Elastomeric Transition Acute Rod Gap Spanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art elastomeric transitions for aircraft control surfaces require flexible rods that do not adequately expand with the skin, necessitating holes or cavities for rod placement, leading to increased manufacturing complexity, maintenance, and replacement costs due to precision requirements and frequent rod failures.
Innovation Solution
An elastomeric transition with a continuous rod extending at an acute angle between aircraft surfaces, allowing the rod to run along the gap's length and circumference, which can stretch and flex with the skin, eliminating the need for holes or cavities and enhancing responsiveness during flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If flexible rods are used to provide the skin with a desired shape, then the skin can maintain its shape under loads and deflections, but the rods do not expand adequately with the skin, requiring holes or cavities in the skin which increases manufacturing complexity and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is configured to be non-rigid relative to the elastomeric skin, allowing it to dynamically expand and contract with the skin during flight operations. This dynamic configuration eliminates the need for holes or cavities in the skin, as the rod simply lies within the skin material and moves with it, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining shape stability
Solution Approach 2:
The rod's physical state is changed from rigid to non-rigid to match the elastic properties of the skin. This parameter change allows the rod to stretch and flex with the skin, eliminating the need for specialized openings in the skin structure and simplifying both manufacturing and maintenance
2Reliability
If holes or cavities are added to hold rods, then the rods can be positioned within the skin, but precision manufacture and lubrication are required, increasing manufacturing precision requirements and maintenance needs
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is extracted from the traditional rigid positioning system requiring holes or cavities. Instead, the rod is simply placed within the skin material without requiring precise openings. This extraction of the rod from the constrained positioning system eliminates the need for precision manufacturing of holes or cavities, while still allowing the rod to be positioned and function within the skin
3Strength
If rigid rods are used, then structural support is provided, but the rods break or wear frequently, increasing replacement frequency and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is designed with non-rigid properties relative to the elastomeric skin, allowing it to flex and expand with the skin during operation. This dynamic design prevents stress concentration and failure points that occur with rigid rods, thereby improving durability and reducing replacement frequency while still providing necessary structural support through the rod's interaction with the skin
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
This configuration reduces manufacturing complexity and maintenance costs by allowing the elastomeric skin to stretch and maintain coverage of the gap, while the control rods flex and maintain attachment points, improving responsiveness and durability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric skin extending laterally between the first and second surfaces to bridge the gap
Implementation Method 2
The control rod body extends from the first rod end location laterally away from the outer perimeter of the aircraft structure at an acute angle
Data Source
AI summary
An elastomeric transition for spanning a gap between first and second surfaces on an aircraft includes an elastomeric skin. A first skin edge is configured for attachment to the first surface and a second skin edge is configured for attachment to the second surface. The elastomeric skin has a longitudinal dimension, coincident with the gap, which is significantly longer than a distance between laterally corresponding points on the first and second skin edges. At least one continuous rod is coupled at one end to a selected first point on the first surface and at another end to a selected second point, spaced apart from the first point, on the second surface. The at least one continuous rod is configured in the elastomeric transition to run along the gap such that the rod extends at an acute angle in relation to both the first and second skin edges.