Aircraft Wing High-Lift Track Assembly With Reduced Skin Cut-Outs

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft wing designs require large cut-outs in the main wing skin to accommodate high lift devices, leading to ingress of rain, dirt, and noise, as well as increased drag and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A connection assembly for high lift bodies that includes an elongate track mounted via a bearing, with first and second connectors, where the second connector is oriented transverse to the leading edge and located within the high lift body's internal volume, reducing the need for additional apertures in the main wing skin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a large cut-out region is provided in the main wing skin to accommodate high lift devices, then the high lift body can be moved to a fully retracted position, but rain and dirt may enter the main wing and noise is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh lift body retractionVSAvoidwater and dirt ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection assembly is nested within the high lift body's internal volume. The second connector is positioned inside the internal volume formed by the high lift structure, allowing the connection assembly to be housed within the high lift body itself rather than requiring external access through large cut-outs in the main wing skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If a large cut-out region is provided in the main wing skin, then the high lift body can be moved to a fully retracted position, but drag is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh lift body retractionVSAvoiddrag

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection assembly is nested within the high lift body's internal volume. The second connector is positioned inside the internal volume formed by the high lift structure, allowing the connection assembly to be housed within the high lift body itself rather than requiring external access through large cut-outs in the main wing skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the interface is positioned inside a portion of the high lift body to reduce cut-out size, then the opening area is reduced, but an access opening is required in the leading edge skin of the high lift body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater and dirt ingressVSAvoidaccess opening requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection assembly is nested within the high lift body's internal volume. The second connector is positioned inside the internal volume formed by the high lift structure, allowing the connection assembly to be housed within the high lift body itself rather than requiring external access through large cut-outs in the main wing skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the second connector is located inside the internal volume of the high lift body, then the number of apertures in the main wing is reduced, but the connector orientation must be transverse to the leading edge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater and dirt ingressVSAvoidconnector orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The second connector is oriented transverse to the leading edge of the high lift body, changing the directional dimension of the connection. This transverse orientation allows the connector to be positioned within the internal volume while still providing the necessary mechanical connection and movement capability for the high lift body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Minimizes the area of openings in the main wing, reducing water and dirt ingress, noise, and drag while maintaining structural integrity and simplifying the design.

Implementation Method 1

The elongate track is mounted to the main wing via a bearing such that the track is moveable along a track longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRoller bearing: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentUS12509214B2Wing for an aircraft

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A high lift assembly (7) including: a high lift body with a high lift structure (8) and an internal volume (22), and a connection assembly (10) extending through an aperture (18) in an outer skin (20) of a leading edge of a main wing (5), the connection assembly (10) includes an elongate track (16) and a first and second connectors (12, 14), the elongate track (16) is mounted to the main wing (5) and moves along a track longitudinal axis (24), and the first and second connectors (12, 14) connect the elongate track (16), the first connector (12) is between the internal volume (22) and the outer skin (20), the second connector (14) has a longitudinal axis transverse to the leading edge of the high lift body and connects to the high lift body and the high lift structure has an opening (40) for the elongate track.