Aircraft Pylon Fairing Seal for Liquid Retention and Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pylons with existing fairing designs cannot retain liquids within the fairing structure while maintaining ventilation beneath the fairing, leading to potential fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating seals that extend over the lower portions of the peripheral edge of the fairing's voids, connected to the structure to compress against the removable panels, ensuring a leak-tight seal and fluid retention, with optional rabbets and tubular bodies for enhanced sealing, and supports like angle bars to secure the seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If removable panels are connected to the structure around voids to ensure ventilation beneath the fairing, then ventilation is improved, but the ability to retain liquids inside the fairing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple segments (first segment along lower rim, second segment along front intermediate rim, third segment along intermediate transverse rim, fourth segment along upper rim) that collectively form a complete sealing barrier around the void, allowing liquid retention while maintaining ventilation through the upper portions
2Reliability
If seals are added to retain liquids inside the fairing, then liquid retention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides liquid sealing along the peripheral edge, connects to the structure via rabbets and supports, and maintains compression against the removable panel, thereby reducing the need for separate sealing, connecting, and fastening components
Solution Approach 2:
The seal features nested structural elements where the rabbet is positioned within the seal body to receive the support, creating a compact integrated assembly that simplifies installation while maintaining effective sealing
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 solution effectively retains fluids within the fairing by preventing leakage while allowing for ventilation beneath the fairing, ensuring the fluid remains inside up to a certain level defined by the sealing horizontal plane.
Implementation Method 1
the structure comprises at least one seal extending over at least one lower portion of the peripheral edge, connected to the structure so as to be slightly compressed against the inner face of the removable panel when the removable panel is secured to the structure so as to retain a liquid inside the fairing
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft pylon comprising a structure covered by a fairing. The structure includes at least one void bounded by a peripheral edge. The fairing includes at least one removable panel connected to the structure around the void and having an inner face oriented towards the structure. The structure includes at least one seal connected to the structure so as to be slightly compressed against the inner face of the removable panel. The seal extends over at least a lower portion of the peripheral edge so as to retain a fluid located below a sealing horizontal plane while ensuring ventilation beneath the fairing.