Aircraft High-Lift Wing Connection Assembly for Modular Joining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modularizing the construction of aircraft wings complicates the process of attaching connection assemblies, making it difficult to establish a strong connection between the main wing and the high lift body due to reduced access to the interior of the wing box.

Innovation Solution

The connection assembly is supported by a preassembled main wing structure, such as a rib or flange, with connection elements aligned to maximize the distance between mounting profiles, using elongate connectors that extend through or partially through the connection structure to secure the assembly to the main wing, enhancing its ability to withstand forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If modularization is applied to aircraft wing construction, then assembly efficiency and repair capability are improved, but the complexity of establishing strong connections between main wing and connection assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidconnection establishment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection assembly is divided into separate modular components including the slat track, high lift body, and connection elements that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation enables modular construction while maintaining connection strength through dedicated connection elements that interface with the main wing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If connection elements are located closer to the edge of the connection structure, then the dimension between connection elements is increased, but the structural strength and stress distribution are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimension between connection elementsVSAvoidconnection structure strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The connection elements are positioned to maximize the dimension between them along the slat track axis rather than perpendicular to it. This dimensional reorientation allows for increased spacing that reduces stress concentrations while maintaining adequate structural strength through the connection structure's geometry and material properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the connection assembly is designed to withstand large forces, then the connection strength is improved, but the difficulty of assembly and repair increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection assembly is pre-assembled with the high lift body and slat track before attachment to the main wing. This preliminary assembly allows for proper alignment and pre-positioning of connection elements, reducing the complexity of the final attachment operation and enabling quicker installation while maintaining strong force-withstanding capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4613642A1Wing for an aircraft and method for connecting a connection assembly
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP4613642A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4613642A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4613642A1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

Described is a wing (3) for an aircraft (1), a method for connecting a connection assembly (209) to a wing (3) for an aircraft (1), and an aircraft comprising said wing (3). The wing (3) for an aircraft (1), comprises a main wing (5) and a high lift assembly. The high lift assembly comprises a high lift body (212) comprising a high lift structure and a connection assembly (209) movably connecting the high lift body (212) to the main wing (5), such that the high lift body is movable between a retracted position and at least one extended position. The connection assembly (209) comprising a first connection element (222) and a second connection element (224), the connection assembly (209) is mounted to the main wing (5) by a mounting arrangement (214), the mounting arrangement (214) comprises a first mounting profile (234) and a second mounting profile (236), and the connection assembly (209) comprises a connection structure (250), the connection structure (250) defining the first and second connection elements (222, 224). Further, the mounting arrangement (214) is at least partially defined by a support structure of the main wing (5), and the first and second connection elements (222, 224) are located on the connection structure (250) so as to be configurable to be aligned with and connected to the first and second mounting profiles (234, 236) of the mounting arrangement (214) and located so as to maximise a dimension between the connection elements defined by the connection assembly (209).