Inlet Duct Screen Assembly Flush Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inlet duct screens for aircraft auxiliary power units are not effectively mounted flush with the aircraft skin, leading to increased drag and compromised aesthetics due to their design and material limitations.
Innovation Solution
A machined inlet duct screen formed from a single sheet of material, featuring a grid portion and frame portion, is secured relative to the inlet duct, allowing for adjustable aperture sizes and shapes to optimize airflow and aesthetics, and is mounted flush with the aircraft skin using a water jet cutting process that avoids recast layers and ensures a smooth, aerodynamic surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional inlet duct screens are used, then debris blocking function is provided, but the screens cannot be mounted flush with the aircraft skin causing increased drag and poor aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet duct screen is divided into a frame portion and a grid portion that can be separately manufactured and then assembled together. This segmentation allows the grid portion to be precisely fitted within the frame, enabling flush mounting with the aircraft skin while maintaining the debris blocking function through the aperture pattern in the grid portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture size, shape, and pattern in the grid portion can be varied to optimize different functions. By changing these parameters, the screen can provide adequate debris protection while minimizing drag and achieving flush mounting with the aircraft skin surface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional inlet duct screens are used, then debris blocking function is provided, but aesthetics are compromised due to non-flush mounting
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the screen into frame and grid portions, the design enables precise positioning and flush mounting with the aircraft skin, maintaining the aerodynamic surface contour and aesthetic appearance while still providing debris blocking through the grid aperture structure.
3Use of energy by moving object
If aperture size is increased to improve airflow, then airflow optimization is achieved, but debris blocking capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The grid portion can have non-uniform aperture distribution with different sizes and shapes in different regions. This allows local optimization where certain areas have larger apertures for airflow while other areas have smaller apertures for debris blocking, achieving both objectives simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
By varying aperture size, shape, and pattern parameters across the grid portion, the design optimizes the balance between airflow requirements and debris protection needs, allowing larger apertures in regions requiring airflow while maintaining smaller apertures in regions needing enhanced debris blocking.
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 reduces drag and enhances aesthetics by allowing for optimized airflow and easy adjustment of aperture sizes, while ensuring a secure and aerodynamic mounting of the inlet duct screen, improving the overall performance and appearance of the aircraft.
Implementation Method 1
a water jet cutting process that avoids recast layers and ensures a smooth, aerodynamic surface
Data Source
AI summary
An example inlet duct screen assembly includes a grid portion including a plurality of apertures and a frame portion circumscribing the grid portion. The grid portion and the frame portion are formed from a single sheet of material.