Aircraft Insulating Bag Drainage for Faster Humidity Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft insulation materials, such as glass wool, retain water due to humidity, leading to increased weight and prolonged drying times, which affects fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Innovation Solution

An insulating bag with a drainage system in the bottom region and a discharge that pierces through the packaging foil, allowing efficient water removal via a discharge, reducing water collection and drying time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If holes are made into the reinforced foil to remove water, then water can be removed from the insulation material, but water collects in the bottom region below the holes and drying time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater removalVSAvoiddrying time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from point-based water removal (holes) to a linear drainage path (groove leading to discharge). The groove creates a one-dimensional channel that guides water from the bottom region to the discharge, eliminating water accumulation pockets and significantly reducing drying time while maintaining effective water removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove acts as an intermediary element between the insulation material and the discharge. It collects water from the bottom region and transports it to the discharge, preventing water accumulation and enabling efficient, continuous drainage without prolonged drying times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If a plurality of holes are made through the packaging foil for humidity removal, then water can be removed from the insulation material, but holes allow additional humidity to enter the insulation material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater removalVSAvoidhumidity entry
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the drainage function from multiple discrete holes and consolidates it into a single integrated discharge system with a groove. This single discharge location performs both water removal and humidity blocking functions, eliminating the harmful effect of multiple holes allowing humidity entry while maintaining effective water drainage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If water collects in the bottom region of the insulating bag, then the insulation material retains moisture, but this increases weight and fuel consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater retentionVSAvoidinsulating bag weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The groove is pre-formed in the packaging foil during manufacturing, creating a ready-made drainage pathway before the insulating bag is put into service. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that water is immediately directed to the discharge upon condensation, preventing weight increase from water accumulation during flight operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Reduces weight and accelerates drying of insulation materials by effectively draining water, thereby decreasing fuel consumption and emissions.

Implementation Method 1

a drainage arranged in a bottom region of the insulating bag, and a discharge fluidly connected to the drainage and piercing through the packaging foil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

an insulating bag for an aircraft comprises an insulation material, and a packaging foil covering the insulation material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP4699930A1Humidity draining concept of insulation material
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP4699930A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4699930A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4699930A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an insulating bag (100) for an aircraft. The insulating bag (100) comprises an insulation material (150) and a packaging foil (110) covering the insulation material (150), and a drainage (130) arranged in a bottom region of the insulating bag and a discharge (132) fluidly connected to the drainage (130) and piercing through the packaging foil (110) in the bottom region of the insulating bag (100). Further disclosed is an aircraft having such insulating bag (100).