Aircraft Wing Unit Assembly via Center Wing Box Bolts

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing aircraft wing unit assembly process is time-consuming due to the separate attachment of wings on the fuselage skeleton, requiring substantial time and effort.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a center wing box half on each wing and linking them with bolts through the interior ends, reinforced by an intermediate wall, simplifying and strengthening the assembly process by directly attaching the two wings to each other.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the two wings are attached separately to the fuselage skeleton, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the assembly time is substantial

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly timeVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the attachment of both wings to the fuselage skeleton into a single integrated operation. By providing a center wing box half on each wing that can be coupled together, the assembly process combines what were previously separate attachment operations into one unified assembly step, thereby reducing total assembly time while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the two wings are directly linked to one another, then the assembly is simplified and time is reduced, but additional structural components are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly timeVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The center wing box is segmented into two separate halves, with one half integrated onto each wing. This segmentation allows the wings to be prepared independently with their respective box halves, then quickly coupled together through the coupling operation. The segmentation enables parallel preparation of components while maintaining the ability to assemble quickly, offsetting the added component quantity with manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If attachment bolts are distributed along the interior ends of the center wing box halves, then the mechanical strength is reinforced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment fittings are pre-positioned and integrated into the center wing box halves during the wing manufacturing process. This preliminary action ensures that the structural reinforcement features are already in place before assembly, allowing the bolts to be simply inserted and tightened during coupling. The complex structural features are built in advance, simplifying the final assembly operation while maintaining high mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11414173B2Aircraft wing unit comprising two wings attached to one another

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

To facilitate the assembly of the wing unit of an aircraft, this wing unit includes two wings each having a lateral wing box extended toward the interior by a center wing box half having an interior end, the two wings being attached to one another using attachment bolts linking the two interior ends of the two center wing box halves, and passing through an intermediate wall connecting two fuselage frame walls.