Hose Hinge Assembly for Aircraft Flotation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency flotation systems for aircraft are cumbersome, requiring folded components that are difficult to inspect and replace, with inaccessible pressure cylinders and manual operation, and they often compromise storage space when retrofitted.
Innovation Solution
A hose hinge assembly that mounts emergency flotation system components to a hinged compartment door, allowing high-pressure fluid communication between moving parts without flexible tubing, enabling easy access and maintenance, and allowing the door to open without disconnecting high-pressure lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flotation system components are mounted inside the aircraft fuselage, then the system is protected and secure, but the components become inaccessible for inspection, repair, and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two segments: the pressurized fluid source remains inside the aircraft fuselage for security, while the flotation devices and valves are mounted on the hinged compartment door for accessibility. This segmentation allows each component to be positioned optimally for its specific requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
A hinged compartment door acts as an intermediary element between the interior fuselage space and exterior access. It provides a platform for mounting flotation components while maintaining secure connection to the aircraft structure, enabling both protection and accessibility.
2Volume of moving object
If the flotation bags are folded and stowed directly in the compartments, then the system is compact, but inspection and replacement require significant time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation devices are extracted from the interior compartment space and mounted on the exterior hinged door. This allows the bags to remain compact when folded while being easily accessible for inspection and replacement by simply opening the door, eliminating the need to remove and re-stow components.
3Reliability
If rigid piping is used to connect the pressurized fluid source to the hinged door, then the connection is reliable, but the door cannot move relative to the fuselage
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible hose is used instead of rigid piping to connect the pressurized fluid source to the flotation devices on the hinged door. The flexible hose accommodates the relative movement between the door and fuselage while maintaining reliable fluid connection, solving both the reliability and mobility requirements.
4Ease of manufacture
If a compartment is converted to house the flotation system, then the system has dedicated space, but storage space is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flotation system components are relocated from the interior three-dimensional compartment space to the exterior surface of the hinged door. This dimensional change allows the system to have dedicated mounting space without reducing the aircraft's interior storage volume, as the door surface provides adequate space for mounting valves and folded flotation devices.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 2
AI summary
A high-pressure hose hinge assembly provides a continuous fluid path between first and second components that move relative to each other. The hose hinge assembly includes a plurality of rotatable swivel fittings that couple a plurality rigid pipe sections. A first swivel fitting is fixedly coupled to the first component and another swivel fitting is coupled to the second component. At least one swivel fitting and two rigid pipe sections extend between the swivel fittings coupled to the first and second components to provide a continuous fluid path.