Load Suspension Sock for Hovering Aircraft Cable Rebound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hovering aircraft face safety risks due to elastic rebound of steel cables or ropes in case of breakage, which can impact the aircraft's rotors, and existing solutions either weaken the cables/ropes or increase weight, while also being difficult to inspect and protect against atmospheric agents.
Innovation Solution
The use of a sock-like structure surrounding the cables/ropes, made of elastically deformable material, that contains the elastic return of the cable/rope during breakage, maintaining structural integrity and allowing easy inspection, and is designed to break at a lower load than the cable/rope, directing the return force away from the rotors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a steel cable or rope is used for suspending loads from hovering aircraft, then the cable/rope can effectively support and transport the load, but in case of breakage the elastic rebound creates a risk of impact against the aircraft rotors
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure (tubular element) is introduced as an intermediary component between the cable/rope and the aircraft fuselage. This guide structure contains and directs the elastic rebound of the broken cable along a safe path away from the rotors, preventing direct impact on critical aircraft components while allowing the cable to maintain its full load-bearing capability during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure is pre-positioned and designed to intercept and redirect the cable before it can reach the rotors. By establishing this protective pathway in advance, the system prevents the harmful elastic rebound from affecting the aircraft, without requiring any active response after breakage occurs
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cable or rope is protected against elastic rebound by structural modifications, then the safety risk is reduced, but the structural properties of the cable or rope may be weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The protection system is segmented into a separate, independent guide structure rather than being integrated into the cable itself. This allows the cable to maintain its full structural integrity and load-bearing properties, while the guide structure provides the necessary rebound containment as a distinct protective element
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure serves as an intermediary protective element that does not interfere with the cable's mechanical properties. It provides rebound containment through its geometric design rather than by modifying the cable's structural characteristics, preserving the cable's strength and flexibility
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protective measures are added to contain elastic rebound, then the safety against impact is improved, but the weight of the aircraft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is designed as a thin-walled tubular element that provides effective rebound containment with minimal material usage. This flexible shell structure achieves the necessary protective function while keeping the added weight to a minimum, as it relies on geometric design rather than thick, heavy materials
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure utilizes geometric parameters (diameter, length, orientation) to achieve rebound containment rather than relying on material strength. By changing the geometric parameters of the tubular element, effective protection is achieved with minimal mass addition to the aircraft
4Reliability
If the cable or rope is protected against atmospheric agents and impact damage, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of inspection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure serves as a protective intermediary that shields the cable from atmospheric agents (rain, snow, UV exposure) and physical damage from pointed edges. Meanwhile, its open tubular design allows visual inspection of the cable through the structure, maintaining ease of detection while providing comprehensive protection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively contains the elastic rebound, reducing the risk of damage to the aircraft, maintains the structural properties of the cables/ropes, and allows for easy inspection without increasing the aircraft's weight, while providing protection against atmospheric agents and pointed edges.
Implementation Method 1
In the event of breakage, the steel cable in the first solution of the known type or the rope in the second solution of the known type can be subject to an elastic rebound directed upwards, that is towards the helicopter.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described an aircraft (1) configured to be able to hover, comprising a fuselage (2); and a support element (13, 55) adapted to support a load (10, 51), made of elastically deformable material and constrained to said fuselage (2); the support element (13, 55) being movable in an operating position in which it is arranged at least partially outside said fuselage (2) and supports said load (10, 51); the aircraft (1) comprises a sock (20, 60) surrounding the support element (13, 55) arranged in said operating position; the sock (20, 60) is configured to contain the elastic return of the support element (13, 55), in case the support element (13, 55) arranged in said operating position is sheared off.