Eccentric Bush Joint Assembly for Airfoil Alignment Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airfoil structures in aircraft manufacturing face challenges with misalignment and dimensional variations, leading to shape deviations and prolonged assembly times, which adversely affect production throughput and aerodynamic performance.
Innovation Solution
A joint assembly using an eccentric bush and rail system that allows precise adjustment of aircraft components' positions through orthogonal movements, enabling compliance with engineering tolerances and reducing assembly time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional joining methods are used to assemble airfoil structures, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to misalignment and dimensional variations
Solution Approach 1:
The joint assembly incorporates an eccentric bush that allows dynamic adjustment of the projection position through rotation about its rotational axis. This enables the projection to move in both first and second orthogonal directions, providing adaptability to compensate for dimensional variations and achieve precise alignment between airfoil components.
Solution Approach 2:
The eccentric bush mechanism changes the positional parameters of the projection by rotating about its rotational axis, transforming the position in two orthogonal directions. The rail system further changes the position parameter along its length, allowing continuous adjustment to achieve the required alignment precision within engineering tolerances.
2Productivity
If traditional joining methods are used to assemble airfoil structures, then device complexity is kept simple, but production throughput deteriorates due to prolonged assembly times
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic adjustment capability of the eccentric bush and rail system allows assembly personnel to quickly compensate for misalignments and dimensional variations during assembly, reducing the time required to achieve proper alignment and thereby increasing production throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
By enabling continuous parameter adjustment through the eccentric bush rotation and rail movement, the system allows for rapid adaptation to component variations, significantly reducing assembly time compared to traditional fixed joining methods that require time-consuming manual alignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment is achieved through traditional methods, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to extended assembly duration
Solution Approach 1:
The eccentric bush provides dynamic positional adjustment capability, allowing assembly personnel to quickly compensate for dimensional variations and achieve precise alignment within engineering tolerances, thereby reducing the time required compared to traditional iterative alignment methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The ability to continuously change the position parameters through eccentric bush rotation and rail movement enables rapid achievement of precise alignment, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining compliance with strict engineering tolerances for airfoil structures.
4Device complexity
If a single eccentric bush is used instead of double eccentric bushes, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate due to reduced adjustment capability
Solution Approach 1:
The single eccentric bush is enhanced by adding a rail component that provides adjustment capability in a third dimension (along the rail length). This dimensional addition compensates for the reduced adjustment capability of using only one eccentric bush, maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment function is segmented between the eccentric bush (providing adjustment in two orthogonal directions through rotation) and the rail (providing adjustment along its length). This segmentation allows a single eccentric bush to achieve the same precision as a double eccentric bush system while reducing complexity.
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 joint assembly provides ergonomic fitting and adjustment, improving tolerance management and assembly speed while offering weight and space savings compared to traditional solutions.
Implementation Method 1
an eccentric bush for rotatably mounting to a first aircraft component, said eccentric bush comprising a rotational axis; a projection mounted on said eccentric bush such that rotation of the eccentric bush about its rotational axis causes movement of the projection in both a first and a second orthogonal direction relative to the first aircraft component
Implementation Method 2
the rail comprises a threaded surface which is configured to engage with a correspondingly threaded surface of the aperture such that, when the rail is received within the aperture, axial rotation of the rail relative to the aperture causes the projection to move along the rail in the second orthogonal direction
Data Source
AI summary
A joint assembly has an eccentric bush for rotatably mounting to the first aircraft component. The eccentric bush has a rotational axis. A projection is mounted on the eccentric bush such that rotation of the eccentric bush about its rotational axis causes movement of the projection in both a first and a second orthogonal direction relative to the first aircraft component. The first and second orthogonal directions are substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the eccentric bush. A rail rotatably mounts to the second aircraft component. The rail has a longitudinal axis which extends in a direction substantially parallel to the second orthogonal direction. The projection has an aperture for receiving the rail. The rail has a threaded surface which is configured to engage with a correspondingly threaded surface of the aperture.