Deformable Sealing Plug for One-Sided Cavity Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sealing cavities in aircraft structures, such as sail boxes, are ergonomically challenging and inefficient, particularly in restricted spaces, requiring significant injection pressure and access on both sides of the cavity.
Innovation Solution
A deformable sealing cap with an envelope that can be deformed incompressibly, a sliding rod with a compressive head, and a viscous joint that is driven outside the envelope through orifices when the envelope is distorted, allowing for easy and quick sealing of cavities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealant injection is performed from inside the wing box, then sealing compliance requirements are met, but operation time increases and ergonomics deteriorate due to cramped access space
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug is inserted from the accessible exterior side of the cavity rather than from the cramped interior space, inverting the conventional injection direction. The rod passes through the envelope from the exterior, allowing operators to perform the sealing operation from outside the wing box while the sealing action occurs inside the cavity, thus meeting compliance requirements without sacrificing ergonomics or increasing operation time
2Reliability
If sealant injection is performed from inside the wing box, then sealing compliance requirements are met, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult access and extensive preparation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug is inserted from the accessible exterior side of the cavity rather than from the cramped interior space, inverting the conventional injection direction. The rod passes through the envelope from the exterior, allowing operators to perform the sealing operation from outside the wing box while the sealing action occurs inside the cavity, thus meeting compliance requirements without sacrificing ergonomics or increasing operation time
3Reliability
If high injection pressure is used to seal deep or wide cavities, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but equipment complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The envelope is designed to be deformable, allowing it to dynamically adapt its shape as it is pulled through the cavity. This deformation capability enables the envelope to conform to irregular cavity geometries and expand into narrow spaces without requiring high injection pressure, thus maintaining sealing effectiveness while using simpler, more compact equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the envelope from a compact inserted form to an expanded deformed form as it is pulled through the cavity. This parameter change allows the envelope to fill irregular cavity shapes effectively without requiring high pressure injection equipment, reducing equipment complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness
4Reliability
If access from both sides of the cavity is required for sealing, then sealing completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug is inserted from the accessible exterior side of the cavity rather than from the cramped interior space, inverting the conventional injection direction. The rod passes through the envelope from the exterior, allowing operators to perform the sealing operation from outside the wing box while the sealing action occurs inside the cavity, thus meeting compliance requirements without sacrificing ergonomics or increasing operation time
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 enables easy and quick plugging of cavities of various shapes and sizes with a single-sided access, reducing the need for extensive preparation and minimizing labor costs while ensuring a reliable waterproof seal.
Implementation Method 1
the viscous seal corresponds to a sealant that polymerizes at room temperature
Implementation Method 2
an envelope configured to be deformable in an incompressible manner... the rod comprising a first end having a head suitable for exerting a compressive force on the envelope to deform it
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3
AI summary
- Deformable sealing plug and method for sealing a cavity using such a sealing plug.- The sealing plug (1) intended to be arranged inside a cavity to seal it tightly comprises an incompressibly deformable casing (3) defining a hollow internal space (7) and provided with at least one orifice (8), a rod (9) arranged to slide through the casing (3), a first end (10) of the rod (11) having a head (12) being capable of deforming the casing (3) when a second end (11) of the rod (9) is pulled, and a viscous seal (17) arranged in the internal space (7) of the casing (3) so as to be expelled from the casing (3) through the orifice(s) (8) when the casing (3) is deformed, said sealing plug (1) being capable of easily and quickly sealing cavities of various shapes and/or sizes tightly by being deformed once positioned in the cavity, and this by a simple pull on the rod (9) from outside the cavity.