Perforated Shield for Slung Cargo Aerodynamic Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aerial transport of cargo loads, such as tactical vehicles, faces damage from high-velocity aerodynamic loads during transport due to carrier aircraft speeds exceeding the cargo's safe limits, leading to issues like blown windshields and broken components.

Innovation Solution

A protective shield is mounted on the cargo load, supported by it, to absorb and redirect aerodynamic loads, with a flexible design and perforated sections to manage airflow and distribute loads, ensuring the cargo is protected during transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the carrier aircraft transports the cargo load at higher speeds, then the transport efficiency and productivity are improved, but the aerodynamic loads damage the cargo load components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoidaerodynamic loads

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protective shield is introduced as an intermediary element between the high-velocity air flow and the cargo load. The shield absorbs and redirects aerodynamic forces, preventing direct impact on the cargo components. This mediator allows the aircraft to maintain high transport speeds while protecting the cargo from damaging aerodynamic loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective shield is mounted on the cargo load before transport, providing preemptive protection against aerodynamic forces. The shield acts as a cushioning barrier that absorbs and dissipates the impact of high-velocity air flow before the forces can reach and damage the cargo components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a solid shield is used to protect the cargo load, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the shield weight and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidshield weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective shield incorporates a porous or perforated structure that allows partial air flow through the material. This design reduces the shield's weight and material usage while maintaining protection effectiveness by allowing some aerodynamic forces to pass through rather than being completely blocked, which would require a heavier solid structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The shield utilizes composite material structures that combine different materials to achieve optimal protection-to-weight ratio. The composite construction provides necessary strength and aerodynamic protection while minimizing overall weight compared to a solid homogeneous structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If the shield is made rigid and solid, then structural strength is improved, but the shield complexity and difficulty of storage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshield structural strengthVSAvoidshield storage complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield incorporates flexible or collapsible elements that allow it to transition between a rigid protective state during transport and a compact folded state for storage. This dynamic design maintains structural strength when deployed while reducing complexity and space requirements when stored.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shield utilizes flexible shell structures that can bend and fold without compromising protective capability. These flexible elements allow the shield to be collapsed into a compact form for storage while maintaining sufficient rigidity and strength when deployed to protect the cargo load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 shield effectively reduces damage to critical components by acting as a buffer against high-velocity air flows, allowing higher transport speeds while minimizing material usage and weight, and facilitating compact storage.

Implementation Method 1

aerodynamic loads generated by flight of the carrier aircraft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic loads: Drag

Implementation Method 2

the shield includes a section thereof perforated with a plurality of flow openings, and the shield permits a portion of the aerodynamic load generated by flight of the carrier aircraft to be applied to the cargo load through the flow openings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow openings: Porosity

Data Source

PatentUS9452667B2Protection systems and methods for cargo loads during exposed aerial transport

Publication Date: 2016.09.27 CORVID TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A method for transporting a cargo load using a carrier aircraft includes: mounting a shield on the cargo load such that the shield is supported by the cargo load to form a protected load; and aerial transporting the protected load as a slung load from the carrier aircraft, wherein the shield serves to protect the cargo load from aerodynamic loads generated by flight of the carrier aircraft.