Double Slotted Fowler Wing Flap Chain Control System

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current hub-and-spoke air transportation model is inefficient, costly, and creates security vulnerabilities due to large passenger concentrations, requiring long distances to hubs, lengthy transfer times, and increased risks from terrorism and military attacks.

Innovation Solution

A unique aircraft design capable of operating from any airfield, with aerodynamic shapes, a composite beam wing structure, and a flap control system that allows for efficient operation, high speeds, long range, and all-weather capability, while minimizing infrastructure needs and passenger loads, and requiring only a single pilot.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the hub-and-spoke model is used to concentrate passengers at hub facilities, then airline operational efficiency is improved, but travel time increases and security risks increase due to large passenger concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairline operational efficiencyVSAvoidtravel time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the concentrated hub-and-spoke system into multiple smaller regional airports and aircraft operations. Instead of funneling all passengers through a single hub, the system divides traffic into multiple smaller streams operating from distributed regional airports, thereby maintaining operational efficiency while reducing travel time and security risks associated with large concentrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If larger aircraft are used to increase passenger capacity, then operational costs per passenger decrease, but security targets become more attractive and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational cost efficiencyVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies segmentation by using multiple smaller aircraft operating from regional airports instead of fewer large aircraft. This distributes the passenger load across multiple smaller units, reducing the security vulnerability of each individual aircraft while maintaining overall operational efficiency through the coordinated network of regional operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the key parameter of aircraft size from large to small, and shifts the operational model from centralized hub to distributed regional airports. This parameter change fundamentally alters the security profile by making each aircraft a less attractive target while maintaining economic viability through efficient regional operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If long-distance travel to hub airports is required, then airline consolidation is achieved, but time efficiency decreases and operational flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairline system consolidationVSAvoidtime efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the airline system into multiple regional operations centered at local airports rather than requiring all passengers to travel to distant hubs. This segmentation eliminates the need for long-distance pre-positioning travel while maintaining system consolidation through coordinated regional networks, thereby significantly improving time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If fewer hub facilities are used to concentrate operations, then operational costs decrease, but the system becomes more vulnerable to terrorist and military attacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational costVSAvoidterrorist and military attack risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the concentrated hub operations into multiple distributed regional airport operations. This segmentation creates numerous small, dispersed targets that are individually less vulnerable to terrorist and military attacks, while maintaining operational cost efficiency through the coordinated network of regional operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potential harm of concentration vulnerability into a benefit by deliberately dispersing operations. The very act of segmentation that reduces operational cost efficiency in traditional models actually enhances security by creating multiple small targets, thereby turning the traditional disadvantage of dispersion into a security advantage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2945861B1Double slotted fowler wing flap with chain
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 OTTO WILLIAM M
  • EP2945861B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2945861B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2
  • EP2945861B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A wing flap control system on a wing comprising at least two control plates having an opening sized to accommodate a drive shaft, a drive shaft that engages each of the openings in each of the plurality of plates, a sprocket rotatively affixed the drive shaft with the drive shaft penetrating the other control plate, at least two idler sprockets between the control plates, a chain wrapped around the sprocket and idler sprockets, a support arm rotatively coupled to the chain by a chain shoe and to a foreflap, a link arm rotatively coupled to the support arm and to a flap, where movement of the drive shaft causes the foreflap and flap to extend and retract to increase or decrease the surface area of the wing.