Shock Absorber With Crushable Member for Decompression Door Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shock absorbers are inadequate in handling extreme shock impulses, leading to potential damage and injury during decompression events in aircraft, where pressure differentials can cause structural deformation and debris, posing a risk to aircraft integrity and pilot safety.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorber with a deformable energy-absorbing member, featuring a primary piston and a crushable material like honeycomb structure, which absorbs excess energy by deforming permanently or temporarily, limiting the movement of the cockpit door during decompression events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a typical shock absorber is used, then it can damp shock impulses within normal operational envelope, but it cannot handle extreme shock impulses or forces at the ends of the operational envelope
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber is divided into two distinct systems: a primary shock absorber for normal operation and a secondary energy absorbing system for extreme events. This segmentation allows each system to be optimized for its specific operational range, with the primary absorber handling routine shocks and the secondary system activating only during extreme conditions beyond the primary absorber's capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary energy absorbing system is pre-configured with crushable members positioned to engage only when the primary shock absorber reaches its travel limit. This beforehand cushioning ensures that during extreme shock events, the secondary system is already in place to absorb excess energy that exceeds the primary absorber's capacity, preventing structural damage.
2Reliability
If the cockpit door is automatically unlocked during decompression, then pressure equalization can occur, but the door opens at very high rotational velocity causing structural damage and debris
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary energy absorbing system is pre-positioned to engage with the cockpit door assembly. When decompression occurs and the door unlocks, the crushable members are already in place to absorb the excessive kinetic energy generated by rapid door movement, cushioning the impact before it can cause structural damage or generate dangerous debris.
Solution Approach 2:
The crushable members are designed to convert the harmful high-velocity door movement into beneficial controlled deformation. As the door moves rapidly during decompression, the crushable members deform in a controlled manner, transforming the dangerous kinetic energy into deformation work, thereby reducing the rotational velocity and preventing structural damage while still allowing pressure equalization.
3Reliability
If a deformable energy absorbing member is added, then extreme shock impulses can be absorbed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary energy absorbing system uses crushable members that are designed to deform permanently during extreme events. These disposable-like components absorb extreme shock impulses through controlled destruction, providing reliable protection against catastrophic failures while keeping the overall system relatively simple. The crushable members are replaced only when activated, making the complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The crushable members utilize porous or cellular structures that provide high energy absorption capacity in a compact form. These porous materials can deform and collapse in a controlled manner, absorbing extreme shock impulses efficiently while occupying minimal space. This allows the secondary energy absorbing system to be integrated into the existing shock absorber structure without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 shock absorber effectively limits the rotational velocity of the cockpit door during decompression, reducing the risk of damage and injury by dissipating energy through fluid pressure and deformable material absorption, thus enhancing safety and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
provide a first damping force by movement of a fluid through the primary piston
Implementation Method 2
provide a first damping force by movement of a fluid through the primary piston
Implementation Method 3
provide a second damping force by deforming the deformable solid material after the main shaft moves the first distance
Implementation Method 4
the crushable member, which absorbs excess energy by deforming permanently or temporarily
Implementation Method 5
The shock absorber does this by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another form of energy. This energy may typically be in the form of heat. Subsequently, the energy is then dissipated.
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber includes a first end configured to be mechanically fastened to a first component, a second end configured to be mechanically fastened to a second component, a main body, a main shaft, and a primary piston. The primary piston configured to move within the main body and further configured to provide a first damping force by movement of a fluid through the primary piston while the main shaft moves a first distance. The shock absorber also includes a deformable solid material arranged in the main body. The primary piston configured to further move within the main body and further configured to provide a second damping force by deforming the deformable solid material after the main shaft moves the first distance.