Aircraft Engine Handling Cradle with Piston Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft engine handling systems are prone to instability and tipping when one of the flexible strapping elements breaks, leading to unbalanced cradles and potential engine instability during lifting or lowering operations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed engine-handling system incorporates a cradle supported by multiple stands with actuating cylinders, detectors, and blocking mechanisms to prevent inappropriate piston movement, ensuring the cradle remains stable by blocking the piston's movement when an incident occurs, such as a strapping element break, using accelerometers or load cells for detection and fluid actuation with a plugging mechanism to halt fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible strapping elements are used to lift the cradle, then the handling system is simple and easy to operate, but the system becomes unstable and the engine may tip when one element breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The handling system is divided into multiple independent stands (typically three or more), each with its own actuating cylinder and detector system. This segmentation ensures that if one stand or strapping element fails, the other stands remain independent and can maintain cradle stability, preventing engine tipping while keeping the overall system relatively simple to operate.
2Reliability
If rigid support structures are used to ensure cradle stability, then the engine handling is reliable, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each stand is equipped with a detector (such as an accelerometer or load cell) that provides real-time feedback on the stand's status or the cradle's position. When abnormal movement or excessive load is detected, the system automatically activates the blocking mechanism to prevent inappropriate piston movement, ensuring cradle stability without requiring complex rigid support structures throughout the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the actuating cylinder and the cradle. It allows the piston to move freely during normal operation but automatically engages to prevent movement when abnormal conditions are detected. This intermediary component provides reliable stability control without requiring the entire handling system to be complex or rigid.
3Reliability
If detectors and blocking mechanisms are added to each stand, then the system reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each stand is equipped with its own detector and blocking mechanism that automatically detects abnormal conditions and activates protection without requiring external intervention. The detector monitors the stand's status or cradle position in real-time, and when abnormal movement or excessive load is detected, the blocking mechanism automatically engages to prevent inappropriate piston movement. This self-service capability ensures high reliability while keeping the control system relatively simple, as each stand independently manages its own safety without requiring complex centralized control.
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 system effectively stabilizes the cradle and prevents the engine from tipping by detecting and responding to inappropriate movements, ensuring safe handling even if a strapping element fails, thereby maintaining engine stability during lifting and lowering operations.
Implementation Method 1
The actuating cylinder is actuated by a fluid, and the supply comprises a fluid source and supply intended to supply the actuating cylinder with fluid when the piston is intended to be raised
Implementation Method 2
the detector is an accelerometer fixed to the piston or the fixing structure, and the inappropriate movement of the piston is detected by measuring an acceleration above a threshold using the accelerometer
Implementation Method 3
the detector is a load cell arranged to measure the axial load applied on the piston, and the detection of an inappropriate movement of the piston consists of a load measured by the load cell above a threshold
Implementation Method 4
the blocking comprises a plugging intended alternately to adopt a blocking position in which it prevents the fluid from flowing between the actuating cylinder and the fluid source
Data Source
AI summary
A system for following the handling of an aircraft engine includes a cradle which supports the engine and stands which are spread out under the cradle. Each stand includes a seating configured to secure the stand on the ground, an actuating cylinder secured to the seating and having a translationally mobile piston, a fixing structure secured to the exterior end of the piston and configured to be fixed to the cradle, and a fluid source which causes the piston to be raised or lowered. Each stand also includes a detector designed to detect an inappropriate movement of the piston and a blocking which blocks the piston from moving when the detector detects an inappropriate movement of the piston. Thus, when an inappropriate movement of the piston is detected, the blocking blocks the movement of the cradle and prevents it from tipping.