Aircraft Wing Slat Track Avoiding Front Spar Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft wing designs require the front spar to be penetrated by the slat track during movement, complicating the design and potentially making it less reliable and safe.
Innovation Solution
A connection assembly with a translational-rotational bearing allows the slat track to move along a path from the front spar to the leading edge, enabling both translation and rotation, thus eliminating the need to penetrate the front spar, and incorporating a drive unit and linkage system for efficient movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the slat track is designed to move translationally along its longitudinal axis between retracted and extended positions, then the slat can be moved between positions, but the front spar must be penetrated which complicates the design and reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The slat track is transformed from a purely translational mechanism to a dynamic mechanism that combines translation along its longitudinal axis with rotation about a transverse axis. This dynamic movement allows the second end of the slat track to follow a predetermined path that extends from the front spar toward the leading edge, eliminating the need to penetrate the front spar while maintaining the slat's ability to move between retracted and extended positions
Solution Approach 2:
The movement of the slat track is extended from one dimension (translational movement along the longitudinal axis) to two dimensions by adding rotational movement about a transverse axis. This dimensional change allows the slat track to pivot during extension, enabling it to clear the front spar area and follow a curved predetermined path, thereby eliminating the penetration requirement
2Ease of operation
If the slat track penetrates the front spar during movement, then the slat can be extended and retracted, but the design becomes less safe and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The slat track incorporates rotational movement about a transverse axis in addition to translational movement, creating a dynamic pivoting action during extension and retraction. This dynamic movement allows the slat track to follow a predetermined path that clears the front spar area, eliminating the penetration hazard while maintaining full operational capability for slat extension and retraction
Solution Approach 2:
A predetermined path is introduced as an intermediary constraint that guides the second end of the slat track through a safe movement trajectory. This path, which extends from the front spar toward the leading edge, mediates between the need for slat movement and the requirement to avoid front spar penetration, ensuring structural safety while enabling operational functionality
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a wing (1) for an aircraft (65), comprising a main wing (3), a slat (5), and a connection assembly (7) movably connecting the slat (5) to the main wing (3), such that the slat (5) is movable between a retracted position (9) and at least one extended position (11, 13). The connection assembly (7) comprises an elongate slat track (15) fixedly mounted to the slat (5) and movably mounted to the main wing (3). The object to provide a wing having a connection assembly that does not require the front spar being penetrated, is achieved in that the slat track (15) has a first end (17) that is mounted to the slat (5) and a second end (19) that is guided at the main wing (3) for movement along a predetermined path (21). The path (21) extends in a direction from a front spar (23) to a leading edge (25) of the main wing (3) and from a lower side (27) to an upper side (29) of the main wing (3). Between the first and second ends (17, 19) the slat track (15) is mounted to the main wing (3) by a translational-rotational bearing (39) that allows translation of the slat track (15) along its longitudinal direction (41) and rotation of the slat track (15) about a first axis of rotation (43) parallel to the leading edge (25), and that inhibits translation of the slat track (15) normal to its longitudinal direction (41).