Aircraft Wing Fold Latch Pin Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft with longer wingspans for improved fuel efficiency face challenges in airport infrastructure, as existing taxiway spacing and gate locations are not designed to accommodate such configurations, necessitating a system to reduce wingspan for ground operations while maintaining efficiency in flight.
Innovation Solution
A wing fold system that uses a fold actuator and latch mechanism to transition the wing between flight and folded positions, employing a first and second lock configuration to ensure secure alignment and movement of latch pins, allowing the wing to be folded for ground use while maintaining a longer wingspan during flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the aircraft uses a longer wingspan for improved fuel efficiency, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the aircraft cannot be accommodated at existing airport infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The wing is designed with a folding mechanism that allows it to dynamically change its configuration between a long wingspan for flight and a short wingspan for ground operations. The wing can be folded at the wingtip or mid-span, enabling the aircraft to adapt its wingspan to different operational requirements - long for fuel-efficient flight and short for airport compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The wing structure is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be independently folded or articulated. This segmentation allows the wing to be collapsed into a compact configuration for ground operations while maintaining the ability to extend to a full wingspan for flight, resolving the contradiction between long wingspan benefits and airport infrastructure limitations
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wing is folded for ground operations, then airport infrastructure compatibility is improved, but the wing must be securely latched to maintain structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is designed to automatically engage and secure the wing in its folded position before the aircraft begins ground operations. The latch pins and locking mechanisms are pre-positioned to engage with the wing structure, ensuring that the wing is securely held in the folded configuration before any stress is applied during taxiing or parking
Solution Approach 2:
The latching system incorporates redundant locking mechanisms and safety features that prevent accidental disengagement during ground operations. Multiple latch pins and locking mechanisms are designed to work together, providing a fail-safe system that ensures the wing remains securely latched even if one component fails, thereby cushioning against potential failure modes
3Reliability
If multiple latch pins and locks are used to secure the wing, then wing latching reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple latch pins and locking mechanisms are merged into an integrated latching system that operates as a unified assembly. The latch pins, locks, and actuating mechanisms are combined into a single coordinated system that can be controlled by one actuator, reducing operational complexity while maintaining the reliability benefits of multiple locking points
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism is designed with universal components that serve multiple functions. The same latch pins and locks are used for both securing the wing in the folded position and providing structural support during the transition between configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
A wing fold system of a wing of an aircraft. The system may include a first lock (1204) of a latch (1202) to prevent movement of a latch pin (1240) of the latch to prevent movement of an unfixed portion of the wing with respect to a fixed portion of the wing, the first lock (1204) may include a first cam (1212) configured to prevent the second lock (1206) from transitioning to a second engaged position until the first lock may be in a first engaged position via contact with a second cam (1224) of the second lock. The second lock may include the second cam configured to prevent the first lock from transitioning away from the first engaged position until the second lock transitions away from the second engaged position.