Repurposed Aircraft Fuselage Watercraft Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Used aircraft components, such as fuselages, are often difficult to repurpose due to their large size and susceptibility to rust, making disposal challenging and limiting their reuse in new applications.

Innovation Solution

A watercraft assembly is formed by extracting a fuselage from a used aircraft and coupling it with a plurality of side vessels via equally distributed coupling members, each featuring a staircase perpendicular to the fuselage's axis, allowing the structure to float above water and support weight, while side vessels are aligned parallel to the fuselage to bear the weight of the fuselage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fuselage from a used aircraft is salvaged for reuse, then resource utilization is improved, but the large size and rust susceptibility make disposal and handling difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereuse of aircraft fuselageVSAvoidhandling and disposal difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The watercraft is divided into distinct modular components: the aircraft fuselage serves as the central body, coupling members connect the fuselage to side vessels, and multiple side vessels provide buoyancy. This segmentation allows each component to be independently managed, assembled, and maintained, reducing the complexity of handling the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Coupling members act as intermediary components between the aircraft fuselage and the side vessels. These coupling members simplify the connection process and provide standardized interfaces, making the assembly and disassembly of the watercraft more manageable despite the large size of the fuselage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a fuselage is converted into a watercraft body, then creative reuse is achieved, but structural stability on water must be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversion to watercraftVSAvoidfloating stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Side vessels provide buoyant force that counteracts the weight of the aircraft fuselage. By positioning multiple side vessels along the fuselage, the system achieves vertical equilibrium, allowing the heavy metal fuselage to float stably on water without requiring extensive structural modifications to the fuselage itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions the fuselage from its original aerial function to a aquatic application by adding side vessels that provide buoyancy in the vertical dimension. This dimensional addition allows the fuselage to operate in a completely different environment (water) without compromising its structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If coupling members with staircases are added to connect fuselage and side vessels, then accessibility is improved, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility between fuselage and side vesselsVSAvoidcoupling member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling members integrate multiple functions into a single structural element: they provide mechanical connection between the fuselage and side vessels, serve as structural support, and incorporate staircases for personnel access. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall structure despite the added complexity of the staircase feature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This solution enables the repurposing of used aircraft into a functional watercraft, addressing the disposal issue and creating a usable vessel that can accommodate occupants and provide stability and maneuverability on water.

Implementation Method 1

Each side vessel of the plurality of side vessels may be configured to be disposed on the waterbody and bear a weight of the fuselage above the waterbody, via the plurality of coupling members

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS20240166307A1Watercraft Assembly from Repurposed Aircraft

Publication Date: 2024.05.23 ROUHI JAVID

AI summary

A watercraft assembly is provided. The watercraft assembly includes a fuselage extracted from a used aircraft, wherein the fuselage has a base that is configured to be disposed above a waterbody. The watercraft assembly further include a plurality of coupling members coupled to the base of the fuselage. The plurality of coupling members is equally distributed on opposing sides of the fuselage and each coupling member includes a staircase that is aligned towards a first axis, which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage. The watercraft assembly further include a plurality of side vessels coupled to the plurality of coupling members. Each side vessel of the plurality of side vessels may be configured to be disposed on the waterbody and bear a weight of the fuselage above the waterbody, via the plurality of coupling members.