Integrated Ribs for Central Wing Box Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of secondary ribs in an aircraft's central wing box is complicated due to the presence of rods that extend inside the volume of interest, making the process cumbersome and requiring customization for precise fitting.
Innovation Solution
The design replaces these rods with two stiffeners, each extending along a panel and a spar, with a reinforcing element connecting them, allowing for simplified installation and eliminating the need for rods within the volume of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rods are used to connect stiffeners in secondary ribs, then mechanical strength is improved, but installation complexity increases and customization is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rods from the secondary rib structure, extracting the problematic element that caused installation complexity. The stiffeners are reconfigured to extend directly from the panel to the spar without requiring intermediate rod connections, thereby eliminating the need for customization and complex assembly while maintaining structural integrity through the direct stiffener configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary rib is segmented into distinct functional components: stiffeners that extend directly from the panel to the spar, and separate floor links for cabin floor attachment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with stiffeners providing structural strength and floor links providing attachment functionality, thereby simplifying the overall installation process
2Strength
If rods extend inside the volume of interest, then structural reinforcement is achieved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffeners are pre-configured to extend directly from the panel to the spar in the correct position and orientation, eliminating the need for on-site rod installation and adjustment. This preliminary configuration of the stiffener geometry allows for rapid installation without requiring time-consuming rod fitting and customization within the volume of interest
Solution Approach 2:
The rods that previously extended inside the volume of interest are completely removed from the design. The structural reinforcement function is achieved instead through the direct extension of stiffeners from panel to spar, which can be installed as integrated components without requiring time-consuming rod assembly operations
3Manufacturing precision
If customized rods are used for precise fitting, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffeners are designed as universal components that extend directly from the panel to the spar with integrated attachment features. This universal design eliminates the need for customized rod fittings for different configurations, as the stiffener geometry itself provides the precise fitting capability while maintaining standardization across different secondary rib installations
Solution Approach 2:
The customized rod fittings are extracted from the design, replaced by stiffeners with integrated attachment capabilities. The precise fitting previously achieved through customized rod geometry is now achieved through the stiffener's direct extension and integrated connection features, thereby reducing component complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision
Data Source
AI summary
A central wing box for an aircraft, including a top panel, a bottom panel, a front spar, a rear spar, and at least one secondary rib. A secondary rib includes two stiffeners, a first stiffener extending adjacent to the top panel and to one of the front spar and the rear spar, and a second stiffener extending adjacent to the bottom panel and to the other of the front spar and the rear spar. A reduced number of components can be employed, thereby simplifying the construction of the central wing box of an aircraft, particularly the installation of the secondary ribs.