Aircraft Fuselage Floor Assembly via Intermediate Structural Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for assembling a fuselage section of an aircraft with a pre-assembled floor in a circumferentially closed body structure face challenges such as complex adjustments, economic unfavorability, and difficulties in compensating for misalignments due to the rigidity of the structure, and the connections are prone to deterioration from corrosion and fretting.

Innovation Solution

A new fuselage section structure with a body structure comprising frames and an external skin, where cross members are connected to the body structure via an intermediate structural assembly that allows for individual embedding connections, enabling the pre-assembled floor to be easily integrated and allowing for slight misalignments to be compensated, and using a cornice structure that replaces stringers and provides additional rigidity and air circulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the floor is pre-assembled at the scale of the section and integrated as a constructed sub-assembly, then the assembly process becomes more efficient and economically favorable, but complex adjustments are required due to the rigidity of the body structure and frames

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidadjustment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The body structure is divided into an open lower tub and a separate upper roof section. The floor is assembled within the lower tub before the upper section is attached, allowing the floor and lower tub to be pre-assembled as a sub-assembly while avoiding the need for complex adjustments in a fully closed structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The floor is pre-assembled and positioned within the lower tub before the upper roof section is closed onto the structure. This preliminary assembly allows for easier alignment and integration while maintaining productivity benefits, as the floor does not need to be adjusted after the complete body structure is closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If the body structure is closed circumferentially before assembling the floor, then structural integrity is maintained, but misalignments cannot be compensated due to the rigidity of the closed structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmisalignment compensation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The body structure is segmented into an open lower tub and a separate upper roof section. This segmentation allows the floor to be assembled in the open lower tub where misalignments can be compensated, and then the upper section is closed to maintain structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The body structure transitions from an open state (lower tub only) during floor assembly to a closed state (with upper roof section) for final structural integrity. This dynamic approach allows misalignment compensation during assembly while maintaining strength in the finished structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple connections are made between the floor and fuselage body structure to channel forces, then structural stability is improved, but the assembly process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The body structure is divided into lower tub and upper roof section, allowing the floor to be pre-assembled with necessary connections in the open lower tub before the upper section is attached. This segmentation enables stable structural connections to be made efficiently without the time penalty of working in a fully closed structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Strength

If cross members and frames are made very rigid to channel significant force flows, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but the elements cannot deform to adapt to misalignments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidmisalignment adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The body structure is segmented into open lower tub and closed upper roof section. This allows rigid cross members and frames to be used for load-bearing while the open configuration during assembly permits misalignment compensation through positional adjustments before final closure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8967539B2Method for assembling a floor in a cockpit structure previously constructed from a section of aircraft fuselage

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

A section of aircraft fuselage includes a body structure and a floor connected to the body structure. The body structure has an external skin and a framework including frames, positioned in fuselage cross-sections approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis in an aircraft reference frame. The floor has cross members extending along a lateral axis. The cross members and the frames are disconnected and each cross member, at opposite ends, is fixed to the body structure by an intermediate structural assembly connected on the one hand to the cross member and on the other hand to the external skin and/or to one or more frames.