Dome-Shaped Pressure Bulkhead with Extension Petals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft designs require enlarging the fuselage to increase pressurized cabin space, which is challenging due to the structural constraints and high safety requirements of the rear pressure bulkhead, making it difficult to modify or relocate without compromising structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A dome-shaped rear pressure bulkhead with built-in extension components that distribute loads uniformly, allowing the bulkhead to be positioned after the orbital fuselage joint connection, thereby increasing pressurized space without enlarging the fuselage, using a ring-shaped attachment area and angled fittings for secure attachment to circumferential and longitudinal structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the fuselage is enlarged to increase pressurized cabin space, then the pressurized space is increased, but the aircraft size and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure bulkhead is segmented into a dome-shaped structure with built-in extension components, allowing the pressurized space to be extended into the rear fuselage without requiring overall fuselage enlargement. The extension components are distributed along the periphery and attach to longitudinal structures, creating a modular configuration that increases cabin volume while maintaining compact fuselage dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a conventional flat or slightly curved pressure bulkhead to a dome-shaped structure with built-in extension components that protrude into the rear fuselage. This dimensional change allows the pressurized space to occupy three-dimensional volume in the rear fuselage region, effectively increasing cabin space without extending the fuselage length.
2Volume of moving object
If the rear pressure bulkhead location is changed to increase pressurized space, then the pressurized space is increased, but the structural integrity and safety requirements become more difficult to meet
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure bulkhead features localized reinforcement through built-in extension components that are strategically distributed along the periphery. These extension components provide targeted structural support at critical locations where they attach to longitudinal structures, ensuring that safety and structural integrity requirements are met specifically at load-critical regions while allowing the overall bulkhead design to be optimized for space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure bulkhead employs a composite structure combining a dome-shaped main body with built-in extension components. This composite configuration integrates different structural elements that work together to maintain pressure containment and structural integrity, with the extension components providing reinforced attachment points to the fuselage longitudinal structures.
3Volume of moving object
If the rear pressure bulkhead is positioned after the orbital fuselage joint connection, then pressurized space is increased without enlarging fuselage, but the attachment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the pressure bulkhead with extension components that are integrated into its structure. These extension components are built-in rather than separate attachments, and they directly engage with longitudinal structures of the rear fuselage. This merging eliminates the need for separate attachment mechanisms at the orbital joint location, reducing overall attachment complexity while enabling positioning after the joint connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A rear pressure bulkhead comprising a dome shaped structure, and a set of built-in extension components (“petals”) homogeneously distributed along the periphery of the dome-shaped structure. This results in the dome-shaped structure being secured to a frame of the aircraft, while the extension components are secured to longitudinal structures of the aircraft. An aircraft rear fuselage is provided including such a rear pressure bulkhead so that the available cabin space, i.e., pressurized space, is extended without enlarging the fuselage.