Elastically Deformable Aircraft Track Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft track containers face issues with ice formation due to water accumulation, leading to deformation and increased mass, which affects fuel efficiency and requires high ductility materials that are expensive and heavy, and existing drainage systems can become blocked, complicating manufacturing and increasing weight.
Innovation Solution
An elastically deformable track container with a corrugated or concertina configuration and a biasing member that allows it to accommodate ice without permanent deformation, eliminating the need for high ductility materials and drainage systems, using resilient materials like fibre reinforced plastic or aluminium casting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high ductility materials are used to prevent track container deformation from ice accumulation, then the track container can accommodate ice without permanent deformation, but the material cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The track container is designed to be dynamically deformable through elastic deformation, allowing it to flex and adapt to ice accumulation rather than requiring high ductility materials. The container can temporarily change its shape to accommodate ice and then return to its original form, providing the necessary reliability without the weight penalty of heavier, more ductile materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state response of the track container from plastic deformation (permanent) to elastic deformation (temporary and reversible). By designing the container to elastically deform, it can accommodate ice accumulation without permanent damage, eliminating the need for high ductility materials while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If high ductility materials are used to prevent track container deformation from ice accumulation, then the track container can accommodate ice without permanent deformation, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material requirements from high ductility to elastic deformability. This parameter change allows the use of more cost-effective materials that can be manufactured using standard processes, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to accommodate ice accumulation without permanent deformation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If drainage systems are added to prevent ice formation in the track container, then water accumulation and ice formation are reduced, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for separate drainage systems by incorporating the drainage function directly into the track container structure itself. The container's walls are designed with features that allow water to drain through them, integrating the drainage function and eliminating additional components and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The track container is designed to serve multiple functions: it contains the track, accommodates ice accumulation through elastic deformation, and drains water through its walls. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate drainage systems, reducing device complexity and weight while preventing ice formation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If drainage systems are added to prevent ice formation in the track container, then water accumulation and ice formation are reduced, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The track container is designed to serve multiple functions: it contains the track, accommodates ice accumulation through elastic deformation, and drains water through its walls. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate drainage systems, reducing device complexity and weight while preventing ice formation.
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 solution prevents track container deformation and ice-related issues, reducing maintenance needs and allowing for lighter, less expensive materials, while self-draining and maintaining fuel tank capacity without the weight and complexity of traditional drainage systems.
Implementation Method 1
the track container is elastically deformable from a rest position to a deflected position to accommodate said track
Implementation Method 2
The track container may comprise a biasing member that is configured to elastically bias the track container into the rest position
Data Source
AI summary
A track container for receiving the track of a lift device actuator is disclosed. The track container is elastically deformable from a rest position to a deflected position to accommodate the track. The track container includes a guide member in the form of a leaf spring configured to guide the track into the track container.