Heated Floor Panel Skin Bonding for Edge Damage Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heated aircraft floor panels are susceptible to edge damage and separation of the metallic skin during installation and repair, and current solutions with filler materials add weight without providing adequate robustness for harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A heated floor panel design featuring a base assembly with a honeycomb layer sandwiched between fiber-reinforced composite layers, where the panel skin is pre-formed to complement the base assembly's shape and bonded directly to it using an adhesive, eliminating the need for edge fillers and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If filler material is used around the edge of the panel for protection, then edge protection is improved, but weight increases and robustness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the filler material from the panel structure entirely. Instead of adding protective material around the edges, the design relies on the inherent structural integrity of the heated floor panel itself, including the metallic skin, heating element, and substrate assembly, to provide necessary protection without additional weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the panel by eliminating the filler material layer. This modification alters the weight parameter while maintaining or improving edge protection through optimized structural design of the remaining components, particularly the metallic skin and bonding arrangements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If filler material is used around the edge of the panel, then edge protection is improved, but the solution is not robust enough for harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the filler material that proves insufficient for harsh environments. The design instead emphasizes the structural robustness of the heated floor panel's core components, including the metallic skin, heating element, and substrate, to provide reliable edge protection without relying on inadequate filler materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite material structures within the heated floor panel assembly, combining metallic skin, heating elements, and substrate materials that collectively provide superior robustness and edge protection suitable for harsh aircraft environments, replacing the insufficient filler material approach.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If filler material is used around the edge of the panel, then edge protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the filler material component from the panel assembly, thereby reducing structural complexity. The design achieves edge protection through the integrated structure of the heated floor panel itself, removing the need for additional protective layers and simplifying the overall construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the protective function into the core structural components of the heated floor panel. The metallic skin, heating element, and substrate work together as an integrated assembly that provides both structural support and edge protection, eliminating the need for separate filler material layers.
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
This design enhances durability and reduces weight by eliminating the need for edge fillers, while maintaining structural integrity and heat distribution across the panel surface.
Implementation Method 1
bonded directly to it using an adhesive
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
PANEL SKIN FOR HEATED FLOOR PANELS A heated floor panel may comprise a base assembly (102) and a heating element located on a first surface of the base assembly (102). A panel skin (106) may be located over the heating element and the first surface of the base assembly (102). The panel skin (106) may extend from the first surface of the base assembly to a second surface of the base assembly opposite the first surface of the base assembly.