Monolithic Fluid Conduit Assembly for Lighter Aircraft Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fluid conduits used in aircraft applications are complex, difficult to assemble, heavy, and expensive due to their multiple components and discrete sealing members, which existing manufacturing methods struggle to simplify or reduce.
Innovation Solution
The fluid conduit is formed as a monolithic component via additive manufacturing, eliminating the need for joints and internal seals, and is constructed in layers with supports for assembly, allowing for fewer components and reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional manufacturing methods (machining, casting) are used to produce fluid conduits with multiple components and discrete sealing members, then the conduit can be assembled with standard manufacturing processes, but the conduit becomes heavy, complex, and expensive to produce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discrete components (body, conduit portions, base, and sealing members) into a single monolithic structure formed by additive manufacturing. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate sealing members and fasteners, directly reducing weight while simplifying the manufacturing process to a single additive manufacturing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing parameter from traditional subtractive or formative methods to additive manufacturing. This parameter change enables the creation of complex monolithic geometries that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional methods, thereby reducing component count and weight while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional manufacturing methods are used to produce fluid conduits with multiple components, then the conduit can be produced with established processes, but the assembly becomes difficult and the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discrete components into one monolithic structure, eliminating the complexity of assembling multiple parts with fasteners and sealing members. The single additive manufacturing process produces the entire conduit assembly in one operation, drastically reducing assembly steps and overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sealing members and fasteners from the conduit assembly, removing the complexity associated with installing and maintaining these discrete components. The additive manufacturing process directly forms the sealed joints without requiring separate sealing elements.
3Ease of operation
If multiple discrete sealing members and fasteners are used in traditional fluid conduits, then the conduit can be assembled from separate components, but the conduit becomes heavy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the body, conduit portions, base, and sealing functions into a single monolithic component. This eliminates the weight of multiple discrete sealing members and fasteners while simplifying assembly to a single additive manufacturing operation, directly addressing both ease of assembly and weight reduction.
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
This approach results in a lighter, less expensive, and easier-to-assemble fluid conduit with reduced complexity, while maintaining functionality and efficiency in aircraft applications.
Implementation Method 1
The body, the first conduit portion, the second conduit portion, and the base may be formed as a monolithic component via additive manufacturing
Implementation Method 2
forming a first set of layers, the first set of layers including parts of a first support, a second support, and a third support
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid conduit includes, a body, a first conduit portion connected to the body, a second conduit portion connected to the body, and a base connected to the second conduit portion. The body, the first conduit portion, the second conduit portion, and the base may be formed as a monolithic component via additive manufacturing. A method of making a fluid conduit may include forming sets of layers. The set of layers may include parts or portions of the fluid conduit and/or supports.