Aircraft Pipe Support Collar With Shared Fasteners for Faster Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of hydraulic pipes and other fluid conduits in aircraft wing boxes is complex and time-consuming due to the need for multiple fasteners to secure pipe supports to structural members, leading to an inefficient process.
Innovation Solution
A pipe support system comprising two parts that form a collar around the pipe, with shared fastener holes allowing simultaneous clamping and fixation to the structural member, minimizing the number of fasteners required and ensuring correct orientation through inclined abutment faces and stop features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pipe supports are used with separate fastening and clamping operations, then the pipe can be securely mounted to the structural member, but the assembly process becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the clamping function and fastening function into a single integrated pipe support structure. The pipe support includes clamping surfaces that contact the pipe and fastening surfaces that contact the structural member, with fastener holes that accommodate fasteners to simultaneously perform both clamping and fastening operations. This eliminates the need for separate clamping and fastening steps, reducing assembly time while maintaining secure mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe support is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs clamping, fastening, and positioning functions. The same fastener holes serve both to clamp the pipe support against the structural member and to fasten the assembly together. This universal design reduces the number of components and assembly steps required, improving productivity without compromising reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple separate fasteners are used for clamping and fastening, then secure fixation is achieved, but the number of fasteners increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastening and clamping functions into a single fastener system. The fastener holes are positioned and dimensioned to allow fasteners to simultaneously perform both clamping and fastening operations. This reduces the total number of fasteners required while maintaining secure fixation through the integrated design of the pipe support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each fastener in the patent serves multiple functions: it clamps the pipe support to the structural member, fastens the assembly together, and helps position the pipe support correctly. This multi-functional use of fasteners reduces the overall number of fastening components needed while maintaining fixation security through the universal application of each fastener.
3Ease of operation
If simple fastening holes are used, then assembly is easier, but incorrect orientation and assembly errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric features on the pipe support, including inclined fastening surfaces and specifically positioned fastener holes, to provide built-in orientation guidance. These asymmetric features ensure that the pipe support can only be assembled in the correct orientation, preventing assembly errors while maintaining ease of operation through self-alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe support includes pre-formed fastener holes and inclined fastening surfaces that are configured to automatically guide the fasteners and ensure correct positioning during assembly. This preliminary configuration of the fastening geometry provides built-in alignment features that prevent incorrect assembly while simplifying the assembly process through self-positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe support block for an aircraft fluid system is disclosed in which the pipe support block is arranged to support a pipe on a structural member, such as a bracket. The pipe support has a first part and a second part which together form a collar. The collar has a pipe receiving bore and is configured to support a fluid pipe on the structural member. First and second fastener holes extend through both the first part and the second part. The first and second fastener holes are each arranged to receive a fastener to fasten the first and second parts to each other and to the structural member.