Slat Support Assembly Sliding Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slat support assemblies for aircraft wings face challenges in accommodating manufacturing tolerances and wing bending, leading to misalignment and increased weight, complexity, and reduced support efficiency due to the need for spaced bearings to allow lateral movement.
Innovation Solution
A slat support assembly with a slat support arm that includes first and second slat mounting lugs, a link arm, and a triangular truss configuration to prevent rotation about the axis of rotation, using a bearing element with a sliding shaft and bushes to allow sliding motion for alignment adjustments and load distribution, and spherical bearings for pivotal movement, enabling span-wise movement without undue load on guide roller bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spaced bearings are used to allow lateral movement for accommodating manufacturing tolerances and wing bending, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first joint is designed with a sliding mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment along the axis of rotation. The mounting lug can slide within the joint to accommodate lateral movements caused by manufacturing tolerances and wing bending, providing adaptability without requiring multiple spaced bearings. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by enabling tolerance accommodation through a single, simplified joint design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spaced bearings are used to allow lateral movement, then adaptability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of multiple spaced bearings into a single first joint with sliding capability. The mounting lug sliding mechanism consolidates the lateral movement accommodation function that would otherwise require multiple distributed bearings, thereby reducing the overall weight of the support assembly while maintaining adaptability to manufacturing tolerances and wing bending.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed joints are used to prevent rotation, then stability is improved, but adaptability to wing bending deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The first joint employs a sliding mechanism that allows the mounting lug to move dynamically along the axis of rotation. This dynamic capability enables the joint to accommodate wing bending and manufacturing tolerances while the triangular truss configuration maintains slat alignment stability. The sliding action provides the necessary adaptability without compromising the stability of the slat position during operation.
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
This configuration allows for effective alignment and load distribution, reducing the need for spaced bearings, minimizing weight and complexity, and enabling efficient deployment and retraction of slats while accommodating wing bending and manufacturing tolerances without increasing the risk of failure.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing element which is slidable in the bushes, the shaft extending between the opposing bushes
Implementation Method 2
spherical bearings for pivotal movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A slat support assembly 20 is disclosed. It comprises a slat support arm 22 which is movable to deploy a slat from a leading edge of an aircraft wing about an axis of rotation of the arm and a slat mount 27, 28 on a slat which is coupled to one end of said slat support arm by a joint 29, 32, 33. The joint is configured to allow the slat mount to slide in a direction of the axis of rotation of the arm.