Aircraft Wing Shift Device for Center of Gravity Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft balance and stability are compromised when the center of gravity shifts due to varying payload distributions, leading to inefficiencies and reduced performance, as traditional solutions like ballast decrease payload capacity and performance.

Innovation Solution

An aircraft wing shift device that allows the wing to be dynamically positioned along the fuselage to realign the center of lift with the center of gravity, eliminating the need for ballast by adjusting the wing's position in response to changes in payload and weight distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If ballast is added to rebalance the aircraft, then the center of gravity alignment is improved, but the payload capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecenter of gravity alignmentVSAvoidpayload capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The wing is made dynamically repositionable along the fuselage using a slide mechanism with apertures, allowing the wing position to be adjusted based on payload distribution. This dynamic adjustment enables the center of lift to be realigned with the center of gravity without adding fixed ballast weight, thus maintaining payload capacity while achieving balance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position parameter of the wing is changed by moving it to different locations along the fuselage (forward or aft positions) corresponding to different payload configurations. This parameter change allows the aircraft to adapt its balance characteristics without modifying its mass distribution through ballast.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If ballast is added to rebalance the aircraft, then the center of gravity alignment is improved, but the aircraft performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecenter of gravity alignmentVSAvoidaircraft performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The wing position is made adjustable along the fuselage, enabling real-time or pre-flight adjustment of the center of lift position. This dynamic capability allows the aircraft to maintain optimal performance by aligning centers without the performance penalty of carrying additional ballast weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the wing position is fixed, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different payload distributions decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewing mounting structureVSAvoidpayload distribution accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wing mounting structure is segmented into discrete position options along the fuselage, with apertures at specific locations (e.g., forward, center, aft positions). This segmentation provides multiple adaptable positions while keeping each individual mounting point structurally simple, allowing the wing to be repositioned based on payload needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If the wing is repositioned to accommodate payload changes, then the balance range is extended, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebalance rangeVSAvoidwing shift device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A slide mechanism with multiple apertures is provided, allowing the wing to be dynamically repositioned to at least three different locations along the fuselage. This dynamic system extends the balance range to accommodate various payload distributions while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through a straightforward mechanical design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3228537B1Aircraft wing shift device
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP
  • EP3228537B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3228537B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3228537B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An aerial vehicle (100) includes a fuselage (120), a wing (110), and a wing shift device (150). The wing shift device (150) is configured to be coupled to the fuselage (120). The wing shift device (150) comprises plurality of apertures (Fig. 2, 215, 305) for coupling the wing (110) to the aerial vehicle (100). The plurality of apertures (Fig. 2, 215, 305) are configured to permit the wing (110) to be shifted in a forward or aft direction along the fuselage (120) based on a center of gravity (160) of the aerial vehicle (100).