Aircraft Engine Fuel Inlet Sealing Device Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing devices for aircraft engine fuel inlet openings tend to come loose during transport due to vibrations, leading to fuel leakage and potential safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device with a locking mechanism that prevents undesirable relative movement between the control element and the cylinder body, ensuring the expanded sealing condition and clamping force are maintained, even under vibrating conditions, using features like a locking element with teeth that engage with the aircraft engine's teeth to prevent rotation and ensure a secure fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing device is used to seal a fuel inlet opening, then fuel leakage is prevented, but the sealing device may come loose due to vibrations during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is designed to automatically engage with the locking surface upon insertion, performing the locking action before any vibration or movement can occur. This preliminary locking action ensures the sealing device remains securely positioned throughout transport without requiring additional operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sealing device and the fuel inlet opening. It provides a dedicated engagement interface that translates the insertion motion into a secure locked position, preventing unintended movement during transport while maintaining sealing reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a locking device is added to prevent movement, then position stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is merged with the control element, integrating the locking function into an existing component. This combination eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms while providing automatic locking through the interaction between the locking element and the locking surface on the fuel inlet opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates automatically through the self-service principle. The locking element engages with the locking surface simply by inserting the sealing device into the fuel inlet opening, without requiring additional locking operations or complex actuation mechanisms. The geometry of the locking element and locking surface automatically provides the stabilizing function.
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
The locking mechanism effectively prevents the sealing device from detaching from the fuel inlet opening during transport, maintaining a secure seal and preventing fuel leakage, thus ensuring safety by reducing the risk of kerosene smell-induced precautionary landings.
Implementation Method 1
the control element is rotated, causing the plates to move toward each other, with the sealing element being compressed therebetween. As a result, the sealing element will expand in outward direction
Implementation Method 2
a cylindrical rubber sealing element extends, whose central axis likewise coincides with that of the plates and whose outer circumferential wall is slightly smaller than the interior dimension of a fuel intake pipe
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a sealing device designed for sealing a fuel inlet opening of an aircraft engine and to an aircraft engine provided with such a sealing device. The sealing device comprises a control element provided with a handle and with a first engaging element located opposite thereto, a cylinder body connected to the control element, which is located on the side of the engaging element, a sealing element extending on the outer circumference of the cylinder body, and a transmission mechanism which causes the cylinder body to move in the direction of the axis of movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder body. The transmission mechanism is designed to increase and decrease an outer circumference of the at least one sealing element upon being operated. A locking device is provided, which locking device is designed to prevent or at least impede undesirable movement of the cylinder body in the direction away from the control element. The invention further relates to a method for sealing a fuel inlet opening of an aircraft engine.