Segmented Heat Shield Panel for Thermal Expansion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat shields for vehicle wheels, particularly aircraft, deform and deflect due to differential thermal expansion of their layers, leading to potential damage and wheel abrasion, especially under high stress and temperature conditions.
Innovation Solution
A heat shield panel design with a segmented inner layer, allowing independent expansion of its segments to accommodate thermal differences, connected at the edges to prevent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the heat shield is made of thin metal sheets to minimize weight, then the weight of the heat shield is reduced, but the heat shield becomes more prone to deformation and deflection under thermal and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The inner layer of the heat shield panel is divided into multiple segments that can expand and contract independently. This segmentation allows each segment to accommodate thermal expansion without causing the entire panel to deform, maintaining structural integrity while using thin, lightweight material.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat shield panel uses a composite structure with an inner layer made of multiple segments and outer layers that remain intact. This composite design combines the lightweight advantage of thin sheets with the deformation resistance of a multi-component structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the inner and outer layers are securely connected at the seams to maintain structural integrity, then the structural integrity is improved, but the differential thermal expansion causes the panel to deform and buckle
Solution Approach 1:
The inner layer is segmented into multiple independent sections that can expand and contract separately. The connectors join these segments to the outer layers at the panel edges while allowing the segments to move relative to each other, preventing buckling while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design allows the inner layer segments to move dynamically relative to the outer layers and to each other during thermal expansion and contraction. This dynamic capability prevents the buildup of thermal stresses that would cause deformation while maintaining structural coherence.
3Reliability
If the heat shield panels are made robust to withstand high stress and temperature conditions, then the reliability under thermal stress is improved, but the weight and size of the wheel assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented inner layer allows the heat shield to withstand high thermal stresses through controlled expansion of individual segments rather than requiring the entire panel to be thick and robust. This maintains reliability while keeping the overall structure lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the thermal expansion parameters of the inner layer by segmenting it, allowing each segment to expand independently. This parameter change enables the use of thinner, lighter material while maintaining the ability to withstand high thermal stress conditions.
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
Reduces deformation and maintains panel flatness under high temperatures, preventing contact with the wheel and reducing abrasion and damage.
Implementation Method 1
the inner layer will tend to become hotter than the radially outer layer(s) and will, therefore, undergo a different thermal expansion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
A heat shield panel (60) comprising an inner heat shield layer (601) and an outer heat shield layer (602), the inner heat shield layer and the outer heat shield layer each having two outer edges (611a, 611b) wherein the outer edges of the inner heat shield layer and the outer edges of the inner heat shield layer are substantially aligned and are affixed to each other to form heat shield panel edges (60a, 60b), and wherein the inner heat shield layer is formed of two or more segments (601a, 601b) each having an inner edge (621a, 621b), the inner edges of the segments being arranged to move relative to each other.