Central Wing Box Equipment Assembly Outside the Main Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method of placing and fastening equipment inside an aircraft central wing box is cumbersome, time-consuming, and generates debris that pollutes the aircraft interior, requiring operators to work within a confined space and necessitating multiple piercings of the spars.
Innovation Solution
The method involves fastening equipment to assembly supports positioned outside the central wing box, using connections to secure these supports to the main structure, allowing for the assembly of a module that can be introduced as a single unit, reducing the time spent inside the wing box and minimizing debris generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If equipment is fastened inside the central wing box by operators entering through openings, then equipment can be installed, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the assembly process into two segments: first assembling the central wing box structure, then fastening equipment to support elements positioned outside the box. This segmentation allows operators to work externally rather than entering confined spaces, significantly improving ease of operation and reducing assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
Support elements (such as spars or ribs) are introduced as intermediary structures positioned outside the central wing box. These intermediaries serve as attachment points for equipment, allowing fastening operations to be performed externally without requiring operators to enter the confined internal space.
2Ease of operation
If operators enter the closed central wing box via openings to place and fasten equipment, then equipment can be installed, but ergonomics deteriorate due to confined space
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fastening operation from the confined internal space of the central wing box and relocates it to the external environment. Support elements are positioned outside the box, and equipment is fastened to these external supports, allowing operators to work in ergonomic conditions without being constrained by the closed box geometry.
3Reliability
If spars are pierced to fasten equipment inside the wing box, then equipment can be secured, but debris and chips are generated that pollute the aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces support elements (spars or ribs) as intermediary structures positioned outside the central wing box. Equipment is fastened to these external supports rather than directly to the internal spars, allowing piercing operations to be performed externally where debris does not pollute the aircraft interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful piercing operation is extracted from the internal environment of the wing box and relocated to the external environment. By positioning support elements outside the box, the debris and chips generated during fastening operations remain external and do not contaminate the aircraft interior.
4Reliability
If equipment is installed one after another inside the wing box, then equipment can be fastened, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the assembly process into two distinct phases: first completing the central wing box structure assembly, then performing equipment fastening operations externally. This segmentation enables more efficient workflows where multiple equipment items can be prepared and fastened to external supports in a more streamlined manner, improving overall assembly productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assembling a central wing box for an aircraft by assembling the upper and lower panels and the front and rear spars in order to obtain a main structure, fastening equipment to at least one assembly support positioned outside the main structure, inserting at least one mounting support inside the main structure, and securing the assembly support to the main structure. Also a central wing box and an aircraft having such a central wing box.