Self-aligning Door Bogie for Tiltrotor Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tiltrotor aircraft experience unwanted lateral vibrations and movement of the proprotor gearbox door due to downdash from rotors and vibrations, leading to accelerated wear in the roller track assembly as the door bogie pitches or leans.
Innovation Solution
A door roller mechanism with a carriage member and pivot-bearing roller assemblies that allow rollers to pivot relative to the carriage, ensuring full contact with the roller track and reducing wear by maintaining alignment even during non-linear forces and movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door bogie is designed with fixed rollers relative to the carriage member, then the structure is simpler, but the rollers become misaligned with the roller track during lateral vibrations and door movement, causing accelerated wear
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assemblies are designed to pivot relative to the carriage member through pivot bearings, allowing the rollers to dynamically adjust their orientation in response to lateral vibrations and door movement. This dynamic capability maintains alignment between the rollers and the roller track, preventing accelerated wear while managing the complexity through a well-defined mechanical pivot mechanism.
2Reliability
If the rollers are constrained to remain fixed during door movement, then the manufacturing and assembly are easier, but the rollers experience misalignment under non-linear forces, leading to premature wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot bearing mechanism enables the roller assemblies to automatically adjust their angular position in response to lateral vibrations and non-linear forces during door operation. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal alignment between the rollers and the roller track, ensuring reliability while the manufacturing complexity remains manageable through standardized pivot bearing components.
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 design reduces wear on the roller track by allowing rollers to pivot and maintain contact with the track's flat face, minimizing premature wear and damage from misalignment.
Implementation Method 1
each roller assembly of the plurality of roller assemblies including a pivot bearing rotatably disposed within a bore of the plurality of bores
Data Source
AI summary
A door roller includes a carriage member comprising a plurality of bores, and a plurality of roller assemblies connected to the carriage member, each roller assembly of the plurality of roller assemblies including a pivot bearing rotatably disposed within a bore of the plurality of bores and a pair of rollers coupled to the pivot bearing. Each wheel assembly is configured to pivot relative to the carriage member.