Foldable Wing Tip Section Actuation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft designs face challenges in increasing wingspan to enhance efficiency while minimizing the need for infrastructure adaptations and avoiding increased airport fees, as elongating wings requires significant changes and incurs additional costs.
Innovation Solution
A foldable wing arrangement with a pivotable tip section relative to a base section, utilizing a differential gearbox and motor system for actuation, allowing the wing to transition between deployed and stowed positions, ensuring operational reliability and simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the wingspan of an aircraft is increased to enhance flight efficiency, then fuel consumption is reduced, but infrastructure adaptations are required and airport fees increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is designed with a foldable tip section that can dynamically change its spanwise length between a deployed position (for efficient flight) and a stowed position (for reduced infrastructure requirements). This dynamic adaptability allows the aircraft to optimize fuel consumption during flight while minimizing infrastructure adaptation needs at airports.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing is divided into a base section and a pivotable tip section that can be independently positioned. The tip section can be folded back against the base section to reduce overall wingspan, allowing the aircraft to operate from existing infrastructure while maintaining the option for extended wingspan during flight for improved fuel efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a foldable wing construction is provided to increase wingspan without infrastructure adaptations, then airport fees are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is segmented into a base section and a tip section that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the tip section to be folded back against the base section using a pivot axis, reducing overall wingspan without requiring complex multi-component folding mechanisms. The segmented design simplifies the folding action while achieving wingspan adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable wing uses a pivot axis to enable dynamic repositioning of the tip section between deployed and stowed positions. This dynamic mechanism provides wingspan adjustability while maintaining relatively simple construction, as the pivot-based folding is more straightforward than alternative folding solutions.
3Length of moving object
If the tip section is made pivotable to enable span adjustment, then wingspan flexibility is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is divided into a base section and a tip section connected by a pivot axis. This segmentation allows the tip section to be independently positioned at different angles, providing spanwise length adjustability while using a relatively simple pivot connection rather than a complex articulated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot axis enables dynamic repositioning of the tip section between a deployed position (extending the wing span) and a stowed position (folding the wing). This dynamic pivot mechanism achieves wingspan flexibility with minimal structural complexity, as it relies on a single rotation axis rather than multiple interconnected moving parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A wing (5) having a base section (5) and a tip section (13), the base section (7) having a first end portion (9) and a second end portion (11), the tip section (13) having a third end portion (15) and a fourth end portion (17), wherein the second end portion (11) and the third end portion (15) are coupled so that the tip section (13) is pivotable with respect to the base section (7) about a pivot axis (19, 19′), and an actuating arrangement having an actuator (21) which is coupled to the base section (7) and the tip section (13) and which is operable to effect a pivotal movement of the tip section (13) relative to the base section (7) between a stowed position and a deployed position.