Ground Connect Duct Flange Angle Optimization

Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft environmental control systems do not provide heated and conditioned air when on the ground, necessitating the use of a ground cart, which requires a duct to facilitate airflow into the flight deck and cabin efficiently while conforming to packaging constraints and minimizing weight and space.

Innovation Solution

A ground connect duct with a ground connect flange, V-band flange, and duct body, designed to direct airflow from a ground source to the environmental control system module, featuring specific diameters, angles, and materials like 301 stainless steel to ensure secure connections and airflow, while minimizing system weight and space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a ground connect duct is designed to facilitate airflow from a ground cart into the flight deck and cabin, then the airflow efficiency is improved, but the system weight and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow efficiencyVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The duct design optimizes parameters including inner diameter (7.000-9.000 inches), outer diameter (9.000-11.000 inches), overall length (6.261-8.261 inches), and V-band flange angle (6.000-8.000 degrees) to achieve the required airflow efficiency while minimizing weight. These parameter ranges allow the duct to provide sufficient airflow capacity without excessive material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If a ground connect duct is designed to facilitate airflow from a ground cart into the flight deck and cabin, then the airflow efficiency is improved, but the system space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow efficiencyVSAvoidsystem space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The duct design optimizes parameters including inner diameter (7.000-9.000 inches), outer diameter (9.000-11.000 inches), overall length (6.261-8.261 inches), and V-band flange angle (6.000-8.000 degrees) to achieve the required airflow efficiency while minimizing weight. These parameter ranges allow the duct to provide sufficient airflow capacity without excessive material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the duct body is made from 301 stainless steel to ensure structural integrity, then the strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The duct design optimizes parameters including inner diameter (7.000-9.000 inches), outer diameter (9.000-11.000 inches), overall length (6.261-8.261 inches), and V-band flange angle (6.000-8.000 degrees) to achieve the required airflow efficiency while minimizing weight. These parameter ranges allow the duct to provide sufficient airflow capacity without excessive material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10179661B2Ground connect duct for environmental control systems

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP

AI summary

A ground connect duct includes a ground connect flange with an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter is between 7.000 inches and 9.000 inches and the outer diameter is between 9.000 inches and 11.000 inches, a V-band flange, and a duct body with the inner diameter, wherein the duct body is coupled to the ground connect flange and the V-band flange to have an overall length between 6.261 inches and 8.261 inches and to dispose the V-band flange at an angle between 6.000 degrees and 8.000 degrees relative to the ground connect flange.