Aircraft Wing Camber Adjustment via Flap-Driven Jackscrew Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current camber adjustment systems for aircraft wings are bulky, heavy, and complex due to the use of dedicated droop actuators and multiple pinned connections, which complicates the control of positional relationships between droop panels and flaps.
Innovation Solution
A camber adjustment system that eliminates the need for a dedicated droop actuator by using a jackscrew interface between a cam rod and a bell crank cam arm, allowing the droop panel to move in response to flap motion, thereby maintaining a precise positional relationship without additional actuators or numerous pinned connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated droop actuator is used to move the droop panel, then the droop panel can be reliably positioned, but the system occupies more space and adds weight to the airplane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the dedicated droop actuator from the system entirely. Instead, the droop panel is moved passively through mechanical coupling to the flap's motion. The flap actuator drives the flap, and through the linkage system (bell crank cam arm, cam rod, jackscrew interface, and coupler link), the droop panel is automatically positioned without requiring its own separate actuator, thereby eliminating unnecessary weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap actuator serves a dual function: it directly actuates the flap and simultaneously, through the mechanical linkage, actuates the droop panel. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate dedicated droop actuator, reducing system weight while maintaining reliable positioning of both components.
2Strength
If multiple pinned connections are used to connect the droop panel to the flap, then the connection is robust, but the positional relationship between the flap and droop panel becomes difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bell crank cam arm as an intermediary component between the flap and droop panel. This bell crank cam arm includes a cam rod with a jackscrew interface that precisely controls the positional relationship. The intermediary mechanism translates flap motion into controlled droop panel motion, maintaining both connection robustness and positional precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The jackscrew interface on the cam rod changes the motion parameters from simple pinned rotation to controlled linear-cam motion. This parameter change enables precise control of the droop panel's position relative to the flap, eliminating the positional control issues associated with multiple pinned connections while maintaining connection strength.
3Area of stationary object
If a compact camber adjustment system is designed to occupy less space, then more space is available for other components, but the system complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the droop panel actuation function into the existing flap actuation system. The bell crank cam arm, cam rod, and coupler link form an integrated linkage system that combines flap motion and droop panel positioning into a single coordinated mechanism. This merging reduces overall system space requirements while the standardized components keep complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam rod is positioned within the bell crank cam arm, and the coupler link connects these components in a nested arrangement. This nesting of components within the wing structure minimizes the space occupied by the camber adjustment system while maintaining functional integrity and avoiding excessive complexity through compact integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution results in a more compact, lighter, and less complex camber adjustment system that occupies less space within the wing, allowing for precise control and increased space for other components, while reducing weight and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a jackscrew interface between the cam rod and the bell crank cam arm
Data Source
AI summary
A camber adjustment system for a wing of an aircraft includes a droop panel that is configured to moveably couple to a portion of the wing, a flap, a cam rod moveably coupled to the droop panel, a bell crank cam arm moveably coupled to the flap, and a jackscrew interface between the cam rod and the bell crank cam arm. The droop panel is configured to move in response to movement of the flap via the jackscrew interface.