Fire-Retarding Composite Apparatus for Aircraft Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fire-retarding apparatuses in the aircraft industry are heavy and costly due to the use of materials like Steel and Titanium, which hinders weight and cost reduction efforts.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight fire-retarding composite apparatus comprising a face layer, a fire-retarding layer, and a reinforcing layer, with fire-retarding attachment members and fluid-repelling layers, designed to prevent fire spread while maintaining structural integrity and reducing weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heavy metal construction materials such as Steel and Titanium are used to make fire-retarding apparatus, then fire protection reliability is improved, but weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire protection reliabilityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining a fire-retarding layer made of lightweight materials (such as aluminum alloy, plastic, or ceramic) with a reinforcing layer. This composite structure achieves fire protection reliability without using heavy metals like steel and titanium, thereby reducing weight while maintaining protective functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If heavy metal construction materials such as Steel and Titanium are used to make fire-retarding apparatus, then fire protection reliability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire protection reliabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials comprising a fire-retarding layer of lightweight materials (aluminum alloy, plastic, or ceramic) combined with a reinforcing layer. This approach reduces material costs compared to using expensive heavy metals like titanium and inconel, while maintaining fire protection reliability through the synergistic combination of layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Weight of moving object

If a fire-retarding layer is made thinner to reduce weight, then weight reduction is achieved, but structural integrity and fire protection effectiveness may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveweightVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure where a thin fire-retarding layer is combined with a reinforcing layer. The reinforcing layer compensates for the reduced thickness of the fire-retarding layer, maintaining structural integrity and fire protection effectiveness while achieving weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the fire-retarding apparatus into separate functional layers: a fire-retarding layer for fire protection and a reinforcing layer for structural integrity. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently - the fire-retarding layer can be made thin for weight reduction while the reinforcing layer provides the necessary strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3012098B1Fire-retarding apparatus and methods of their manufacture

Publication Date: 2021.12.29 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

A fire-retarding apparatus includes a composite. The composite includes a face layer attached to a fire-retarding layer.