Fluid Swivel With Perpendicular Tube Planes for Tiltrotor Hinges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tiltrotor aircraft face challenges in transferring fluids like oil, coolant, and hydraulic fluid between fixed and rotatable proprotors due to the 90-degree rotation, making traditional hose-based solutions infeasible.

Innovation Solution

A low-profile fluid swivel design that includes separate delivery and return paths with a joint system allowing the tubes to lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, accommodating the rotation and providing flexibility to handle misalignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional hose-based solutions are used to transfer fluid between fixed and rotatable proprotors, then flexibility is provided, but the solution becomes infeasible for 90-degree or greater rotations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation accommodationVSAvoidhose flexibility requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid transfer system is divided into multiple rigid tube segments connected by universal joints. Each segment can be independently positioned, allowing the system to accommodate large rotations through the articulated arrangement of segments rather than relying on a single flexible hose

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Universal joints serve as intermediary elements between rigid tube segments, enabling the transmission of fluid while accommodating angular misalignments and rotations. The joints act as mediators that allow rigid components to work together in a flexible configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If rigid tubes are used for fluid transfer, then structural integrity is maintained, but the system cannot accommodate rotation and misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetube structural integrityVSAvoidrotation and misalignment accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid tube system is made dynamically adaptable through the incorporation of universal joints that allow the tubes to change their relative orientations. The joints enable the rigid structure to dynamically adjust to rotation and misalignment while maintaining the structural integrity of the tube segments themselves

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If a compact fluid swivel design is implemented, then space is saved, but the system must still accommodate 90-degree rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid swivel sizeVSAvoidrotation range

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid transfer path is arranged in three-dimensional space using vertical stacking of tube segments connected by universal joints. This spatial arrangement allows the system to accommodate 90-degree rotations through compact vertical positioning rather than requiring large horizontal spaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11181209B2Fluid swivel

Publication Date: 2021.11.23 TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC

AI summary

A fluid swivel includes at least two separate fluid paths extending therethrough, configured to convey fluid across a hinge. The fluid swivel includes a first end configured to be coupled to a first pair of lines on a first side of the hinge, a second end configured to be coupled to a second pair of lines on a second side of the hinge, a joint between the first end and the second end, a first pair of tubes extending from the first end to the joint, and a second pair of tubes extending from the joint to the second end, wherein the first and second tubes lie in a plane that is generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the joint.