Aircraft Wastewater Tank Drain Interface With Movable Pipe Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wastewater tank arrangements in aircraft face challenges in compensating for installation and manufacturing tolerances between the wastewater tank and the service panel, as flexible drain pipes can only effectively compensate for deformation-related tolerances, leaving installation and manufacturing tolerances uncompensated.
Innovation Solution
A tolerance compensation device comprising a first and second pipe piece, where the second pipe piece is movable relative to the first pipe piece perpendicularly along a longitudinal axis, allowing for compensation of tolerances during installation, and can be fixed post-installation to prevent further movement, enabling effective compensation of installation and manufacturing tolerances without relying on the flexibility of the drain pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible drain pipe is used to compensate tolerances, then deformation tolerances can be compensated, but installation and manufacturing tolerances cannot be effectively compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The tolerance compensation function is segmented into two distinct components: a flexible drain pipe for compensating deformation tolerances during flight, and a separate tolerance compensation device with movable pipe pieces for compensating installation and manufacturing tolerances during ground operations. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in compensating specific tolerance types without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
A tolerance compensation device acts as an intermediary component between the drain pipe and the service panel. This device includes a first pipe piece connected to the service panel and a second pipe piece connected to the drain pipe, with the second pipe piece movable relative to the first to bridge installation and manufacturing tolerances.
2Reliability
If a long flexible drain pipe is used to compensate more tolerances, then more tolerances can be compensated, but structural space and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tolerance compensation function is segmented into two distinct components: a flexible drain pipe for compensating deformation tolerances during flight, and a separate tolerance compensation device with movable pipe pieces for compensating installation and manufacturing tolerances during ground operations. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in compensating specific tolerance types without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The second pipe piece is designed with movable degrees of freedom that allow it to change its position parameters relative to the first pipe piece. This mobility enables the system to accommodate installation and manufacturing tolerances without requiring an excessively long drain pipe, thereby reducing overall system weight and space requirements.
3Weight of stationary object
If a short rigid drain pipe is used to save space and weight, then structural efficiency improves, but tolerance compensation capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A tolerance compensation device acts as an intermediary component between the drain pipe and the service panel. This device includes a first pipe piece connected to the service panel and a second pipe piece connected to the drain pipe, with the second pipe piece movable relative to the first to bridge installation and manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The second pipe piece is designed with movable degrees of freedom that allow it to change its position parameters relative to the first pipe piece. This mobility enables the system to accommodate installation and manufacturing tolerances without requiring an excessively long drain pipe, thereby reducing overall system weight and space requirements.
4Reliability
If the second pipe piece remains movable during operation to compensate deformation tolerances, then deformation tolerances can be compensated, but installation and manufacturing tolerances compensation becomes less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The tolerance compensation device is designed to perform preliminary compensation of installation and manufacturing tolerances during the ground installation phase. The movable second pipe piece is positioned to accommodate these tolerances before the aircraft enters service. Once installed, the device can be fixed in position, allowing the flexible drain pipe to handle deformation tolerances that occur during flight operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one based on operational context. During installation, the second pipe piece is movable to accommodate installation tolerances. During flight operations, the flexible drain pipe becomes the primary dynamic element for compensating deformation tolerances, while the tolerance compensation device maintains the established connection geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A wastewater tank arrangement for an aircraft, including a wastewater tank and a drain pipe having a first end and an opposite second end, the drain pipe fastened with its first end to the wastewater tank and having a second end for connection to a service panel in the aircraft structure. Providing a wastewater tank arrangement can effectively compensate tolerances between the wastewater tank and the service panel, and can effectively compensate installation and manufacturing tolerances during the course of the initial installation, in that the wastewater tank arrangement has a tolerance compensation device configured to connect the second end of the drain pipe to the service panel and compensate tolerances between the second end of the drain pipe and the service panel.