Drain Mast Connector Rigid Interface Pipe Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drain-mast connector design in aircraft is complex and prone to deformation during mounting, leading to potential sealing issues and difficulty in replacing a damaged drain-mast, which can result in system stoppage and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A drain-mast connector with an interface pipe extending inside the fuselage and a nipple-like end projecting over the fuselage underside, allowing for rigid and visible attachment, enabling easy connection and replacement of the drain-mast pipe without deformation, and incorporating a flange connection for sealing and lightning protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bellows is used to connect the drain-mast to the aircraft-internal grey water system, then the connection is sealed, but the mounting becomes complicated and the bellows may bend or snap off during mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate components: a rigid interface pipe with flange connection for mounting to the fuselage, and a separate drain-mast assembly. This segmentation eliminates the bellows component that caused mounting difficulties while maintaining sealing through the flange interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface pipe acts as an intermediary element between the fuselage and the drain-mast. It provides a rigid, visible mounting point with flange connection that simplifies the assembly process while ensuring reliable sealing, replacing the problematic bellows component.
2Strength
If the drain-mast is mounted blind without unobstructed view, then the outer skin of the fuselage is protected, but errors in mounting cannot be noticed immediately
Solution Approach 1:
The interface pipe extends the connection point from a concealed recess position to a visible position on the outer surface of the fuselage. This dimensional change allows mounting to be performed with full visual access, enabling immediate detection of errors while the flange connection maintains structural integrity.
3Reliability
If a separate ground wire is installed for lightning protection, then lightning protection is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lightning protection function is merged with the interface pipe structure. The flange connection and mounting structure of the interface pipe serve dual purposes: mechanical attachment and electrical grounding for lightning protection, eliminating the need for a separate ground wire.
Data Source
AI summary
A drain-mast connector, for use in transportation vehicles such as aircraft, includes an interface pipe which extends through an outer skin of a fuselage of an aircraft via a nipple-like connector. Such a connector allows for simple plug connection of the drain mast pipe and allows less contamination of the fuselage due to grey water disposal. Such a plug-like connection does not require a complicated mounting process.