Aircraft Engine Module Handling Assembly with Pivoting Carriage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The handling of aircraft engine modules is challenging due to their bulkiness, heaviness, and fragility, requiring delicate operations to change their rotational axis from vertical to horizontal during assembly, which is time-consuming and prone to damage without adequate support mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A handling assembly featuring a moving carriage with an upper reinforcement structure and tooling that secures the module with a 'strongback' system, allowing for safe tipping and positioning without direct contact, and a lifting mechanism to adjust height, reducing manual interventions and risks of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the module is handled directly without adequate support mechanisms, then the handling operation becomes simpler, but the risk of damage increases due to impact and excessive contact pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling operation simplicityVSAvoidmodule damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a carriage with a module support frame and upper reinforcement structure as an intermediary between the handling system and the engine module. This intermediary provides distributed support surfaces that reduce contact pressure and prevent damage during tipping and positioning operations, resolving the contradiction between handling simplicity and damage prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the module is tipped from vertical to horizontal position without proper support, then the rotation operation is faster, but the module stability deteriorates and collisions may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation speedVSAvoidmodule stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The carriage is designed with a module support frame and upper reinforcement structure that are positioned in advance to catch and support the module during the tipping operation. This beforehand preparation ensures that when the module rotates from vertical to horizontal, it is continuously supported, maintaining stability throughout the transition and preventing collisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If special brackets (lugs) are added to the module for stable positioning, then the module can rest stably on the carriage, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodule positioning stabilityVSAvoidadditional brackets and lugs

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding lugs to the module to rest on the carriage, the patent inverts the approach by designing the carriage with a module support frame and upper reinforcement structure that actively support and position the module. This reversal eliminates the need for additional module modifications while achieving stable positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Strength

If strongbacks are assembled at the ends of the module to strengthen it, then the module strength increases, but the device complexity and assembly time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodule structural strengthVSAvoidstrongback assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the strongback function with the carriage structure itself. The upper reinforcement structure of the carriage serves both as part of the carriage and as the strengthening element, eliminating the need for separate strongback assemblies while providing the necessary structural support during handling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Facilitates rapid and secure assembly of aircraft engine modules with fewer manual precautions, minimizing the risk of damage and improving efficiency by enabling safe and controlled rotation and positioning.

Implementation Method 1

tipping of the module, which is required to change from the transport configuration with a vertical rotational axis to the assembly configuration with a horizontal rotational axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

pivoting around a horizontal axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS9309008B2Aircraft engine module handling assembly

Publication Date: 2016.04.12 SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES SAS

AI summary

An aircraft engine module handling assembly including a carriage, a pivoting portion at a top of the carriage, a module support tooling, and an additional mechanism for assembly of the tooling on the pivoting portion, such that the module can be rotated from an original vertical position, observed when it reaches an assembly shop in a crate, to a horizontal position suitable for its assembly with another module of an engine.