Wing Fold Latch Pin Cam Mechanism for Airport Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft with longer wingspans, which offer better fuel efficiency, face challenges in airport infrastructure as taxiway spacing and gate locations were not designed to accommodate them, necessitating a solution to reduce wingspan for ground operations without compromising flight performance.
Innovation Solution
A wing fold system that includes a latch mechanism with interdependent locks and cams, allowing the wing to transition between flight and folded positions, ensuring secure engagement and disengagement to maintain flight stability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the aircraft is designed with a longer wingspan to improve fuel efficiency, then fuel burn per seat-mile is reduced, but the aircraft cannot accommodate existing airport infrastructure such as taxiway spacing and gate locations
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 operations and a reduced wingspan for ground operations. The wing can be folded at the wing root to decrease the span, enabling the aircraft to navigate airport infrastructure with limited taxiway spacing and gate accommodation, while maintaining the capability for long wingspan during flight to improve fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The wing is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be independently folded or adjusted. The wing includes a main body and folding sections that can be rotated or collapsed, allowing the aircraft to reduce its overall wingspan when needed for ground operations while maintaining structural integrity and aerodynamic performance during flight
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wing is designed to fold to reduce wingspan for ground operations, then adaptability to airport infrastructure is improved, but the complexity of the wing structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism employs dynamic joints and hinges that allow the wing sections to rotate and fold in a controlled manner. The structure includes movable connections at the wing root that enable the folding action while maintaining structural strength, allowing the wing to transition between configurations without requiring overly complex support systems
Solution Approach 2:
The folding wing design allows inner wing sections to be nested or collapsed within the outer structure when folded. The wing panels can be stacked or arranged in a compact configuration when not in use, reducing the overall wingspan while maintaining a relatively compact and efficient structural design that minimizes complexity
3Reliability
If the latch mechanism uses multiple locks and cams to ensure secure engagement, then reliability of wing positioning is improved, but the complexity of the latching system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching system combines multiple locks and cams into an integrated mechanism where the locks and cams work together as a unified system. The first and second locks are connected through cam mechanisms that coordinate their engagement and disengagement, providing redundant security while sharing common structural elements to reduce overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanisms serve as intermediary elements that mediate between the lock positions and the wing folding action. The cams translate the movement of one lock into the corresponding movement of the other lock, ensuring coordinated engagement and disengagement while simplifying the control system through mechanical linkage
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
Enables aircraft to maintain longer wingspans for flight while reducing wingspan for ground operations, accommodating existing airport infrastructure without compromising fuel efficiency or flight performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first lock of a latch to prevent movement of a latch pin 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 comprising a first cam to prevent a second lock of the latch from transitioning to an engaged position until the first lock is in an engaged position via contact with a second cam of the second lock
Data Source
AI summary
A wing fold system of a wing of an aircraft. The system may include a first lock of a latch to prevent movement of a latch pin 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 may include a first cam configured to prevent the second lock from transitioning to a second engaged position until the first lock may be in a first engaged position via contact with a second cam of the second lock. A second lock of the latch, 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.