Aircraft Wing Bracket Layout for Precise High-Lift Assembly Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of achieving precise alignment and modular construction of a high lift assembly on an aircraft wing while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and enabling efficient assembly by a few personnel is not adequately addressed by existing methods.
Innovation Solution
A bracket with perpendicularly oriented landing surfaces and varying connection point widths facilitates the modular assembly of a high lift assembly, allowing for accurate orientation and flexible attachment despite manufacturing inaccuracies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the connection assembly is separated from the wing box construction into discrete modular steps, then modular construction efficiency and ease of repair are improved, but alignment precision and orientation accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bracket as an intermediary component between the wing box and the connection assembly. This bracket includes a positioning feature with a positioning surface that cooperates with a positioning structure on the connection assembly, enabling precise alignment even when the components are assembled in separate modular steps. The bracket acts as a mediator that transfers and ensures accurate positioning while allowing modular construction benefits.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional connection assembly methods are used, then alignment precision is maintained, but construction time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning feature on the bracket and the corresponding positioning structure on the connection assembly are designed to automatically guide and align the components during assembly. The positioning surface and positioning structure work together to self-align the connection assembly with the wing box, eliminating the need for complex external alignment tools or procedures, thus reducing construction time while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is pre-configured with the positioning feature before assembly, and the positioning structure is pre-formed on the connection assembly. This preliminary preparation of positioning elements ensures that when the modular components are brought together, alignment occurs automatically without requiring time-consuming adjustment procedures during the assembly process.
3Strength
If the connection assembly is tightly integrated with the wing box, then structural strength is improved, but ease of repair and replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wing structure into distinct modular components: the wing box, the bracket, and the connection assembly. The bracket serves as an intermediate segment that connects the wing box to the connection assembly through multiple connection points. This segmentation allows the connection assembly to be removed and replaced independently without affecting the integrity of the wing box, while the multiple connection points maintain structural strength.
4Reliability
If multiple connection points are used, then structural reliability is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket acts as an intermediary that simplifies the connection between the wing box and the connection assembly by providing a standardized interface with multiple connection points. The positioning feature on the bracket guides the alignment, and the multiple connection points are arranged to work together systematically, reducing assembly complexity while ensuring structural reliability through redundant connection paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A wing for an aircraft, a method of connecting a high lift assembly to the wing, and an aircraft including such a wing. The wing includes a main wing, a bracket and a high lift assembly. The high lift assembly includes a high lift body including a connection assembly movably connecting the high lift body to the main wing. The bracket includes a plurality of bracket connection points. The high lift assembly includes a plurality of high lift connection points, each high lift connection point corresponding to a bracket connection point and being connected thereto by a connector. The bracket includes first and second flanges. The bracket connection points are located on the first and second flanges. The first and second flanges each include respective first and second landing surfaces configured to abut a connection assembly surface, the first landing surface being oriented perpendicular to the second landing surface.