Aeroengine Washing Cart with Deployable Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile aeroengine washing systems are inflexible and cumbersome, struggling to accommodate various engine sizes and heights, and are not compact enough for efficient transportation and operation.
Innovation Solution
A mobile washing system with a platform, drip tray, and lateral walls that can be automatically adjusted and deployed using actuation means, such as rotation and elongation, to accommodate different engine configurations, featuring a control system programmed for optimal positioning and a droplet separator for efficient effluent collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the height adjustment mechanism lifts the whole frame to accommodate different engine sizes, then the system can adapt to various engine heights, but the mechanism becomes necessarily heavy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral walls are divided into fixed and movable segments. The movable segments can be independently adjusted to different positions using actuation means, allowing adaptation to different engine sizes without requiring the entire frame to be lifted or reconfigured.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral walls are designed with actuation means that enable them to move between fixed and movable states. This dynamic configuration allows the walls to adapt their position and orientation based on the specific engine being serviced, providing versatility without permanent structural changes.
2Ease of manufacture
If lateral walls and droplet separator are made fixed size for structural simplicity, then the device is easier to manufacture, but they cannot easily accommodate larger engine nozzles diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral walls incorporate actuation means that allow them to transition between different positions and orientations. This enables the same fixed-structure walls to dynamically adapt to different engine nozzle diameters, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral walls are designed to perform multiple functions: they can be positioned to accommodate different engine sizes, orientations, and configurations. The actuation means enable the same structural elements to serve various purposes across different washing scenarios.
3Ease of operation
If the washing system is made compact for efficient transportation, then the system is easier to transport and store, but it may lack the flexibility to accommodate various engine configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral walls are designed with actuation means that allow them to be repositioned and reconfigured. When not in use, the walls can be moved to compact positions for efficient transportation and storage. When needed, they can be deployed to accommodate various engine configurations, providing both compactness and versatility.
4Productivity
If automatic control system is implemented for wall positioning, then the operation efficiency is improved and precision is increased, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to automatically determine the required wall positions based on engine parameters and autonomously actuate the walls to the correct configurations. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual positioning, improving productivity while the automated decision-making reduces the complexity of human-machine interfaces.
Data Source
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Figure 4~5A
AI summary
A mobile aeroengine washing cart (50) , and a method of their operation, comprises a platform (52) having two lateral walls (64) , a front wall (62) and a drip tray (58) for capturing washing medium during an engine washing operation. The lateral and front walls (64, 62) and the drip tray (58) are moveable between a stowed position, for transportation, and a deployed position for engine washing.