Aircraft Fairing Form-Fit Attachment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft fairings for junction mechanisms between airfoil bodies and support elements are heavy, costly, and require numerous fasteners, leading to increased weight and maintenance complexity.
Innovation Solution
A form-fit connection using a male-female interlock joint or tongue and groove connection between the fairing and airfoil body, with additional fixation devices like snap-fit or shear pins, to securely attach the fairing without fasteners, distributing loads and reducing assembly time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional fasteners and brackets are used to attach the fairing to the airfoil body, then the connection strength and reliability are improved, but the weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional fasteners (screws, bolts, rivets) and brackets from the attachment system, extracting only the essential attachment function and realizing it through form-fit connection geometry alone. This eliminates unnecessary components while maintaining connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment structure serves itself through the form-fit connection between the cover element and airfoil body. The geometric interlocking provides both the connection strength and the attachment function simultaneously, without requiring additional fastening components.
2Reliability
If conventional fasteners and brackets are used to attach the fairing to the airfoil body, then the connection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes multiple complex components (brackets, fasteners, sealing elements) from the attachment system, replacing them with a simple form-fit connection between the cover element and airfoil body that provides equivalent or superior reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions (structural attachment, sealing, aerodynamic coverage) into a single integrated form-fit connection between the cover element and airfoil body, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the overall attachment structure.
3Strength
If multiple fasteners and brackets are used to attach the fairing, then the connection strength is improved, but the assembly time and maintenance effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes numerous fasteners and brackets from the attachment system, replacing them with a single form-fit connection that can be installed quickly by simply engaging the cover element with the airfoil body, dramatically reducing assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fairing into a cover element with an integrated attachment structure that can be independently installed as a single unit, eliminating the need to assemble multiple separate fastening components during installation.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement comprising an airfoil body, a junction mechanism for attaching the airfoil body to a support element of an aircraft, and a fairing for aerodynamically covering the junction mechanism. The fairing has a cover element covering a trailing end portion of the fairing. The cover element is attached to the trailing edge of the airfoil body by a form fit connection.