Locking Element Anti-Icing Motion to Prevent Aircraft Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft locking systems are prone to jamming due to icing, necessitating unlocking actuators with increased size and weight to overcome ice shear forces, which is disadvantageous in terms of space and weight constraints.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating anti-icing functionality in the control unit to detect ice formation and perform a short, intermittent reciprocating movement of the locking element to prevent ice buildup, reducing the need for larger actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the unlocking actuator is designed with larger size to overcome ice shear forces, then the unlocking force capability is improved, but the weight and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary anti-icing action by detecting ice formation on the locking element and activating the heating element before the ice can accumulate to problematic levels. This preventive approach eliminates the need to design the actuator for extreme ice shear forces, allowing use of a smaller, lighter actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical approach (designing a large actuator to mechanically break ice) with a thermal field approach (using a heating element to melt ice). This substitution allows the same ice removal function to be achieved with a much smaller actuator, resolving the contradiction between force capability and weight.
2Force
If the unlocking actuator is designed with larger size to overcome ice shear forces, then the unlocking force capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical system (large actuator designed to shear ice) with a simpler thermal field system (heating element to melt ice). This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to handle ice conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heating element as an intermediary between the locking element and the actuator. This intermediary melts the ice, preventing it from interfering with the actuator's operation, thereby simplifying the actuator design while still enabling operation in icy conditions.
3Reliability
If the actuator is designed to provide high unlocking force to break ice, then the reliability under icing conditions is improved, but the maximum loads on system components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary melting of ice on the locking element before the actuator operates. This eliminates the need for the actuator to generate high forces to break ice, thereby maintaining reliability under icing conditions while reducing maximum loads on the actuator and other system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element acts as an intermediary that removes ice by melting it, preventing the ice from creating high shear forces that would require a high-force actuator. This maintains system reliability in icy conditions while keeping component loads within normal limits.
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
Prevents jamming without increasing actuator size or weight, maintaining operational efficiency and reducing maximum loads on system components.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element arranged to melt ice formed on the locking element
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A locking system (2) comprises a locking element (6) which is movable between a first, locking position and a second unlocking position and an unlocking actuator (14) for moving the locking element (from the first position to the second position over an unlocking stroke length (Su). The system further comprises a control unit (16) configured to command the unlocking actuator (14) to move the locking element (6) from the first position to a third position over an anti-icing stroke length (Sa) which is shorter than the unlocking stroke length (Su).