Aircraft Wing High-Lift Assembly for Skew-Tolerant Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft wing designs with high lift assemblies require skew sensors to prevent structural damage from skew cases, increasing costs, complexity, and maintenance efforts.
Innovation Solution
A skew-tolerant connection assembly for the high lift body, featuring a third connection element that restricts relative movement and rotation, allowing the structure to absorb skew without damage, eliminating the need for skew sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If skew sensors are used to detect skew of the high lift body, then the reliability of the wing structure is improved by preventing skew damage, but the device complexity and maintenance efforts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the skew sensor detection system entirely by redesigning the connection assembly to be inherently skew-tolerant. The third connection element with spanwise movable mounting allows the system to function without active sensing and control of skew conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of skew by allowing controlled skew movement through the spanwise movable mounting of connection elements. This transforms the previously harmful constraint forces into beneficial degrees of freedom that accommodate skew without damage.
2Reliability
If skew sensors and control systems are implemented, then the protection of the high lift body from skew damage is improved, but the maintenance efforts and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly provides self-protection against skew damage through its inherent mechanical design. The spanwise movable mounting automatically accommodates skew conditions without requiring external sensing or control systems that would need maintenance.
3Manufacturing precision
If the first and second connection elements are rigidly fixed to the high lift body, then the positional control is improved, but the structure becomes vulnerable to skew damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from rigid fixed mounting to dynamic spanwise movable mounting. This allows the connection elements to maintain functional positioning while adapting to skew conditions, converting a static vulnerable structure into a dynamic tolerant one.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the constraint function by introducing a third connection element with different mounting characteristics. While first and second elements provide drive function, the third element with spanwise movable mounting provides skew tolerance, dividing the functional requirements among multiple elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a wing (5) for an aircraft (1), comprising a main wing (11) and a high lift assembly (13) comprising a high lift body (15), and a connection assembly (17) movably connecting the high lift body (15) to the main wing (11), wherein the connection assembly (17) comprises a first connection element (19) and a second connection element (21) movably mounted to the main wing (11) and mounted to the high lift body (15), wherein the connection assembly (17) comprises a first drive unit (27) drivingly coupled to the first connection element (19) and a second drive unit (29) drivingly coupled to the second connection element (21). The object to provide a wing that does not require skew sensors and thereby reduce costs, complexity, and maintenance efforts, is achieved in that the connection assembly comprises a third connection element (57) movably mounted to the main wing (11) and mounted to the high lift body (15), the third connection element (57) is arranged between the first connection element (19) and the second connection element (21), the first connection element (19) and the second connection element (21) are mounted to the high lift body (15) in a spanwise movable manner, and the third connection element (57) is mounted to the high lift body (15) in a spanwise fixed manner.