Payload Mechanism With Eccentric Bearings for Flush Door Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing payload bay doors on vehicles, such as aircraft, face issues with increased load, noise, and drag when opening into airflow, which affect the vehicle's performance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A payload mechanism utilizing eccentric geared rings or bearing rings allows for the translation and rotation of a rotary door within a vehicle's aperture, maintaining a flush surface to reduce drag and noise, and includes a processor-controlled motor system for seamless operation between closed and open configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If payload bay doors open outwards on hinges into airflow, then the payload can be released or exposed, but the load on the door increases and drag and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of opening the door outwards into the airflow, the invention opens the door inwards towards the payload bay. This inversion of the opening direction eliminates the door's exposure to external airflow, thereby reducing drag and noise while still allowing payload access through the inward-opening motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The door is completely removed from the airflow path by opening it inwards, extracting it from the harmful aerodynamic environment. This ensures the door surface does not interfere with airflow during operation, eliminating the source of drag and noise generation.
2Ease of operation
If payload bay doors open outwards on hinges, then the payload can be released or exposed, but the load on that door increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door opens inwards towards the payload bay instead of outwards, reversing the direction of the opening motion. This inversion changes the force distribution by eliminating exposure to external aerodynamic loads, thereby reducing the overall load on the door structure during operation.
3Ease of operation
If a rotary door mechanism is used, then payload access is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases with multiple bearing units
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bearing units are merged into a single integrated mechanism where the first bearing unit enables rotation and the second bearing unit enables translation, combining multiple functions into one cohesive door assembly. This integration reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate mechanisms for each motion type.
Solution Approach 2:
The door mechanism is designed with multi-functionality, where the bearing units serve dual purposes: the first bearing unit provides rotational motion for payload access, while the second bearing unit provides translational motion. This universal design allows a single mechanism to achieve complex door movement patterns.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
A payload mechanism for a vehicle is provided. The payload mechanism comprises: a door (2) operable to be in a closed configuration or an open configuration within a recess of the vehicle, the recess having an aperture(10); a first bearing unit comprising a first bearing (3a) and a second bearing (4a), the first bearing unit being coupled to one end of the door such that the door can rotate about the axis of rotation (y) of the first bearing and wherein the first bearing unit can rotate about the axis of rotation (x) of the second bearing, wherein the axis of rotation of the first bearing is offset from the axis of rotation of the second bearing; and a drive unit arranged to selectively drive either: the first bearing and the second bearing simultaneously at opposite and equal angular rates of motion to rotate the door in a first direction about the axis of rotation of the first bearing and to rotate the first bearing unit in a second direction about the axis of rotation of the second bearing to move the door closer to or away from the aperture, or the first bearing but not the second bearing to rotate the door about the axis of rotation of the first bearing. Methods of operating said payload mechanism are also provided, along with a vehicle having the payload mechanism.