Telescopic Spreader Arm for Deicer Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airport pavements require rapid and efficient spreading of deicer fluid to prevent delays in air traffic, but existing spreader units are not designed to cover extensive areas effectively.
Innovation Solution
A spreader unit with a supporting arm and telescopic design, featuring hinged arms with adjustable ties, linear actuators, and hydraulic lines for efficient deployment and operation of deicer fluid distribution, allowing for compact and lightweight construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the spreader unit uses a traditional rigid structure, then it can maintain structural strength, but it increases vehicle width and reduces fluid capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting arms utilize a telescopic structure where inner tubular elements slide within outer tubular elements, allowing the arms to nest within each other during retraction. This nesting mechanism reduces the overall width of the spreader unit when not in use, thereby increasing the available volume for deicer fluid storage while maintaining structural strength when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting arms transition from a static rigid structure to a dynamic telescopic structure that can extend and retract. This dynamic capability allows the arms to adapt their width according to operational needs, providing full coverage during spreading operations while minimizing width during transport, thus increasing fluid capacity without compromising structural strength.
2Volume of moving object
If the spreader unit uses a telescopic design with multiple components, then it increases fluid capacity and reduces width, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic supporting arms serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the spreader assemblies, enable width adjustment for fluid capacity optimization, and facilitate deployment and retraction mechanisms. By integrating these functions into a single telescopic structure, the design reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic lines and electrical conduits are integrated within the telescopic arm structure itself, merging the fluid delivery system and power supply system with the structural support system. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining the benefits of the telescopic design.
3Length of moving object
If the spreader unit uses a compact design for on-road travel, then it reduces vehicle width, but it may compromise spreading effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting arms are designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing them to extend to full width during spreading operations to ensure effective coverage, and retract to a compact configuration during on-road travel. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by providing both compactness for transport and full spreading capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic arms operate in periodic cycles of extension and retraction, extending to full width for spreading operations and retracting to compact width for travel. This periodic action between two states (extended and retracted) allows the system to optimize for spreading effectiveness during operation and for on-road travel during transit, without permanently compromising either function.
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
Enables rapid and effective spreading of deicer fluid over extensive areas, reducing vehicle width for on-road travel, increasing fluid capacity, and simplifying maintenance, while maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a linear actuator L connected between tubular casing (7) and sliding member (8) to control the telescopic movement of sliding member (8)
Implementation Method 2
Each arm 2, 3 comprises a high-pressure hydraulic line 11 for transferring mechanical power
Implementation Method 3
the rotary disk blades spread the deicer fluid centrifugally over a work area diverging from the rotary disk
Data Source
AI summary
A spreader unit, for spreading deicer on a pavement, has at least one supporting arm having a casing connected to a rigid structure of the unit, a sliding member connected telescopically to the casing, and at least one telescopic pipe for the deicer and defining a connecting port connectable to a spreader assembly for spreading the deicer.