Aeronautics Window Pane Clamped Fixation for Breakage Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aeronautical window panes, whether made of glass or plastic, face challenges with bolted fixation systems that lead to stress management complexities, increased mass and cost, reduced lifespan due to cyclic mechanical stressing, and risk of unseating during pressurization and breakage, especially in larger windows with smaller fixation widths.
Innovation Solution
A clamped window pane fixing system utilizing a structural substrate with male or female retaining elements on its interior face that collaborate with complementary shapes in the host structure, preventing unseating by allowing translational blockage parallel to the window pane's main faces, reducing bulk and complexity, and eliminating the need for drilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a bolted fixation system is used, then the window pane is securely fixed to the structure, but the stress management becomes complicated, mass and cost increase, and the window pane life is reduced due to cyclic mechanical stressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bolts and drilling operations from the fixation system, extracting the harmful mechanical stressors while maintaining fixation strength through a pure clamping mechanism with retaining elements that engage with the host structure without penetrating the window pane
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the bolted mechanical connection system with a clamping mechanical system using retaining elements (male or female) that engage with complementary shapes in the host structure, eliminating cyclic mechanical stressing while maintaining secure fixation
2Strength
If a bolted fixation system is used, then the window pane is securely fixed, but the mass and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bolts and associated heavy hardware from the fixation system, reducing the overall mass of the window pane assembly while maintaining secure fixation through the clamping mechanism with retaining elements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fixation approach from a heavy bolted connection to a lighter clamping system with retaining elements, modifying the mechanical connection parameters to achieve both weight reduction and adequate strength
3Ease of manufacture
If a clamped fixation system is used, then the production is simpler and the window pane is more reliable, but the window pane may become unseated from the structure in the event of breakage of all plies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clamping system by adding discrete retaining elements (male or female) with complementary shapes that engage with the host structure, creating distinct retention zones that prevent unseating while maintaining the simplicity of the clamping approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates retaining elements that engage with complementary shapes in the host structure before breakage occurs, providing preventive retention that stops the window pane from unseating in the event of ply breakage, thus cushioning against the harmful effect of unseating
4Area of moving object
If the window pane is made larger with smaller fixation width, then the visibility is improved, but the risk of unseating increases under pressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds retaining elements that engage in a direction perpendicular to the clamping force, creating a multi-dimensional retention system where male or female elements engage with complementary shapes in the host structure to prevent unseating while maintaining large window area with minimal fixation width
Data Source
AI summary
A window pane includes at least one structural substrate referred to as interior substrate, intended to face toward a host structure within which the window pane is intended to be fixed, and having a face, referred to as interior face, wherein the interior face of the substrate includes, projecting therefrom and at the edge or near the edge and along at least one of the sides of the window pane, at least one male or female retaining element intended to collaborate with at least one respectively female or male retaining shape arranged in the host structure of the window pane.