Segmented Horizontal Blade Debris Deflector for Landing Gear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mud flaps can inadvertently increase the velocity of debris towards aircraft, posing a risk to delicate instruments due to the lack of suitable wheel wells on aircraft, and existing solutions are not effective for deflecting debris away from aircraft landing gear.
Innovation Solution
A debris deflector system comprising a bracket and a horizontal blade assembly secured to the aircraft's landing gear, which deflects airborne debris downward and away from the aircraft, utilizing a gap between blades to prevent debris from being redirected back towards the wheel and incorporating flaps to absorb energy and slow debris velocity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional mud flaps are used to reduce airborne debris, then the quantity of airborne debris is reduced, but debris velocity increases and some debris is redirected towards the aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The debris deflector is divided into multiple horizontal blades spaced apart from each other. This segmentation allows debris to pass through the gaps between blades rather than being reflected back, reducing both quantity and velocity of debris redirected toward the aircraft while maintaining debris reduction benefits
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a solid mud flap that reflects debris back toward the aircraft, the invention inverts the approach by using spaced horizontal blades that allow debris to pass through. This reverses the debris redirection mechanism from reflection back to the source to transmission through the structure
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional mud flaps are used to deflect debris, then debris is redirected away from the road surface, but debris is directed upwards and forwards towards the aircraft with greater velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal blades are segmented with gaps between them, allowing debris to pass through the structure rather than being reflected. This segmentation eliminates the harmful effect of redirecting debris toward the aircraft while maintaining the beneficial effect of deflecting debris from the road surface
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal blades act as an intermediary structure between the road surface and the aircraft. Instead of directly reflecting debris toward the aircraft like conventional mud flaps, the blades provide a intermediate path that allows debris to pass through and continue forward without gaining velocity or being redirected upward
3Reliability
If aircraft include wheel wells to protect from debris impact, then debris impact protection is improved, but aircraft weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the debris protection function from the aircraft structure itself (wheel wells) and places it on the landing gear. By taking out the protection function and locating it where debris is generated, the need for complex aircraft structure modifications is eliminated while maintaining protection reliability
4Quantity of substance
If horizontal blades are placed close together to block debris, then debris blocking is improved, but debris may be redirected back towards the tire
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal blades are segmented with specific spacing between them. This segmentation creates gaps that prevent debris redirection back toward the tire while maintaining sufficient blocking effectiveness. The spacing is optimized to allow debris passage without creating harmful reflection patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A debris deflector includes a bracket and a horizontal blade assembly. The bracket is to secure the debris deflector to an aft side of a landing gear assembly. The horizontal blade assembly is secured to the bracket. The horizontal blade assembly includes a blade and flap. The blade has a forward blade edge, blade body, and trailing blade edge. The forward blade edge is configured for placement aft of a tire for the landing gear assembly. The blade body extends outward from the forward blade edge substantially parallel to a road surface. The flap is secured to the trailing blade edge and extends from the trailing blade edge generally rearward and downward from the trailing edge.