Flying Object Control Surface Lattice Structure Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control surfaces for flying objects are heavy due to solid construction, increasing flight performance costs and susceptibility to denting from wind pressure, while lacking optimal rigidity and torsional strength.

Innovation Solution

A control surface with a lattice structure supported by a skin, where the lattice's diameter and pitch can be varied to enhance mechanical strength in specific directions, fabricated using 3D printing techniques like laser sintering, allowing for adjustable bending and torsional rigidity while reducing weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a solid control surface is formed by cutting from a forged block, then bending rigidity and torsional rigidity are secured, but weight is inevitably increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebending rigidity and torsional rigidityVSAvoidweight of control surface

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control surface is divided into a skin and a lattice structure framework. The lattice structure segments the solid interior into a framework of struts arranged in repeating geometric patterns, maintaining structural integrity while reducing material usage and weight compared to a solid construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lattice structure creates a porous or cellular interior framework within the control surface. This porous structure provides sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity while significantly reducing weight compared to a solid control surface, achieving an optimal balance between strength and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Strength

If a solid control surface is used, then structural strength is ensured, but susceptibility to denting from wind pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidsusceptibility to denting

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lattice structure allows for local optimization of structural properties. The strut arrangement and cross-sectional characteristics can be varied in different regions to specifically address local requirements for dent resistance while maintaining overall structural strength, providing tailored protection against wind pressure effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If cutting fabrication is used for control surface, then structural integrity is achieved, but cost of materials and processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcost of materials and processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the fabrication parameter from traditional cutting methods to additive manufacturing (3D printing). This parameter change enables the creation of complex lattice structures with optimized strut arrangements that would be difficult or expensive to achieve through cutting, while reducing material waste and processing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control surface combines a skin material with a lattice structure material, creating a composite construction. This composite approach allows optimization of each component for its specific function while reducing overall material costs and improving manufacturing efficiency compared to using a single solid material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 lattice structure provides improved rigidity and resistance to denting while minimizing weight, enhancing flight performance and reducing material costs compared to solid control surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

fabricated using 3D printing techniques like laser sintering

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Implementation Method 2

fabricated using 3D printing techniques like laser sintering

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentUS11203408B2Control surface of flying object, and flying object

Publication Date: 2021.12.21 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

The control surface according to the present invention controls an attitude of a flying object, and includes a skin covering an internal space and a lattice structure supporting the skin in the internal space. The lattice structure has mechanical strength that is changeable in one or both of a surface length direction and a surface width direction. For example, the mechanical strength at a root of the control surface in the surface length direction may be made larger than the mechanical strength of other regions in the surface length direction, or the mechanical strength at a front edge and a rear edge in the surface width direction may be made larger than the mechanical strength of other regions in the surface width direction.