Elastic Air Hose Structure for Kink-Free Compact Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-conditioned air hoses for aircraft face challenges such as kinking and storage space issues, with flat hoses prone to kinking and spiral hoses requiring bulky storage systems.
Innovation Solution
An air hose design featuring a first component and a second, elastic component fastened at multiple positions along the axial direction, allowing the hose to transition between a retracted, collapsible state and an extended, inflated state, preventing kinking and facilitating compact storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If flat hoses are used for pre-conditioned air delivery, then the hose can be flattened and rolled for compact storage, but the hose is prone to kinking which reduces or prevents air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The hose incorporates an elastic component that dynamically changes the hose's structural properties between retracted and extended states. When extended, the elastic component tensions the hose to prevent kinking; when retracted, it allows the hose to collapse for compact storage. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between compact storage and reliable air flow.
2Reliability
If spiral hoses with wire reinforcement are used, then kinking is reduced or eliminated, but the hose requires bulky and costly hose retrievers for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces rigid wire reinforcement with a flexible elastic component that provides similar kinking prevention functionality. The elastic component allows the hose to maintain its shape and prevent kinking when extended, while enabling compact collapse for storage, thus eliminating the need for bulky hose retrievers.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose utilizes changes in the elastic component's physical state (stretched vs. relaxed) to alter the hose's overall properties. When stretched during use, the elastic component maintains hose integrity and prevents kinking; when relaxed during storage, it allows compact folding, resolving the storage volume issue.
3Reliability
If the hose is made fully extendable for straight line laying, then kinking is prevented, but the hose cannot be compactly stored when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic component provides dynamic tension that adapts to the hose's state. When the hose is extended for use, the elastic component maintains tension to prevent kinking; when retracted for storage, the elastic component relaxes to allow compact folding, thus resolving the contradiction between extendability and compact storage.
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 design prevents kinking and twisting of the hose, ensuring uninterrupted air supply and efficient storage by allowing the hose to be compactly folded or rolled when deflated.
Implementation Method 1
a second, elastic component, wherein the second component is fastened to the first component at a plurality of fastening positions along the axial direction of the air hose, such that the air hose is operable between a first, e.g. retracted and/or deflated, condition in which the first component is slack between axially adjacent fastening positions and is collapsible in a radial direction, and a second, e.g. extended and/or inflated, condition in which axially adjacent fastening positions are separated against a biasing force of the second component
Data Source
AI summary
An air hose, the air hose comprising a first component and a second, elastic component. The second component is fastened to the first component at a plurality of fastening positions along the axial direction of the air hose. The air hose is operable between a first condition in which the first component is slack between axially adjacent fastening positions and collapsible in a radial direction, and second condition in which axially adjacent fastening positions are separated against a biasing force of the second component.