Integrated Leading-Edge Skin Coupling for Smooth Laminar Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional leading-edge devices for aerodynamic components, such as aircraft slats, require numerous fasteners that create imperfections on the outer skin surface, leading to turbulent airflow and adverse aerodynamic effects.
Innovation Solution
A leading-edge device with integrated coupling elements that form a single-piece structure with the skin elements, eliminating the need for fasteners and ensuring a smooth, imperfection-free outer surface, thereby promoting laminar airflow and reducing drag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional fasteners are used to attach skin elements and coupling elements, then the structural assembly is achieved, but imperfections are created on the outer skin surface causing turbulent airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the skin element and coupling element into a single integrated component manufactured as one piece. This eliminates the need for separate fasteners to attach the coupling element to the skin element, thereby removing the fastener-induced surface imperfections that cause turbulent airflow, while still achieving the structural assembly function
2Reliability
If multiple fasteners are used to connect skin elements and coupling elements, then the structural connection is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (skin element and coupling element) into a single integrated component. This merger eliminates the need for multiple fasteners and assembly steps, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the structural connection reliability through the integrated design
3Strength
If fasteners are used to attach coupling elements to skin elements, then the structural attachment is achieved, but the outer skin surface develops imperfections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coupling element and skin element into a single piece structure, eliminating the need for fasteners. This integration maintains the structural attachment strength through the inherent continuity of the single-piece construction while preserving the manufacturing precision of the outer skin surface by avoiding fastener-induced imperfections
Data Source
AI summary
A leading-edge device for an aerodynamic component is disclosed having a first skin element having an inner surface and an aerodynamic outer surface, and further includes a second skin element having an inner surface and an aerodynamic outer surface. The leading-edge device includes a first coupling element protruding from the inner surface of the first skin element and a second coupling element protruding from the inner surface of the second skin element. The first and second coupling elements are coupled to each other in a coupling region. The first skin element and the first coupling element are formed as a single-piece structure.