Honeycomb Aircraft Mounting System for Weaponry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for externally mounting weaponry on aircraft, such as helicopters, suffer from firing inaccuracies due to support tube movement, occupy valuable cabin space, and add excessive weight, particularly in lightweight aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A honeycombed metal mounting system with a plank-shaped configuration featuring a central longitudinal section and upturned or downturned end sections, securely attached to the aircraft's underside, allowing for horizontal mounting of weapons and objects with reduced cabin intrusion and increased support rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional metal tube support structures are used to mount weaponry on aircraft, then the weaponry can be externally mounted, but the support tubes move during firing causing firing inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple rigid plank segments that are horizontally positioned and externally mounted to the aircraft fuselage. Each plank segment is individually secured to maintain positional stability, preventing the movement that causes firing inaccuracies in traditional tubular structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses rigid plank structures with reinforced compositions that provide superior structural stability compared to traditional metal tubes. The planks are designed with enhanced rigidity to maintain fixed positioning during aircraft operation and weaponry firing, eliminating the movement-induced inaccuracy problem.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional metal tube support structures are used for weaponry mounting, then weaponry can be supported, but the system occupies appreciable space within the aircraft cabin
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is extracted from the aircraft cabin interior and repositioned to external mounting on the fuselage. The rigid planks extend horizontally outward from the aircraft body, carrying weaponry outside the cabin space, thereby freeing up valuable interior volume while maintaining full weaponry mounting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a three-dimensional cabin-occupying structure to a two-dimensional external surface-mounted configuration. By positioning the rigid planks on the external fuselage surface rather than within the cabin volume, the system achieves weaponry support without interior space occupation.
3Reliability
If traditional metal tube support structures are used for weaponry mounting, then weaponry can be externally mounted, but the system adds considerable weight to the aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses rigid planks with locally optimized material properties and configurations. Rather than using heavy-walled metal tubes throughout, the plank design provides structural strength only where needed for weaponry support, reducing unnecessary weight while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the structural parameters from thick-walled cylindrical tubes to thinner, more efficient plank cross-sections. This parameter change maintains the necessary load-bearing capacity for weaponry support while significantly reducing the overall mass of the support structure, thereby reducing aircraft weight.
4Strength
If plank-based mounting systems are used to reduce weight and improve structure, then structural superiority is achieved, but the system occupies appreciable aircraft cabin floor space
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid plank mounting system is extracted from the aircraft cabin interior and repositioned to external fuselage mounting. The planks are secured to the external surface, maintaining their structural strength and weaponry support capability while eliminating their occupation of cabin floor space.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from occupying three-dimensional cabin floor volume to utilizing two-dimensional external fuselage surface area. This dimensional repositioning preserves the structural integrity and load-bearing capacity of the rigid planks while freeing up interior space for other aircraft functions.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft object mounting system is formed from three light weight honeycombed metal plank sections—a longitudinally central section and a pair of upturned end sections removably secured thereto. The end sections have bomb racks thereon to which various weaponry, such as machine guns, rocket launchers or missiles, may be attached. The central section is secured to the underside of a helicopter, with small lug structures on the central section extending upwardly into the aircraft cabin area and secured to bulkheads therein. The object mounting system is thus positioned essentially entirely externally to the aircraft and only minimally intrudes into the interior thereof. The mounting system may be used to support non-weaponry objects, and may be utilized with aircraft other than helicopters.