Helicopter Deck Lighting Fastening via Friction Net

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing lighting apparatuses for helicopter decks face challenges in assembly and maintenance due to the need for multiple screws, which can lead to screw jamming, wear, and increased time and effort, especially since the screw stems are prone to shape changes from constant rubbing against the deck.

Innovation Solution

The lighting apparatus employs a horizontal fastening arrangement instead of vertical screw coupling, allowing light units to be secured with fastening means aligned with the deck plane, and utilizes a friction net with a standard eye size for mechanical coupling, reducing the need for separate fastening arrangements and simplifying installation and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screw joints are used to fasten light units to the helicopter deck, then the light units can be securely fastened, but the screw stems are subject to constant rubbing and wear leading to shape changes and difficulty in removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening reliabilityVSAvoidscrew removal ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the light unit from the screw fastening system and replaces it with a friction net-based fastening system. The light unit is coupled to the friction net rather than directly screwed to the deck, removing the screw stems from the rubbing environment and eliminating the wear problem while maintaining secure fastening through the friction net's grip on the deck surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The friction net serves as an intermediary between the light unit and the helicopter deck. Instead of screws directly contacting the deck and subject to rubbing, the friction net mediates the connection, providing a wear-resistant interface that maintains fastening reliability without the drawbacks of screw stem wear and deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple screws are used to ensure reliable staying in place of light units, then the fastening is secure, but the assembly and maintenance time and effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening reliabilityVSAvoidassembly and maintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple screw fastening operations into a single friction net-based fastening system. Instead of individually fastening each light unit with multiple screws, the friction net provides a unified fastening mechanism that secures the light units while reducing the number of fastening operations required, thereby significantly reducing assembly and maintenance time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The friction net is designed as a simpler, easier-to-install fastening component that can be quickly deployed and removed. While screws provide reliable fastening, they require significant time for installation and removal; the friction net offers a faster alternative that maintains reliability without the time-consuming screw operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If light units are coupled inmovably with the helicopter deck to ensure stable positioning, then the positioning is secure, but the complexity of the fastening arrangement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight unit positioning stabilityVSAvoidfastening arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The friction net provides a self-service fastening mechanism that inherently maintains light unit positioning without requiring complex additional components. The friction net's design allows it to self-adjust and maintain stable positioning of the light units through its friction-based grip on the deck, eliminating the need for complex multi-component fastening arrangements while ensuring stable positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3289141B1Lighting apparatus of a helicopter deck
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 FRICTAPE NET OY
  • EP3289141B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3289141B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3289141B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting apparatus of a helicopter deck, which is meant especially while being installed in connection with an identification marking (1), such as an H, triangle, cross figure or the like, and/or a touchdown and positioning mark ring (2) on a landing and takeoff area of the helicopter deck for illuminating the safety marking/markings in question in order to make more efficient observing thereof from the air. The lighting apparatus (3) consists of light units (3a) formed of one or more lamps (3a') and being operable by power supply transmitted from a power source in connection with the helicopter deck, wherein the light units are coupled essentially immovably in connection with an upper surface of the helicopter deck (X). Light units (3a) of the lighting apparatus (3) are coupled in connection with the upper surface of the helicopter deck (X) by means of a horizontal fastening arrangement (4) in order to keep the light units in place by means of fastening means (4a), being in connection therewith in a manner transmitting power essentially in a direction parallel with a plane of the helicopter deck.