Folding Wing Tip Mechanism for Aircraft Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft designs face limitations in efficiency due to the constraints of airport infrastructure, which restrict the adoption of larger aircraft with longer wingspans. Existing solutions, such as winglets, do not fully replicate the fuel efficiency gains of extended wingspans.
Innovation Solution
A folding wing tip mechanism that allows the wing tip to pivot relative to the wing root, adjusting between an extended position for flight efficiency and a retracted position for compatibility with smaller airport spaces. This is achieved through a wing-tip hinge, actuator, bell crank, and wing-tip coupler system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the wingspan is extended to improve aerodynamic efficiency and fuel economy, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the aircraft cannot navigate tighter spaces and fit into smaller airport facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The wing tip is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position between extended and retracted states. The wing tip hinge assembly enables the wing tip to rotate about a hinge axis, transforming the static wing structure into a dynamic one that can adapt its span according to operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing is divided into separate functional segments: a fixed wing root and a movable wing tip section. This segmentation allows the wing tip to be independently controlled and positioned, enabling the aircraft to optimize between long-span flight configuration and short-span ground maneuvering configuration.
2Loss of energy
If the wingspan is extended to improve aerodynamic efficiency, then aerodynamic drag is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanisms required for folding
Solution Approach 1:
The wing tip hinge assembly creates a dynamic mechanism that allows the wing tip to rotate between extended and retracted positions. This dynamic structure enables the aircraft to achieve low drag during flight with extended wings while minimizing drag penalty during ground operations with retracted wings.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing tip hinge acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed wing root and the movable wing tip. It provides the necessary rotational freedom while maintaining structural integrity, enabling the wing tip to change position without requiring complex actuation systems throughout the entire wing structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wing tip is made movable to enable folding, then adaptability to airport infrastructure is improved, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The wing tip hinge assembly provides a controlled dynamic joint that maintains structural strength while enabling movement. The hinge is designed to bear the aerodynamic and structural loads during flight when the wing tip is extended, ensuring that the movable connection does not compromise overall wing strength.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the wing into a strong fixed root and a movable tip section, the structural integrity of the main wing structure is preserved. The wing root remains rigid and strong to handle primary loads, while only the outer tip section requires the movable hinge mechanism, minimizing the impact on overall structural strength.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft wing includes a wing root having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a distal end. The wing also includes a wing tip and a wing-tip hinge that pivotally couples the wing tip to the wing root and defines a wing-tip axis that is perpendicular to a folding plane. The wing tip is pivotable about the wing-tip axis, within the folding plane, between, and inclusive of, an extended position and a retracted position, relative to the wing root. When in the extended position, the leading edge of the wing tip extends from the leading edge of the wing root in a spanwise direction of the wing root. When in the retracted position, the leading edge of the wing tip extends from the leading edge of the wing root in a chordwise direction of the wing root.