Aircraft Wing Tip Lighting Device

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft wing tip devices are difficult to illuminate from the fuselage side due to limited integration options, requiring significant light power, modifications to the airframe, and causing light pollution and energy wastage.

Innovation Solution

A wing tip device with a built-in lighting system that projects light from a self-contained unit within the wing tip, eliminating the need for fuselage modifications and allowing for adjustable directional illumination using LEDs, integrated within the wing tip structure to maintain aerodynamics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If light is projected from the fuselage to illuminate the wing tip device, then illumination of the fuselage-facing side is achieved, but significant light power is required, modifications to the fuselage are needed, alignment is difficult, and light pollution and energy waste are significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination of fuselage-facing sideVSAvoidenergy waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is extracted from the fuselage and relocated to the wing tip device itself. The lighting unit is mounted on the outward, free end of the wing tip device, eliminating the need for fuselage modifications and reducing light power requirements by positioning the light source closer to the illumination target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A reflective surface is introduced as an intermediary element on the inward, fuselage-facing side of the wing tip device. This reflective surface redirects light from the lighting device to illuminate the fuselage-facing side, achieving the desired illumination effect without requiring direct line-of-sight projection from the fuselage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If light is projected from the fuselage to illuminate the wing tip device, then illumination of the fuselage-facing side is achieved, but modifications to the airframe are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination of fuselage-facing sideVSAvoidmodifications to airframe

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is extracted from the fuselage and relocated to the wing tip device itself. The lighting unit is mounted on the outward, free end of the wing tip device, eliminating the need for fuselage modifications and reducing light power requirements by positioning the light source closer to the illumination target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Illumination intensity

If light is projected from the fuselage to illuminate the wing tip device, then illumination of the fuselage-facing side is achieved, but alignment is difficult at such distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination of fuselage-facing sideVSAvoidalignment difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is extracted from the fuselage and relocated to the wing tip device itself. The lighting unit is mounted on the outward, free end of the wing tip device, eliminating the need for fuselage modifications and reducing light power requirements by positioning the light source closer to the illumination target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If a lighting device is integrated within the wing tip device, then no modification to the main wing or fuselage is required and better illumination is possible, but the lighting device must be integrated into the aerodynamic structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveno fuselage modificationVSAvoidaerodynamic surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is integrated into the wing tip structure with the glazing component forming a substantially uninterrupted aerodynamic surface. The lighting device is positioned locally on the outward end of the wing tip device, allowing aerodynamic flow to pass over it without significant disruption while maintaining the overall aerodynamic shape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

A glazing component is used to enclose the lighting device while forming a substantially uninterrupted aerodynamic surface. This thin film-like structure allows the lighting device to be integrated within the aerodynamic envelope without creating protrusions or disruptions to the external flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Provides effective and efficient illumination of the fuselage-facing side of the wing tip without affecting aerodynamic performance, ensuring visibility of logos and advertisements in dark conditions while minimizing energy waste.

Implementation Method 1

a lighting device mounted with the first portion and arranged to project light towards a surface of the second portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

the lighting device comprises a glazing component arranged to form a substantially uninterrupted aerodynamic surface with the eternal surface of the first portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic flow: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS9090341B2Aircraft lighting device

Publication Date: 2015.07.28 AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD

AI summary

A wing tip device has a lighting device arranged to project from a spanwise portion onto a substantially vertical portion of the wing tip device.