Interchangeable Wing Tip Fuel Pod for Aircraft Range Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft wings designed for specific mission profiles with permanent fuel pods suffer from drag and weight penalties, limiting their operational flexibility and commercial feasibility when switching between short and long-range missions.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft wing with a connection interface that allows interchangeable wing tips, including a fuel pod and wing tip device, designed for performance in both configurations to enhance range and aerodynamic efficiency, maintaining similar handling qualities across configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If permanent fuel pods are located on aircraft wing tips to increase range, then the range of the aircraft is improved, but the aircraft suffers from drag and weight penalties when operating on short-range mission profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The wing tip assembly is segmented into a permanent wing tip structure and an interchangeable fuel pod component. The fuel pod can be detached when not needed for long-range missions, eliminating the drag and weight penalty while maintaining the option to increase range when required. This segmentation allows the aircraft to be optimized for different mission profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing tip assembly transitions from a static permanent structure to a dynamic interchangeable system. The fuel pod can be attached or detached based on operational requirements, allowing the aircraft to adapt its configuration dynamically between short-range and long-range mission profiles, resolving the contradiction between range capability and operational efficiency.
2Length of moving object
If wings are designed specifically for performance with fuel pods fitted, then the range performance is improved, but the aircraft performance becomes sub-optimal when the extra capacity is not required
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is designed with universal compatibility to accommodate both the permanent wing tip configuration and the interchangeable fuel pod configuration. The wing structure, connection interface, and aerodynamic characteristics are optimized to perform well in both configurations, eliminating the need to choose between range optimization and overall performance optimization.
3Length of moving object
If single-use drop tanks are mounted on wing tips to extend range, then the range is increased for particular mission profiles, but the wings have relatively poor performance with the tank fitted and the aircraft is unsuitable for commercial passenger aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using permanent or single-use drop tanks, the invention employs an interchangeable fuel pod system that can be attached and detached as needed. This approach provides the range extension capability of disposable tanks while maintaining better wing performance and commercial suitability through a more versatile and adaptable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing the fuel capacity parameter of the aircraft by interchanging fuel pods with different capacities. This enables optimization for different mission profiles (short-range vs. long-range) while maintaining consistent wing performance, as the wing is designed to accommodate various configurations without compromising overall performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft comprising a wing, the wing having a connection interface at the tip of the wing, and the wing being interchangeable between a first configuration in which a first wing tip is connected to the connection interface, and a second configuration in which a second wing tip is connected to the connection interface to replace the first wing tip. The second wing tip comprises a fuel pod for carrying additional fuel, and a wing tip device for improving aerodynamic efficiency. The wing may be designed for performance in both configurations.