Flight Control Surface Stand With Adjustable Cradle Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stands for holding flight control surfaces of aircraft are unstable, as they typically position the heavier leading edge above the center of gravity, limiting the ability to maintain and restore the surfaces at optimal angles during various maintenance procedures.
Innovation Solution
A stand with a frame and hanger assemblies that include articulable cradles and tension rods, allowing for adjustable orientation of the flight control surface to maintain stability with the heavy leading edge below the center of gravity, enabling maintenance at multiple angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flight control surface is held with the leading edge above the center of gravity, then the surface is easily accessible for maintenance, but the stand becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The stand employs adjustable hanger assemblies with articulation capabilities that allow dynamic repositioning of the flight control surface. The hanger assemblies can be adjusted to hold the surface at various angles, including positions where the leading edge is below the center of gravity for stability, while still providing access for maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand allows changing the orientation parameter of the flight control surface by adjusting the hanger assemblies. This enables transition between different holding positions - from leading edge up (unstable but accessible) to leading edge down (stable) - optimizing both stability and accessibility as needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flight control surface is held in a fixed single position, then the stand structure is simple, but the surface cannot be maintained at optimal angles for various procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger assemblies are designed with articulation joints and adjustment mechanisms that enable the flight control surface to be positioned at multiple angles. This dynamic capability provides versatility for different maintenance procedures while keeping the overall stand structure relatively simple through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The stand is divided into modular components - the frame structure and multiple independent hanger assemblies. Each hanger assembly can be independently adjusted, providing versatility without requiring complex integration across the entire system. This segmentation allows simple individual components to combine into a versatile whole.
Data Source
AI summary
A stand for holding a flight control surface of an aircraft wing. The stand has a longitudinal spine supported by plural uprights and supporting at least two hanger assemblies. Each hanger assembly has attachment points transversely outboard of the spine. Rods articulably depend downwardly from the respective attachment points to be articulably connected at a cradle. The cradle is configured to fixedly hold an aircraft flight control surface for maintenance. By adjusting the transverse spacing of the rods from the spine, the attitude of the flight control surface can be adjusted as needed for a particular maintenance task.