Aircraft Flap Lever with Rocker Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft flap levers allow pilots to accidentally or intentionally skip through multiple positions in a single action, leading to abrupt flap repositioning and potential safety concerns due to lack of effective locking mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A lever system with a rocker mechanism and biasing device that ensures ease of movement between positions while preventing skip-over, utilizing a locking pin and angularly spaced notches with a rotation-limiting arrangement to securely lock the lever in each position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional flap lever is used without effective locking mechanisms, then the lever allows easy movement and quick position changes, but it enables accidental or intentional skipping through multiple positions in a single action, causing abrupt flap repositioning and safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The lever mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a locking pin for position fixation, a rocker mechanism with teeth for controlled movement, and angularly spaced notches for discrete positions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the pin provides reliable locking while the rocker mechanism enables controlled transitions between positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker mechanism acts as an intermediary between the lever input and the locking pin output. When the lever is moved, the rocker mechanism mediates this motion by rotating the locking pin angularly across the notches, preventing direct skipping while maintaining ease of operation. The rocker's teeth engage with the pin to control the transition path.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent position skipping, then position stability and safety are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin and rocker mechanism are merged into a single integrated assembly that rotates together on a common axle. The locking pin is positioned within the rocker mechanism, and both components move as a unified unit. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining effective locking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a locking element when the pin engages the notches, a movement control mechanism that prevents skipping, and a position indicator through its angular rotation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the lever allows smooth transitions between positions, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of skipping positions and causing abrupt repositioning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The angularly spaced notches are pre-positioned on the housing at specific angular locations. The locking pin is preliminarily positioned within the rocker mechanism, ready to engage with the notches in a controlled sequence. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the lever is moved smoothly, the pin naturally engages with successive notches in order, preventing skipping before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker mechanism serves as an intermediary that translates smooth lever movement into controlled angular rotation of the locking pin. The rocker's teeth act as a mediator between the lever's continuous motion and the pin's discrete engagement with notches, ensuring smooth transitions while preventing the pin from skipping positions.
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
The system effectively prevents position skip-over, ensuring precise control surface positioning and enhancing flight safety by allowing smooth transitions between flap positions while maintaining secure locking.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing device configured to offer resistance to a compressive force applied axially when the lever is pushed down, the biasing device being located between a rigid portion of the lever and the axle
Implementation Method 2
compression spring loosely mounted on the longitudinal pin above the axle thus compelling the activation portion of the lever outward relative to the housing
Implementation Method 3
the rocker mechanism, in embodiments, can include a pair of outwardly directed tension springs having tops attached to the bottom of the rocker mechanism, bottoms attached to a frame member below the rocker mechanism, and the tension springs serving to bias the rocker mechanism into the upright equilibrium state
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft flap lever is disclosed. The lever is included in a housing, and is supported on an axle. The lever also has a protruding pin that is biased upwards towards four optional radially-spaced notches. Each notch results in a different lever setting, and thus different flap position. The system includes a rocker mechanism that is pivotally mounted on the axle, and prevents skipping over notches when the lever is activated.