Harpoon Head Interchangeable Insert for Aircraft Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft anchoring systems using harpoons on gratings face issues with repeated shocks causing the harpoon head to dull and lose effectiveness, leading to frequent replacements and increased costs due to complex structures, and high probabilities of disengagement due to edge contact during landing.
Innovation Solution
A harpoon head with an interchangeable, beveled metal insert made from high-hardness steel (30CrMo12) that can tilt and rotate to accommodate edge surfaces, reducing wear and improving anchoring by sliding into grating cells, and featuring a fastening mechanism for easy replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the harpoon head is made with a simple structure, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the reliability of anchoring deteriorates due to frequent dulling and disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The harpoon head is divided into two separable parts: a reusable body and a wear insert. The insert can be easily replaced when worn, while the main body retains its structural integrity and functionality. This segmentation allows the complex wear-prone portion to be independently managed without replacing the entire harpoon head.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is made from a material with different hardness parameters compared to the harpoon head body. Specifically, the insert has higher hardness (HRC 50-60) than the body (HRC 30-40), optimizing the wear resistance at the critical contact surface while maintaining overall system reliability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the harpoon head uses a worn-resistant material, then the duration of action is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Only the wear-prone insert portion is made from high-hardness material, while the main harpoon head body is made from more cost-effective material. This selective application of materials optimizes wear resistance where needed without unnecessarily increasing manufacturing costs for the entire component.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is designed as a consumable component that can be easily replaced when worn. This allows the use of more expensive high-hardness material only for the short-lived insert portion, rather than for the entire harpoon head, thereby controlling overall manufacturing costs while maintaining durability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the harpoon head has a fixed geometry, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability to edge surfaces deteriorates causing disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is designed with geometric features that allow it to rotate and tilt relative to the harpoon head body during penetration. The rounded edges and specific angular dimensions enable the insert to dynamically adapt to edge surfaces, preventing disengagement while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled geometric parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert features asymmetric geometry with rounded edges and specific angular dimensions that differ from standard cylindrical forms. This asymmetric design allows the insert to engage with edge surfaces more effectively by tilting and rotating, improving adaptability while still being manufacturable with precision tooling.
4Reliability
If the harpoon head is replaced frequently, then the reliability is maintained, but the loss of time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The harpoon head is segmented into a reusable body and a replaceable insert. When the insert wears out, only the small insert needs to be replaced, not the entire harpoon head. This dramatically reduces the time and cost of maintenance while maintaining anchoring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is designed as a consumable component that is discarded when worn and replaced with a new insert. The main harpoon head body is recovered and reused indefinitely. This approach minimizes waste and reduces the frequency and cost of replacements compared to replacing the entire harpoon head.
Data Source
AI summary
A harpoon head (6) for a system for anchoring an aircraft on a grating (4) is characterized in that a distal end of the harpoon head has an interchangeable insert (20).