Aircraft Control Surface Damping for Free Play Chatter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft control surfaces experience excessive vibration and noise due to free play zones created by discontinuities in actuators and linkages, leading to instability and chatter.
Innovation Solution
A free play chatter suppression apparatus comprising a containment vessel filled with a lossy material, where a body is suspended within the lossy material and attached to the control surface, effectively damping the vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a spring preload is used to reduce free play, then free play is reduced, but cost and weight increase and additional force is required to overcome the spring when the control surface receives a movement command
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the damping function from traditional mechanical preload devices (springs) and implements it through a simplified containment vessel with lossy material. This removes the complex spring mechanism while maintaining free play reduction benefits through passive damping of vibrations within the free play zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring preload system with a vibrational damping system using lossy material. Instead of using mechanical elastic elements, the solution uses material damping properties to suppress vibrations and reduce free play effects, eliminating the need for forceful spring preloads.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical preload is used to reduce free play zone, then free play is reduced, but cost and weight are introduced to the aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple containment vessel filled with lossy material as a cost-effective and lightweight alternative to traditional spring preload mechanisms. The lossy material provides sufficient damping without the weight penalty of mechanical springs, representing a simpler, lighter solution that achieves the same functional goal.
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical preload is used to reduce free play zone, then free play is reduced, but additional force is required to overcome the spring when the control surface receives a desired movement command
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the forceful mechanical spring system with a passive vibrational damping approach. The lossy material dissipates vibrational energy without creating significant resistive forces during normal control surface operation, eliminating the need for additional force to overcome spring preloads while still reducing free play effects.
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 apparatus significantly reduces or eliminates free play chatter by providing sufficient damping to the control surface, thereby minimizing vibrations and noise.
Implementation Method 1
lossy material contained within the containment vessel... significantly reduces or eliminates free play chatter by providing sufficient damping to the control surface
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for suppressing free play chatter of a control surface of an aircraft. The free play chatter suppression apparatus includes a containment vessel connected to a control surface of an aircraft. A lossy material is contained within the containment vessel. A body is positioned within the lossy material. The deceleration of the body by the lossy fluid is transmitted to the control surface to dampen vibrations of the control surface.