Flat Welded Air Hose With Elastic Collapse for Airtight Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-conditioned air hoses for aircraft are not adequately designed for compact storage and durability, particularly when deflated, and lack effective airtight seals and attachment features for efficient air delivery.
Innovation Solution
The air hoses are formed from woven polyamide fabric with a weldable thermoplastic surface coating, featuring airtight welded seams and reinforcing stitches, along with attachment features like hook-and-loop fasteners, to create a durable and compact air delivery system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the air hose is made flat and rollable for compact storage, then storage space is reduced, but the structural integrity and airtightness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The air hose employs a flat, flexible construction with multiple layers including an inner tube, reinforcement layers, and an outer cover, all made from flexible materials that can be rolled compactly while maintaining structural integrity and airtightness when inflated
Solution Approach 2:
The hose uses composite material construction with multiple layers (inner tube, reinforcement layers, outer cover) made from different materials bonded together, providing both compact flexibility when deflated and sufficient structural integrity and airtightness when inflated
2Length of moving object
If the air hose is made longer to reach aircraft from distance, then coverage area is increased, but the hose weight and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flat, flexible design allows the hose to be easily coiled and maneuvered despite its length, reducing handling difficulty while maintaining the required 18-meter length for adequate coverage area
3Ease of manufacture
If the air hose uses traditional stitching for seams, then manufacturing is simpler, but airtightness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical stitching with ultrasonic welding technology, which uses ultrasonic vibrations to fuse the thermoplastic polyurethane material, creating strong, airtight seams without needle holes or stitching gaps that would compromise airtightness
4Device complexity
If the air hose lacks attachment features, then the structure is simpler, but connection security to aircraft is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hose incorporates universal attachment features including eyelets and hook-and-loop fasteners that provide secure connection to aircraft while maintaining relatively simple construction, allowing the same hose design to be used across different aircraft types
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 solution provides a compact, durable, and airtight air hose that can be easily stored and deployed, ensuring efficient air delivery to aircraft, even when deflated, with enhanced durability and attachment capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The inner surfaces are welded to each other to join the weldable surface coatings and form a welded seam
Implementation Method 2
The elastic strip causes the tube to collapse in a radial direction when not extended or inflated
Data Source
AI summary
An air hose and a method for making an air hose that includes a woven polyamide fabric having an edge, a weldable surface coating extending along the edge, and a welded seam extending along the edge to form a tube.