Vibration Isolator Assembly with Retaining Member for Fuselage Blanket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for attaching components to an aircraft fuselage interfere with sound-deadening blankets, leading to inefficiencies in vibration isolation and increased labor costs due to tape sealing and potential obstruction of mounting apertures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a vibration isolator assembly with a protruding engagement portion and flange, where a retaining member is used to secure the sound-deadening blanket, minimizing openings and preventing obstruction of mounting apertures, by using an alignment spike to define openings in the sound-deadening blanket that fit snugly around the isolator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If circular holes are cut in the sound-deadening blanket to receive vibration isolators, then the vibration isolators can be properly positioned, but the holes create unobstructed pathways for sound radiation and require labor-intensive tape sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration isolator is nested within a cylindrical recess in the sound-deadening blanket, with the isolator's flange fitting inside the recess and the blanket material wrapping around the isolator body. This nesting arrangement eliminates the need for separate holes while providing both structural support and acoustic sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound-deadening blanket is designed with flexible material that forms a cylindrical recess and wraps around the vibration isolator. This flexible shell configuration allows the blanket to conform to the isolator shape, creating an acoustic seal without requiring rigid hole structures or additional sealing materials.
2Productivity
If slits are cut in the sound-deadening blanket instead of circular holes, then tape sealing is avoided, but the slit periphery may move and obstruct the mounting aperture of the vibration isolator
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical recess provides a precise nested fit for the vibration isolator, with the isolator's outer diameter matching the recess dimensions. This nested configuration inherently prevents lateral movement and misalignment, eliminating the reliability issues associated with slit-based approaches while maintaining installation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical recess acts as an intermediary structure between the sound-deadening blanket and the vibration isolator. This intermediate feature provides both acoustic sealing and mechanical alignment, preventing the blanket periphery from obstructing the mounting aperture while avoiding the need for tape sealing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sound-deadening blanket is positioned to closely fit around the vibration isolator, then sound radiation is minimized, but the blanket periphery may obstruct the mounting aperture
Solution Approach 1:
The solution transitions from a two-dimensional slit or hole approach to a three-dimensional cylindrical recess configuration. This dimensional change allows the blanket to wrap around the isolator in multiple directions, providing acoustic sealing while the recess geometry ensures the mounting aperture remains accessible at the top of the isolator.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical recess creates a nested arrangement where the blanket material wraps around the isolator body but leaves the top mounting aperture exposed. This nested configuration achieves close fit for sound suppression while maintaining operational access to the mounting aperture for fastener installation.
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 method reduces unobstructed sound pathways and minimizes labor by ensuring a tight fit between the sound-deadening blanket and vibration isolators, while preventing interference with mounting apertures, thus enhancing sound isolation and streamlining the attachment process.
Implementation Method 1
The vibration isolators include a flexible material that is positioned in the pathway of the vibrations as they travel from the fuselage towards the cabin. The flexible material is configured to absorb or block the vibrations
Implementation Method 2
The sound-deadening blanket is positioned to intercept the radiating vibrations and is configured to suppress the vibrations that radiate from the fuselage towards the cabin
Data Source
AI summary
A method for attaching a component to an internal portion of an aircraft fuselage is disclosed herein. The method includes mounting a vibration isolator assembly to the internal portion of the aircraft fuselage. The vibration isolator assembly has a protruding engagement portion having a flange. The method further includes defining an opening in a vibration-deadening body. The method further includes positioning the vibration-deadening body over the vibration isolator such that the protruding engagement portion is received within the opening. The method further includes pressing a retaining member onto the protruding engagement portion such that the retaining member engages the flange. The retaining member will retain a portion of the vibration-deadening body below an end of the protruding engagement portion. The method still further includes attaching the component to the protruding engagement portion.