Aircraft Engine Nacelle Cowl Light Emission Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for maintaining aircraft engine nacelles lack effective and cost-efficient methods to ensure the locking state is properly secured, often requiring redundant systems and significant time and resources to prevent 'forgetting' of locked states, which can lead to safety issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating light emitting sections within the cowl members that emit visible light when the nacelle is not locked, utilizing a switch activated by the aircraft's load to power these sections, allowing for visual confirmation of the locking state without the need for additional sensors or wiring, thereby simplifying the detection of unlocked states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover is used to indicate the locked state of the cowl member, then the locking state can be visually indicated, but the cover may not be noticed by maintenance crew and the indication is not reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses light emitting sections that change their emission state (on/off) to indicate the locked/unlocked state of the cowl member. The light emits when the cowl member is unlocked and remains off when locked, providing a clear and reliable visual indication that is easily noticeable by maintenance crew without requiring additional covers or complex mechanisms.
2Reliability
If proximity sensors and controllers are used to detect and warn of unlocked cowl members, then the locked state can be reliably detected, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-service mechanism where the cowl member's own position (locked or unlocked) directly controls the light emitting section. When the cowl member is unlocked, the light emitting section automatically emits light to indicate the state. This eliminates the need for external sensors, controllers, and warning systems, significantly reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining reliable detection.
3Reliability
If redundant systems with sensors and controllers are implemented, then the safety against forgetting locking is improved, but the time and resources required for design and development increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of locking state indication from complex redundant systems and implements it through a simple light emitting section integrated into the cowl member structure. This extraction approach maintains safety against forgetting locking while dramatically reducing the time and resources required for design and development by eliminating unnecessary sensors, controllers, and wiring.
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 solution provides a reliable and cost-effective means to visually confirm the locked or unlocked state of the engine nacelle, reducing the risk of 'forgetting' and eliminating the need for complex redundant systems, allowing maintenance crews to promptly address unlocking issues without additional infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light emitting sections that are disposed inside the cowl member and show an unlocked state of the cowl member
Data Source
AI summary
To surely grasp an unlocked state of a cowl member while suppressing cost and time necessary for measures against forgetting of locking of an engine nacelle. An aircraft according to the present invention includes: an engine (3) that includes an engine main body (4, 5) outputting thrust force and an engine nacelle (7) surrounding the engine main body (4, 5); an engine pylon (2) that supports the engine main body (4, 5) to a main wing (1) and axially supports a cowl member (8) to be openable, the cowl member (8) configuring the engine nacelle (7); a locking part (30) that locks the cowl member (8) of the engine nacelle (7) in a closed state; and one or more light emitting sections (15) that are disposed inside the cowl member (8) and show an unlocked state of the cowl member (8).