Hollow Frame Ventilation Ducts for Aircraft Fuselage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft air conditioning and ventilation systems require extensive installation space for flexible hoses and tubes, leading to inefficiencies in space usage, increased assembly time and costs, and are prone to air leakage, making them unsuitable for complex regions like aircraft cockpits.

Innovation Solution

A rotary wing aircraft with a fuselage featuring a framework structure comprising integrally formed, fiber-reinforced polymer hollow frames that serve as both a load-bearing structure and an integrated ventilation air duct, reducing the need for separate air ducts and minimizing air leakage by using a single, unified air duct system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If flexible hoses and tubes are used for air ducts, then the air conditioning system can be implemented, but installation space is consumed and assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair conditioning system implementationVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the air duct function with the existing fuselage framework structure by integrating air ducts into the hollow frame beams. This merging eliminates the need for separate flexible hoses and tubes, thereby reducing installation space while maintaining air conditioning functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow frame beams of the fuselage are designed to serve dual purposes: structural support and air ducting. This multi-functionality allows the framework to accommodate ventilation systems without requiring additional dedicated space for air ducts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If flexible hoses and tubes are used for air ducts, then the air conditioning system can be implemented, but assembly time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair conditioning system implementationVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the air duct function into the framework structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate assembly of flexible hoses and tubes. The air ducts are already integrated into the hollow frame beams, significantly reducing assembly time and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If flexible hoses and tubes are used for air ducts, then the air conditioning system can be implemented, but air leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair conditioning system implementationVSAvoidair leakage resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of air ducts into the rigid framework structure eliminates the use of flexible hoses and tubes, which are prone to air leakage. The rigid integration provides better sealing and reduces air leakage, improving system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Volume of moving object

If lattice structure with interconnected frames is used, then installation space for flexible hoses is saved, but air leakage occurs at intersecting points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidair leakage resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air duct function directly into the hollow frame beams themselves, eliminating the need for separate air ducts that would require connections at intersecting points. This integration removes the sources of air leakage while maintaining space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9873512B2Aircraft framework structure with integral ventilation air duct

Publication Date: 2018.01.23 AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUT GMBH

AI summary

An aircraft with a fuselage that comprises a framework structure having at least one hollow frame that is integrally formed in one piece and comprises fiber reinforced polymers, the at least one hollow frame defining an integrated ventilation air duct that is adapted for guiding ventilation air into the aircraft.