Aircraft Flap Fairing Tailcone Retraction Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft flap support fairings face challenges when positioned in line with engines due to heat and vibration, leading to increased weight and cost, and when retracted, they can contact runways or obstacles, affecting aerodynamics and performance.

Innovation Solution

The development of a flap support fairing with a movable tailcone that can be retracted into the housing when the flap is deployed, allowing the fairing to be shortened and positioned in line with the engine without heat and vibration exposure, and preventing contact with runways or obstacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the flap support fairing is positioned in line with the engine, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but the fairing is exposed to heat and vibration from the engine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic dragVSAvoidheat and vibration exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the tailcone movable rather than fixed. The tailcone can dynamically adjust its position between extended and retracted states based on operational requirements. When retracted, the fairing achieves better aerodynamic alignment with the engine; when extended, it provides protection from heat and vibration. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between aerodynamic efficiency and protection from harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the tailcone is retracted into the housing, then the fairing can be positioned in line with the engine without heat and vibration exposure, but the fairing may contact runways or obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat and vibration exposureVSAvoidcontact risk with runway or obstacles

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The movable tailcone enables the fairing to dynamically adjust its length. When retracted, the fairing achieves better aerodynamic alignment with the engine; when extended, it provides protection from heat and vibration. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between aerodynamic efficiency and protection from harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the fairing is made longer to prevent contact with runways, then safety is improved, but aerodynamic efficiency deteriorates due to increased drag

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety against contactVSAvoidaerodynamic drag

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of energy

If the fairing is made shorter to improve aerodynamics, then drag is reduced, but the risk of contact with runways or obstacles increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic dragVSAvoidcontact risk with runway or obstacles

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3434583B1Articulation assemblies for retracting aircraft flap support fairings and related methods

Publication Date: 2020.12.23 THE BOEING CO

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Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary

Example articulation assemblies for retracting aircraft flap support fairing tailcones and related methods are described herein. An example flap support fairing disclosed herein includes a housing to be coupled to a bottom side of a flap on a trailing edge of a wing of an aircraft, a tailcone disposed outward from an aft end of the housing, and an articulation assembly configured to move the tailcone between an extended position in which a portion of the tailcone is disposed beyond the aft end of the housing and a retracted position in which the portion of the tailcone is disposed within the housing.