Fuselage Junction Stiffener Continuity via Outer-Surface Joining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuselage junctions face stability issues due to lack of continuity of stiffeners, leading to local stability problems and increased complexity and mass during assembly, which can cause aerodynamic disturbances.

Innovation Solution

A fuselage element design where joining means are placed on the outer surface of the skin, allowing longitudinal stiffening elements to overlap partially at the junction, improving mechanical structure and stability without additional parts, and incorporating a stiffening frame to facilitate assembly and reduce mass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If joining means are placed on the inner surface of the skin, then assembly is simplified, but aerodynamic disturbances occur due to protrusion on the outer surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidaerodynamic disturbances

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The joining means are inverted from the conventional inner-surface placement to outer-surface placement. This inversion allows the joining element to connect stringers effectively while the skin covers the joining means, eliminating outer surface protrusions and aerodynamic disturbances while maintaining assembly simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If stringers are disconnected at the junction, then assembly is easier, but local stability problems occur due to interrupted continuity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidlocal stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The joining means acts as an intermediary element that connects the stringers across the junction. This mediator maintains the continuity of longitudinal stiffening without requiring direct stringer connection, thereby preserving local stability while facilitating easier assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If additional parts are added to ensure stringer continuity, then structural stability improves, but assembly complexity and mass increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The joining means is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously connects stringers, maintains structural continuity, and provides a platform for skin attachment. This universal element achieves structural stability without requiring multiple separate parts, thereby reducing assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2448814B1Fuselage element comprising a fuselage segment and junction means

Publication Date: 2018.09.05 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

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AI summary

The invention relates to a fuselage element comprising a fuselage segment (1a) comprising a skin (3a), and junction means (6) for connecting the skin of said segment (1a) to an adjacent segment (1b). The segment (1a) extends along the longitudinal axis (X) of the fuselage, and the skin (3) includes at least one first section (10) at at least one end of said segment (1a). The fuselage segment (1a) comprises at least one longitudinal stiffening element (5a) for the fuselage. The junction means (60) are arranged so as to contact an outer surface (30) of said first section (10) of the skin (3a), and the stiffening element (5a) partially extends at the junction means (6) along the longitudinal axis (X).