Inflatable and rigidizable support element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support elements, such as those used in building and wind turbine towers, are often heavy, bulky, and difficult to deploy in remote locations due to their rigid structure, and inflatable wings face issues with stiffness and vulnerability to pressure loss.
Innovation Solution
Inflatable and rigidizable support elements composed of flexible fabric encapsulated in an acrylic adhesive, which can be rapidly deployed by inflation and subsequently rigidized using UV light, either from a chemical reaction or sunlight, to provide a strong and stable structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional rigid support elements are used, then strength and stability are improved, but weight and difficulty of transport increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is divided into multiple inflatable segments or chambers that can be collapsed together for transport and inflated to full size for use. This segmentation allows the structure to be broken down into manageable, lightweight portions that maintain structural integrity when inflated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible fabric or thin-walled materials as the primary structural component, which can be inflated to provide rigid support. These flexible shells collapse to minimal volume for transport but expand to provide the necessary structural strength when inflated, effectively resolving the weight-strength contradiction.
2Weight of moving object
If inflatable structures are used, then weight and ease of deployment are improved, but stiffness and resistance to buckling decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines flexible inflatable materials with rigidizing agents or composite structures. The inflatable portion provides lightweight support, while embedded rigidizing materials or composite construction methods enhance stiffness and buckling resistance, creating a hybrid structure that achieves both lightweight and stiff properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element transitions from a flexible, collapsible state during transport to a rigid, inflated state during use. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to exhibit different mechanical properties as needed, being flexible when deflated and stiff when inflated.
3Ease of operation
If mechanically hinged wings are used, then ease of deployment is improved, but the number of joints and structural reliability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical hinge joints from the wing structure entirely, replacing them with an inflatable support system. This extraction of problematic joints eliminates the reliability issues associated with multiple moving parts while maintaining the ability to deploy and stow the wings effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic inflation instead of mechanical hinges to achieve wing deployment and stowing. Inflatable supports provide the necessary structural support without requiring jointed mechanisms, thereby improving reliability by eliminating multiple potential failure points while maintaining operational ease.
4Stability of the object's composition
If continuously positively inflated wings are used, then structural integrity is improved, but vulnerability to pressure loss from leaks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates redundancy into the inflatable system, such as multiple independent chambers or backup inflation mechanisms. This beforehand cushioning ensures that if one chamber loses pressure, the structure can still maintain sufficient integrity, reducing vulnerability to pressure loss while preserving structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs materials or design modifications that change the pressure characteristics of the inflatable structure, such as using materials with lower permeability or designing chambers that maintain structural integrity across a wider pressure range. This reduces sensitivity to pressure loss while maintaining structural integrity.
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 enables the rapid deployment and stabilization of support elements, such as aircraft wings and wind turbine towers, in remote locations with reduced weight and increased stability, overcoming the limitations of traditional rigid structures and inflatable wings.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the acrylic adhesive component to UV light, wherein the UV-light initiates curing of the acrylic adhesive
Implementation Method 2
application of pressurized gas to the inner lumen
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides novel inflatable and rigidizable support elements, and methods of manufacture and use thereof. In particular, the present invention provides inflatable and rigidizable support elements which find use in rapidly deploying and supporting the wing of an aerial vehicle.