Engine Fastening Shackle With Encapsulated Anti-Friction Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anti-friction coatings on fastening shackles for aircraft engines degrade prematurely, leading to wear and peeling issues that compromise mechanical connections and require frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The shackle design incorporates anti-friction coatings with protective rims and flanges to encapsulate the coatings, preventing edge flaking and peeling, and uses specific materials like copper-nickel-indium alloys and nanocomposite coatings to enhance durability and interface quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anti-friction coatings are applied to connection surfaces, then wear is reduced and connection quality is improved, but the coatings degrade and peel prematurely from edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating protective rims and flanges during the manufacturing stage that prevent edge flaking and peeling before it occurs. The rims are formed by machining or forming operations that create encapsulating structures around the coating edges, establishing protection in advance rather than reacting to degradation after it starts.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective rims and flanges act as beforehand cushioning by providing mechanical protection to the coating edges against thermal and mechanical stresses. These structures cushion the coating edges from exposure to high temperatures and mechanical wear that would otherwise cause premature degradation and peeling.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If protective structures are added to encapsulate coatings, then coating life is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function with existing ball joint components by integrating rims and flanges into the ring and sleeve structures. Rather than adding separate protective devices, the protection is combined with the functional elements that already exist in the ball joint assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective rims and flanges are applied locally only where needed - at the edges and contact regions of the ball joint components. This localized approach provides protection exactly where the coating is most vulnerable to edge flaking and peeling, without unnecessarily complicating the entire device structure.
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 design significantly extends the life of anti-friction coatings, reducing maintenance needs and associated costs while maintaining the quality of mechanical connections between aircraft engines and pylons.
Implementation Method 1
These engine fastening shackles use anti-friction coatings to limit the wear of contact surfaces between connection elements
Implementation Method 2
said first region is bordered by first rims forming a projection with respect to the spherical outer surface of the ring, around the first coating, so as to form a protective stop around the first coating and to encapsulate it
Data Source
AI summary
A shackle for fastening an aircraft engine including a ball joint with a pin including a ring including a first bore and a sleeve assembled in the first bore and having a second bore configured to receive the pin and the diameter of which progressively increases to have a flared inner surface at each of its ends, the fastening shackle being arranged such that a spherical outer surface of the ring bears an anti-friction coating produced on a region extending beyond the contact region with the body of the shackle, this first region being bordered by rims forming a projection around the coating, and/or the second bore bears an anti-friction coating on a region extending beyond its contact region with the pin, this region being bordered by rims forming a projection around this anti-friction coating, at the ends of the flared inner surface.