configuration device contains pre-configured pin arrangements that can be directly mated without dismantling. This preliminary arrangement of configuration elements eliminates the need for time-consuming disassembly and pin shorting operations during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
A configuration device serves as an intermediary component between the harness and the final system connection. This device contains the pin shorting configuration in a ready-to-mate format, allowing the technician to simply connect the configuration device to the harness rather than manually manipulating individual pins.
2Adaptability or versatility
If strapping boxes are provided to converge and short wiring through switches, then configuration is possible, but the solution becomes heavy, complex, and brings about safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration functionality is segmented from the main harness body and placed in a separate, self-contained configuration device. This segmentation allows the complex pin shorting logic to be isolated in a dedicated component that can be easily replaced or reconfigured without affecting the main harness structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration device is designed as a universal component that can be mated with the harness configuration port to provide various pin shorting configurations. This multi-functional device replaces the need for multiple separate strapping boxes or complex internal harness switches, simplifying the overall system.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
There is described herein a harness (106) that remains neutral until configured by a configuration device (110). Wires that connect to specific pins responsible for the configuration of a system are taken out and connected to a configuration port (108) on the harness (106). The configuration port (108), when mated with the configuration device (110), sets a configuration setting of the system. The configuration device (110) may be used to set the power and/or signal parameters of the harness (106) for a system or to configure various options within the system itself or another system.