Horizontal Stabilizer Lug and Clevis Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current horizontal stabilizer assemblies with multi-spar boxes face challenges due to confined space joints, which complicate manufacturing, assembly, and scalability, leading to increased costs and difficulty in accessing and joining components.
Innovation Solution
The proposed horizontal stabilizer assembly employs a stabilizer connector assembly with lug and clevis connections, featuring a center multi-spar box connected to first and second horizontal stabilizers via pairs of aligned lugs and clevises, allowing for easier assembly and scalability by eliminating confined space joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If splice plates and lap shear joints are used to connect horizontal stabilizers, then the horizontal stabilizers can be joined together, but the joints become confined space configurations that are difficult to access and increase manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal stabilizer assembly is divided into modular components (centerbox, stabilizer boxes, ribs) that can be assembled separately and connected through standardized lug and clevis interfaces. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex confined space joints while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Lug and clevis connections serve as intermediary elements between the horizontal stabilizer components. These standardized connectors simplify the joining process by providing accessible, pre-fabricated connection points that eliminate the need for difficult-to-access splice plates and lap shear joints.
2Ease of manufacture
If confined space joints are used in horizontal stabilizer assembly, then the components can be connected, but the assembly process becomes more difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
Lug and clevis connections are pre-fabricated and positioned on the stabilizer boxes and centerbox before final assembly. This preliminary action allows workers to easily locate and connect components without spending time creating or accessing complex joint configurations during assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional joint configurations are used, then horizontal stabilizers can be connected, but scalability is limited due to increased difficulty and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The lug and clevis connection system serves as a universal interface that can be applied to various horizontal stabilizer configurations and sizes. This standardized connection method enables scalability across different aircraft models and stabilizer designs without requiring custom joint solutions for each application.
Data Source
AI summary
A horizontal stabilizer assembly includes a stabilizer connector assembly having a center multi-spar box, a first horizontal stabilizer having a first multi-spar box connected to a first side of the center multi-spar box with a plurality of first lug and clevis connections, and a second horizontal stabilizer having a second multi-spar box connected to a second side of the center multi-spar box, opposite the first side, with a plurality of second lug and clevis connections.