Telescopic Strut Helical Cable Storage for Aircraft Ice Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical ice protection systems for aircraft movable structures, such as leading edge slats, require additional housing for excess cabling, leading to space and weight penalties due to the need for flexible conduit arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic strut with helically coiled electrical cables that retract within the strut when not in use, eliminating the need for external housing by using a dielectric material for segregation and grommets for vibration protection, allowing the cable to maintain electrical connection between fixed and movable structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible conduit arrangement is used to carry electrical services through the telescopic assembly, then electrical connection between fixed and movable structures is maintained, but excess cabling requires additional housing which increases space and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cable storage function with the existing telescopic strut housing. The hollow interior of the telescopic assembly is utilized to store excess flexible conduit, eliminating the need for separate housing structures. This merging of functions reduces overall weight and space requirements while maintaining electrical connectivity between fixed and movable aircraft structures.
2Reliability
If a flexible conduit arrangement is used to carry electrical services through the telescopic assembly, then electrical connection between fixed and movable structures is maintained, but excess cabling requires additional housing which increases space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cable storage function with the existing telescopic strut housing. The hollow interior of the telescopic assembly is utilized to store excess flexible conduit, eliminating the need for separate housing structures. This merging of functions reduces overall weight and space requirements while maintaining electrical connectivity between fixed and movable aircraft structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible conduit is nested within the hollow interior of the telescopic assembly. Excess conduit length is stored inside the telescopic structure itself, similar to a nested doll configuration. This allows the cable management system to be integrated within the existing structural envelope, reducing the need for additional external housing volume.
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 solution reduces space and weight requirements by storing excess cabling within the strut, while maintaining electrical connectivity and providing effective vibration protection, thus enhancing the efficiency of ice protection systems in aircraft.
Implementation Method 1
a helical spring may be attached to the cable biased to a retracted position
Implementation Method 2
pre-forming a flexible insulator of the cable to a naturally retracted state, that can extend by elastic deformation
Implementation Method 3
A dielectric material may therefore be provided between the cable and the strut
Data Source
AI summary
A telescopic strut for electrically connecting a fixed structure of an aircraft to a movable structure mounted to the fixed structure, wherein the strut is adapted to be mechanically connected to the fixed structure by its one end and to be mechanically connected to the movable structure by its opposite end, the strut comprising a plurality of telescopic elements and containing a helically coiled electrical cable, wherein the cable is adapted to move between retracted and extended positions with the telescoping of the strut. Also, a method of operating an aircraft having a movable structure mounted to a fixed structure, and one or more of the telescopic struts mechanically and electrically connected between the fixed and movable structures.