Foldable Aircraft Wing Sliding Drive Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft require a foldable wing solution that enhances reliability and safety while minimizing design and maintenance efforts, as existing foldable wing technologies have not been successfully integrated into service.
Innovation Solution
A foldable wing design featuring a base wing and wing tip with engagement means and a drive mechanism allowing sliding and rotary motion, utilizing linear guides and movement elements to move the wing tip relative to the base wing, enabling a compact storage position without dedicated rotary drives or complex hinge mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a mechanical lever system with two hinge devices is used for pivoting motion of the wing end piece, then the wing can be folded into a compact position, but the device complexity and maintenance needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotary drive from the wing tip structure and relocates it to the wing root, where it drives the movement elements through the engagement means. This removes the complexity of having rotary drives at the wing tip while achieving the same folding function through the drive mechanism with movement elements that guide the wing tip along a sliding course.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the translational and rotational movements into a single integrated drive mechanism. The movement elements, supported in linear guides, translate rotary motion from the drive into the compound motion of the wing tip along a sliding course, merging multiple functions into one mechanism rather than requiring separate hinge devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hinge devices and rotary drives are provided at the wing tip, then the folding function is achieved, but the reliability and safety of the system decrease
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the rotary drives from the wing tip structure and relocating them to the wing root, the patent reduces the number of critical components at the wing tip. The drive mechanism with movement elements provides a more reliable connection with minimum possible effort, as the engagement means can be designed to conform with common wing box design without requiring complete re-design of major components.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement means act as an intermediary between the drive mechanism and the wing tip structure. These engagement means, integrated into the base wing and wing tip respectively, provide a reliable connection interface that transfers motion without requiring direct complex mechanical linkages at the wing tip, thereby improving reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complete re-design of major wing components is performed to integrate foldable mechanism, then the foldable function is achieved, but the manufacturing effort and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement means are designed to conform with common wing box design, allowing the foldable mechanism to be integrated without complete re-design of all major components. The base wing and wing tip can be based on a common design consisting of at least one spar, a plurality of ribs attached to the at least one spar, as well as an outer skin enclosing the at least one spar and the ribs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local modifications to the wing structure at specific locations (base wing end region and wing tip connection region) rather than requiring complete re-design. The engagement means are integrated into these local regions, allowing the rest of the wing structure to maintain its original design and manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable wing for an aircraft includes a base wing having a base wing end region, a wing tip having a connection region, a first engagement means integrated into the base wing, a second engagement means integrated into the wing tip, and a drive mechanism coupled with the wing tip for moving the wing tip relative to the base wing. The first and second engagement means are adapted for engaging each other along a sliding course from a first position, in which the connection region of the wing tip and the base wing end region are in a flush contact to form a continuous wing, up to a second position, in which the first engagement means and the second engagement means disengage. The drive mechanism includes a first movement element and a second movement element at least partially extending in a spanwise direction, and supported in a linear guide each.