Frangible Electromagnetic Shielding for Aircraft Terminal Blocks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft terminal blocks lack electromagnetic shielding, making them vulnerable to external electromagnetic threats such as lightning strikes, which can damage electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic shielding system with a base, cable couplers, and a covering lid, configured to break away upon force, creating an electrical connection chamber that shields terminal blocks and connections between power feeders and engine cables from external electromagnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a terminal block is used to connect power feeders to engine cables, then the electrical connection can break away during engine separation, but the terminal block becomes vulnerable to electromagnetic threats
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal block assembly is divided into separable components (terminal block, cable couplers, covering lid) connected by frangible means, allowing the connection to break away during engine separation while maintaining electromagnetic shielding during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
A covering lid acts as an intermediary element that encloses the terminal block and electrical connections, providing electromagnetic shielding while allowing controlled breakaway through frangible attachments when engine separation occurs
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electromagnetic shielding is added to protect terminal blocks, then protection from electromagnetic threats is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic shielding structure merges multiple functions into a single integrated assembly: the covering lid provides both electromagnetic shielding and structural enclosure, while frangible attachments combine breaking-away functionality with connection maintenance during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The covering lid serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as an electromagnetic shield, provides structural enclosure for the terminal block, and incorporates frangible attachments for controlled breakaway during engine separation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively protects terminal blocks and electrical connections from external electromagnetic threats while allowing for airflow through ventilation passages, ensuring the integrity of electrical connections during engine separation events.
Implementation Method 1
The mesh shield protects the internal electrical wires from external energy, such as electromagnetic pulses, high intensity radiated fields, lighting strikes, and the like.
Implementation Method 2
The covering lid is frangibly coupled to the first cable coupler, the second cable coupler, and the base
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic shielding system is configured to shield one or more electrical connections between one or more first electrical cables and one or more second electrical cables. The electromagnetic shielding system includes a base. A first cable coupler is frangibly coupled to the base. The first cable coupler is configured to electrically couple to the first electrical cable(s). A second cable coupler is frangibly coupled to the base. The second cable coupler is configured to electrically couple to the second electrical cable(s). A covering lid is frangibly coupled to the first cable coupler, the second cable coupler, and the base. An electrical connection chamber is defined between the base, the first cable coupler, the second cable coupler, and the covering lid. The first electrical cable(s) are configured to electrically connect to the second electrical cable(s) within the electrical connection chamber.