Aircraft Wing Fuel Dam Assembly for Confined Wing Box Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of fuel dams in aircraft wings is difficult and time-consuming due to the confined space of the wing box, requiring technicians to manually install them after construction, which complicates the process.

Innovation Solution

Fuel dams with a fuel-dam body that includes a stringer adherent surface, rib adherent surface, and spaced-apart flanges, allowing for pre-installation on stringers and ribs, and utilizing adhesive or fasteners for secure attachment, with optional additive or subtractive manufacturing for precise fit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fuel dams are installed after the wing box is constructed, then fuel containment is achieved, but installation becomes difficult and time-consuming due to confined space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel containmentVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel dam is pre-installed on the stringer before the wing box construction is completed. This preliminary action allows technicians to work in open space rather than confined spaces, significantly reducing installation time while ensuring proper fuel containment positioning is achieved

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional installation methods are used in confined space, then fuel containment is achieved, but the installation process becomes complex and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel containmentVSAvoidinstallation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By installing the fuel dam on the stringer before final wing box assembly, the complex confined-space installation is transformed into a simpler pre-assembly operation performed in open space, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining containment integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stringer serves as an intermediary component that temporarily holds the fuel dam during assembly. This intermediate positioning simplifies the overall installation process by providing easy access during the pre-assembly phase before final wing box closure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Facilitates ergonomic assembly by allowing fuel dams to be installed in an open environment, reducing installation time and eliminating the need for excess adhesive removal, while ensuring secure fuel containment.

Implementation Method 1

Fuel dams comprise a fuel-dam body that defines a channel that is shaped to receive a portion of a stringer of the aircraft wing. The fuel-dam body comprises a stringer adherent surface, a rib adherent surface... adhering fuel dams to stringers and adhering the fuel dams to ribs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4134299B1Fuel dams, aircraft wing boxes, aircraft, and methods of assembling aircraft wings

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

Methods of assembling an aircraft wing comprise adhering fuel dams to stringers and adhering the fuel dams to ribs. Fuel dams comprise a fuel-dam body that defines a channel shaped to receive a portion of a stringer of an aircraft wing. The fuel-dam body comprises a stringer adherent surface, a rib adherent surface, and a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending from the rib adherent surface and positioned to project from the rib adherent surface on opposing sides of a notch of a rib.