Aircraft Floor Panel Ball Transfer Unit Bolt

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Solution Overview

Problem

In aircraft cargo holds with limited space, manual handling of heavy cargo is burdensome due to the inability to install conveyance machines, and existing ball transfer unit solutions increase weight and manufacturing costs, particularly in small aircraft.

Innovation Solution

A floor panel apparatus comprising a beam, a floor panel, and a detachable ball transfer unit bolt with a rotatable ball and bolt portion that fastens the panel to the beam, allowing for the use of existing bolt holes and reducing weight and manufacturing costs by using conventional fasteners when necessary, while ensuring air tightness and smooth object movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If ball transfer units are disposed in the floor panel to move heavy objects, then the ability to move heavy cargo is improved, but the weight of the floor panel increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to move heavy cargoVSAvoidweight of floor panel

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The floor panel system is segmented into removable ball transfer unit bolts that can be independently installed or removed. The ball transfer units are not permanently integrated into the floor panel but are instead attached via bolts that can be selectively positioned and removed based on cargo requirements, thus reducing the permanent weight of the floor panel while maintaining the capability to move heavy objects when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ball transfer units are made dynamically configurable through the bolt system, allowing the floor panel to transition between a lightweight state (bolts removed) and a functional state (bolts installed). This dynamic adaptability enables the system to optimize its weight based on operational requirements, carrying ball transfer units only when heavy cargo movement is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If dedicated floor panel with ball transfer units is manufactured, then the functionality to move heavy objects is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality to move heavy objectsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate components: the floor panel itself and the ball transfer unit bolts. This segmentation allows the use of standard, off-the-shelf ball transfer units and conventional fasteners rather than requiring custom-manufactured integrated components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ball transfer unit bolts serve multiple functions: they fasten the floor panel to the aircraft structure and simultaneously provide the ball transfer functionality for moving heavy objects. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated floor panels with built-in ball transfer units, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If ball transfer units are integrated into the floor panel, then the smoothness of object movement is improved, but the complexity of the floor panel structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoothness of object movementVSAvoidcomplexity of floor panel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ball transfer functionality is extracted from the floor panel structure itself and placed into separate bolt components. This extraction simplifies the floor panel design while maintaining the smooth movement capability through the ball transfer units in the bolts, reducing the overall structural complexity of the floor panel system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables efficient movement of heavy objects without increasing weight or manufacturing costs, improving worker safety and reducing manual labor, while maintaining air tightness and adaptability for various object shapes.

Implementation Method 1

a ball transfer unit in which a rotatable ball is disposed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentUS9963232B2Aircraft floor panel with ball transfer unit

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT

AI summary

A floor panel apparatus comprises: beams arranged inside an aircraft main body; floor panels arranged on the beams; and ball transfer unit bolts each including a ball transfer unit in which a rotatable ball is disposed and a bolt portion which is integral with the ball transfer unit, the ball transfer unit bolts configured such that the floor panels and the beams are detachably fastened together by the bolt portions with the balls protruding on the floor panel side.