Aircraft Wing Slat Sync Shaft Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft wing designs can experience skew cases where the slat connection elements and drive stations do not move in sync, leading to potential slat skewing about a vertical axis.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a sync shaft that couples the output sections of the drive unit to ensure synchronized movement, with preferred configurations including rotating arms, links, rack and pinion drives, and a torsional decoupling mechanism to maintain alignment and functionality even in case of drive station failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the first and second connection elements are spaced apart in the wing span direction, then the drive unit can be arranged centrally for compact design, but the output sections may not move in sync causing slat skewing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive unit arrangementVSAvoidslat alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A sync shaft is introduced as an intermediary component to couple the first and second output sections. The sync shaft ensures that both output sections move in synchronization, preventing slat skewing while allowing the drive unit to be centrally arranged. The sync shaft acts as a mediator that transmits and coordinates motion between the spaced-apart connection elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the sync shaft is rigidly coupled to both rotating arms, then synchronized movement is ensured, but the system cannot accommodate wing bending or drive station failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronized movementVSAvoidtolerance to wing bending and failure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling between the sync shaft and rotating arms is made dynamic rather than rigid. The connection allows for relative movement and flexibility, enabling the system to adapt to wing bending deformations and tolerate drive station failures while maintaining synchronized operation under normal conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stress or pressure

If the sync shaft is arranged coaxially with the rotating arms, then torque loading is minimized, but the drive shaft arrangement becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque loading on sync shaftVSAvoiddrive shaft arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive shaft is arranged in a different spatial dimension or orientation relative to the sync shaft and rotating arms. By changing the dimensional arrangement, the system achieves coaxial alignment for minimal torque loading on the sync shaft while accommodating the drive shaft configuration through spatial optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11034435B2Wing for an aircraft

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A wing for an aircraft including a slat, and a connection assembly for movably connecting the slat to the main wing. The connection assembly includes a first connection element movably mounted to the main wing and mounted to the slat, and a second connection element movably mounted to the main wing and mounted to the slat. The connection assembly includes a drive unit connected to the slat that includes a first and second drive station spaced apart in the wing span direction. The first drive station has a first input section, a first gear unit and a first output section connected to the slat. The second drive station has a second input section connected to the drive shaft, a second gear unit, and a second output section connected to the slat. The drive unit includes a sync shaft coupling the first output section to the second output section.