Aircraft Wing Battery Module Support Using Rib Flange Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft wings reinforced with battery modules face challenges in maintaining rigidity while minimizing weight, leading to increased loads and vibration effects, which can degrade stability and safety.
Innovation Solution
A wing structure integrating battery modules with ribs and spars through flange portions, allowing for load dispersion and natural frequency enhancement without additional reinforcement structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional reinforcement structures are added to the wing to ensure rigidity, then the rigidity of the wing is improved, but the weight of the wing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the battery module housing with the wing structure by integrating the housing into the rib assembly. The rib includes a battery module receiving portion that directly accommodates the battery module, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement structures. This merging of functions (structural support and battery housing) maintains wing rigidity while avoiding additional weight from redundant components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the wing, houses the battery module, and maintains aerodynamic shape. The flange portion of the rib acts as both a structural element for wing assembly and as a mounting structure for the battery module. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated reinforcement structures, thereby maintaining rigidity without increasing weight.
2Weight of moving object
If the wing structure is simplified to reduce weight, then the weight of the wing is reduced, but the rigidity of the wing may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the battery housing function into the existing rib structure. The rib's flange portion includes a battery module receiving portion that is structurally integrated with the rib itself. This integration allows the wing to maintain its rigidity through the original rib-spar configuration while accommodating the battery module without requiring additional reinforcement, thus avoiding weight increase.
3Reliability
If batteries are mounted in the fuselage, then the power source is secured, but the space for luggage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the battery modules from the fuselage (three-dimensional space occupied by luggage) to the wing structure (utilizing the wing's internal volume and structural spaces). The battery modules are mounted in the rib assembly, specifically in the battery module receiving portion of the flange, which is part of the wing's structural framework. This spatial relocation to a different dimension (wing vs. fuselage) ensures power source security while preserving fuselage luggage space.
4Volume of moving object
If batteries are mounted in the wings, then spatial utilization of the fuselage is ensured, but loads and vibration effects on the wings increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the battery module mounting directly into the rib structure, which is already a load-bearing component of the wing. The flange portion of the rib serves as both a structural element for wing assembly and as a mounting structure for the battery module. This integration allows the existing rib-spar framework to distribute the additional loads from the battery modules, rather than requiring separate reinforcement structures that would increase weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances the local structural quality at specific points where battery modules are mounted. The flange portion of the rib includes a battery module receiving portion with increased structural thickness or reinforcement at the exact location of battery mounting. This localized quality enhancement distributes loads effectively at critical points without requiring global reinforcement of the entire wing structure, thereby managing vibration and load effects while minimizing weight increase.
Data Source
AI summary
A wing for an aircraft include battery modules a plurality of ribs that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the wing, the plurality of ribs respectively defining a plurality of first through-holes through which the battery modules pass, a plurality of first flange portions that are respectively disposed at the plurality of ribs along edges of the first through-holes, the plurality of first flange portions defining battery seating surfaces that support the battery modules, and a spar that supports the plurality of ribs.