Helicopter Nose Wheel Handling Device with Rotatable Turntable
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern aircraft with composite materials face mechanical limitations in the forces and directions of forces that can be applied to their nose wheels, making existing handling devices incompatible for safe and effective movement, especially on ships in rough seas.
Innovation Solution
A handling device with a carriage and track system that includes a pivotally mounted turntable and inclined slopes to facilitate the orientation and movement of the nose wheel, allowing controlled force application parallel to the wheel planes and minimizing stress on the nose wheel, using a combination of pulleys, winches, and force limitation modules to manage forces safely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the helicopter is pulled by applying force to the nose wheel, then the helicopter can be moved along the track, but the force applied to the nose wheel may exceed the mechanical limitations of composite material aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
A turntable mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the carriage and the nose wheel. The turntable allows the nose wheel to be oriented at different angles relative to the direction of movement, enabling the pulling force to be applied at optimal angles that avoid excessive stress on the nose wheel structure while still achieving effective movement of the helicopter along the track.
Solution Approach 2:
The turntable is made rotatable relative to the carriage, allowing dynamic adjustment of the nose wheel orientation during the handling operation. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt the force application angle in real-time, optimizing the distribution of forces to remain within the mechanical limitations of the composite material nose wheel while maintaining effective traction.
2Reliability
If the nose wheel is oriented perpendicular to the track for safe force application, then the force limits are respected, but the helicopter cannot be effectively pulled along the track
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable turntable provides dynamic orientation adjustment, allowing the nose wheel to be positioned at the optimal angle relative to the track direction. This enables simultaneous achievement of safe force application (by avoiding perpendicular orientation that exceeds force limits) and effective movement (by aligning the force vector with the desired direction of travel).
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation angle of the nose wheel relative to the track is changed as a controllable parameter. By adjusting this angle through turntable rotation, the system optimizes both the safety aspect (staying within force limits) and the productivity aspect (achieving effective movement), resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
3Device complexity
If a fixed orientation platform is used for the nose wheel, then the structure is simple, but the aircraft cannot be handled safely given the force limitations of composite materials
Solution Approach 1:
The turntable introduces a rotational degree of freedom that allows the nose wheel orientation to be adjusted dynamically. This relatively simple mechanical addition enables the system to adapt to the specific force limitations of composite material aircraft, ensuring safe handling without requiring complex restructuring of the entire handling device.
Solution Approach 2:
The handling device is segmented into independent functional components: the carriage for movement along the track, and the rotatable turntable for orientation control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, maintaining overall device simplicity while enabling safe handling of composite aircraft through the turntable's orientation adjustment capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The device has a track (20) arranged on a landing or decking area, and a trolley (16) moved on the track and moving an aircraft on the track. A rotary plate (30) retains a nose wheel and arranged on the trolley. The rotary plate is pivoted relative to the trolley such that the plate and the nose wheel are adjustable relative to the trolley and the track. The trolley includes a driving unit (34) to rotatably drive the rotary plate. The driving unit includes a crown wheel (32), where the crown wheel and the rotary plate are integrally rotated to each other.