Off-Center Ring Connector for Aircraft Hole Misalignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of aircraft equipment in cramped locations leads to prolonged assembly times due to limited access and misalignment issues between pre-drilled holes.

Innovation Solution

A connecting device comprising two off-center rings with frustoconical and/or spherical bearing surfaces, which compensates for misalignment and prevents rotation during installation, allowing for easier assembly and integration of bulky equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If equipment is assembled inside the aircraft structure in cramped locations, then the equipment is properly positioned, but the assembly time is prolonged due to limited access and misalignment issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The off-center rings are pre-installed in the through-holes of the aircraft structure before equipment assembly. These rings provide pre-established alignment references that eliminate the need for precise real-time alignment during equipment installation, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The off-center rings act as intermediary elements between the aircraft structure and the equipment. They mediate the connection by providing bearing surfaces that facilitate alignment and positioning, allowing equipment to be assembled more easily without requiring direct precision alignment with the structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If equipment is assembled outside the aircraft structure and then incorporated inside, then the assembly time is reduced, but the integration difficulty increases due to limited access openings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidintegration ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting structure is segmented into separate components: the off-center rings installed in the aircraft structure and the equipment assembled separately outside. This segmentation allows equipment to be pre-assembled in accessible areas, then easily integrated through the standardized ring interfaces without requiring complex manipulation through limited openings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If pre-drilled holes are used in the aircraft structure, then the connection points are predetermined, but misalignment between holes prolongs the assembly process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection preparationVSAvoidalignment adjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The off-center rings change the alignment parameter from requiring precise hole-to-hole alignment to requiring alignment with the ring's bearing surface. The rings absorb misalignment variations through their geometric design, allowing connection without precise hole matching, thereby eliminating alignment adjustment time while maintaining the benefits of predetermined connection points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The connecting device simplifies the assembly process by compensating for misalignment and preventing rotation, thereby reducing assembly time and facilitating the integration of bulky equipment into aircraft structures.

Implementation Method 1

the first peripheral outer surface of the first ring is frustoconical and has cross sections that have a smaller cross section located at the second transverse face of the first ring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrustoconical bearing surface:

Implementation Method 2

the first peripheral inner surface of the first ring and the second peripheral outer surface of the second ring have identical spherical bearing surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpherical bearing surface:

Implementation Method 3

the geometry of the first and second rings makes it possible to be able to prevent them from rotating when their angular position is adjusted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Data Source

PatentUS12319440B2Connecting device comprising two off-center rings with a frustoconical and/or spherical bearing surface, aircraft or aircraft floor comprising at least two portions connected by at least one such connecting device

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

A connecting device including first and second off-center rings, the second ring being positioned in the first ring. The peripheral outer surface of the first ring is frustoconical and has a smaller cross section oriented in a first direction, and the inner surface of the first ring and the outer surface of the second ring, which surfaces interact with one another, have cross sections which increase between a first cross section and a second cross section that is offset in relation to the first cross section in an opposite direction to the first direction. This arrangement makes it possible to be able to prevent the rotation of the first and second rings once their angular positioning has been adjusted.