Aircraft Wing Tip Section Pivot Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft wing designs face challenges in increasing wingspan for improved efficiency while avoiding infrastructure adaptations and high airport fees, requiring a foldable wing solution that is safe, reliable, and has low weight and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A foldable wing arrangement with a pivotable tip section and an actuating system, including brakes and a control unit, allows the wing to transition between deployed and stowed positions, securing the tip section in the folded position using brakes or a latching device, eliminating the need for precise positioning and end stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the wingspan is increased to improve flight efficiency, then fuel consumption is reduced, but infrastructure adaptation costs and airport fees increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wing tip section is made movable relative to the base section through a pivot connection, allowing the wingspan to be dynamically adjusted between extended and retracted positions. This dynamic configuration enables the aircraft to adapt its wingspan to different operational requirements, maintaining long wingspan for fuel efficiency during flight while allowing reduced spans for infrastructure compatibility during ground operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing is divided into a base section and a movable tip section that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the majority of the wing (base section) to remain fixed while only the tip section moves, providing a balance between maintaining structural simplicity and achieving wingspan adjustment capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a foldable wing construction is provided to reduce wingspan, then infrastructure compatibility is improved, but the weight and complexity of the wing arrangement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot connection enables the tip section to be positioned in different locations without requiring a complete redesign of the wing structure. This dynamic positioning capability achieves wingspan reduction while avoiding the need for heavy mechanical folding mechanisms, as the tip section can be simply rotated into position.
3Reliability
If precise positioning mechanisms and end stops are used to secure the wing in folded position, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot connection inherently provides positioning capability through its geometric constraints. When the tip section is rotated to the desired position, the pivot axis and the connection geometry automatically define the location, eliminating the need for separate active positioning mechanisms or end stops. The system uses its own structural features to achieve positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot connection acts as an intermediary element that translates the rotation movement into precise positioning. Instead of requiring direct control of the tip section position through complex mechanisms, the pivot connection mediates between the simple rotation input and the precise positioning output through its geometric constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A wing arrangement for an aircraft is disclosed including a wing having a base section with a first end portion, which is adapted to be secured to the fuselage of an aircraft, and an opposite second end portion, and a tip section with a third end portion and an opposite fourth end portion. The third end portion is pivotably connected to the second end portion such that the tip section (9) is selectively pivotable about a tip section pivot axis between a deployed position and a folded position in which the spanwise length of the wing is smaller than in the deployed position. An actuating system including an actuator and coupled between the base section and the tip section such that the actuator is operable to selectively move the tip section between the deployed position and the folded position. The actuating system includes at least one first component arranged and adapted to move upon operating the actuator.