RFID Temporary Hole Closures for Aircraft Assembly Rework
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Solution Overview
Problem
During aircraft manufacturing, holes drilled early in the production process need to be temporarily closed and later reopened, which requires high effort and can lead to errors, such as oversize rivet installations.
Innovation Solution
A method using temporary closure members equipped with RFID tags to temporarily close openings in aircraft parts. These tags are scanned later to identify and remove the temporary closures, allowing for the installation of permanent fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If holes are closed with fasteners early in the production process, then the openings are securely closed, but later removal and reopening requires high effort and manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into temporary closure members that can be easily removed and permanent members for final installation. This segmentation allows the temporary closure to be a simple, low-effort component that serves its purpose during early production stages without complicating later manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by installing temporary closure members early in the production process to secure openings during initial manufacturing stages. These temporary closures are designed to be easily removable later, allowing the actual permanent fastening to be performed at the optimal time without the complexity of removing permanent fasteners.
2Ease of manufacture
If temporary closure members are used without identification markers, then the closing function is simple, but locating and managing specific closures later becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces RFID tags as an intermediary element attached to or integrated with temporary closure members. These tags serve as digital markers that provide identification information without complicating the physical closure function. The RFID tags enable automatic identification and tracking of specific openings during later manufacturing stages while maintaining the simplicity of the temporary closure installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual tracking and identification methods with RFID technology. Instead of using complex mechanical identification systems or manual record-keeping, the solution uses electronic RFID tags that can be automatically detected and read by scanning devices, eliminating the need for complex mechanical identification mechanisms while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Strength
If permanent fasteners are installed early, then structural integrity is ensured, but flexibility for later modifications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using temporary closure members that can be easily removed and replaced with permanent fasteners when needed. This dynamic approach allows the system to transition from a temporary state (during early production) to a permanent state (for final assembly), providing flexibility for later modifications while ensuring structural integrity is ultimately achieved through proper permanent fastening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by installing temporary closure members that maintain sufficient structural integrity during early production stages without committing to permanent fastening. This allows the structure to be secured for initial work while preserving the option to install additional parts or make modifications later by simply removing the temporary closures and installing permanent fasteners at the optimal time.
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
This method reduces the effort and risk associated with reopening holes by providing a digital marker for efficient location and removal of temporary closures, thereby streamlining the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
the closing member having an RFID tag... scanning for the RFID tag with an RFID scanning device based on the identification
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
In order to improve manufacturing of an aircraft, preferably reducing the effort of reopening holes, the invention proposes a method for temporarily closing openings in an aircraft part (10, 11) during a manufacturing process, by providing a first part (10) that has a first opening (14) and positioning a temporary closure member (16) insided that first opening (14). The temporary closing member (16) has an RFID tag (20) that has stored on it a unique identification. At a later stage in the aircraft manufacturing process a scanning device is used to scan for the RFID tag (20) based on the identification. The temporary closure member (16) is removed from the first opening (14) and subsequently replaced by a permanent member (22).