Fuselage Clip Placement for Weld Surface Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuselage construction methods require separate steps for riveting, welding, and surface treatment, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for alternating between these processes and limited accessibility for surface treatment of weld seams.
Innovation Solution
A fuselage structure design where clips are pre-installed between fuselage elements and ribs, allowing for complete accessibility of the weld surface, enabling global surface treatment before welding and simplifying inspection and repair by keeping clips in place during welding and surface treatment processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional clips are used to connect fuselage panels and ribs, then the connection structure is established, but the weld surface becomes inaccessible for surface treatment and inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The clips are pre-installed on the fuselage panels before the welding process begins. This preliminary action allows the weld surface to remain completely accessible for surface treatment and inspection, eliminating the need to remove clips later for accessibility purposes
2Productivity
If clips are installed after welding, then the weld surface is accessible for treatment, but multiple riveting procedures are required increasing manufacturing time
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-installing clips before welding, the invention eliminates the need for a second riveting procedure after welding. This single-step riveting approach significantly reduces manufacturing cycle time and simplifies the production process
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If clips cover the weld seam, then connection is achieved, but surface treatment and damage detection become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The clips are installed in advance before welding, positioned to not cover the weld seam. This arrangement maintains complete accessibility of the weld surface for both surface treatment and inspection, allowing easy detection of any damage without removing clips
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 design streamlines the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and enhances accessibility for surface treatment and inspection by maintaining clip accessibility during welding, facilitating easier detection and repair of damage without removing pre-installed clips.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elements that are interconnected in longitudinal direction by weld joints
Implementation Method 2
the clips, the ribs and the stringers are connected to each other by rivets
Data Source
AI summary
A fuselage structure comprises a plurality of elements that in longitudinal direction are interconnected by weld joints; a plurality of circumferential ribs that are connected to the plurality of elements and that extend so as to be substantially perpendicular in relation to the longitudinal direction of the elements; and a plurality of clips that are arranged between the elements and the ribs such that said clips do not cover the respective weld joints.