Aircraft Slat Interconnection Stiffness Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft slat assemblies rely on complex and expensive spherical bearing arrangements to accommodate skewing movements, which occupy significant space and are not cost-efficient.
Innovation Solution
A slat assembly with elastically deformable interconnection portions between the slat tracks and the slat, providing high stiffness against rotation but allowing for torsional and rotational movements, eliminating the need for spherical bearings and simplifying the construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spherical bearing arrangements are used to accommodate skewing movements, then the slat assembly can handle differential movement between slat tracks, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the spherical bearing arrangement from the joint between slat track and slat. Instead of using complex spherical bearings, the patent uses a simple pin connection that allows rotational movement to accommodate skewing without the need for elaborate bearing structures, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The joint is segmented into distinct functional elements: a pin connection for rotational freedom and separate structural components for load bearing. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring the integrated complexity of spherical bearings
2Adaptability or versatility
If spherical bearing arrangements with multiple links are used, then skewing movement is accommodated, but the space occupied by the joint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical bearing arrangement and multiple links are extracted and removed from the joint design. The replacement pin connection achieves the same skewing accommodation function with minimal space, eliminating the volumetric penalty of complex bearing structures
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple links and spherical bearings to create a complex mechanism for accommodating movement, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple pin connection that inherently allows rotational movement, achieving the same effect with far less space
3Adaptability or versatility
If spherical bearing arrangements are used, then skewing movement is accommodated, but the manufacturing cost and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive spherical bearings with simpler, cheaper pin connections that achieve the same functional outcome. The pin connection is a basic mechanical element that is significantly less costly to manufacture and install than precision spherical bearing assemblies
Solution Approach 2:
The expensive spherical bearing arrangement is extracted and removed from the design. The replacement pin connection provides the necessary rotational freedom for skewing accommodation at a fraction of the manufacturing cost
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 solution enables the slat assembly to maintain a desired pitch angle while accommodating skewing forces, reducing complexity and cost, and allowing for more efficient aerodynamic configuration of the main wing.
Implementation Method 1
The interconnection portion is elastically deformable and is constructed in such a manner that a first stiffness against deformation—and in particular bending—about a first axis
Data Source
AI summary
A main aircraft wing slat assembly comprising a slat and two elongate slat tracks. A drive arrangement drivingly engages the two slat tracks and effects parallel synchronous movement of the slat tracks between retracted and extended positions. The connection between the slat and one or both slat tracks is realized by an interconnection portion extending between at least part of the slat and at least part of the respective slat track. The interconnection portion is elastically deformable and constructed such that a first stiffness against deformation about a first axis, is at least ten times a second stiffness against deformation about a second axis, which extends perpendicularly to the first axis and between the first and second portions of the interconnection portion, and at least ten times a third stiffness against deformation about a third axis, which extends perpendicularly to the first and second axes.