Aircraft Wing Trailing Edge Panel Link Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft wing designs face challenges in efficiently supporting trailing edge panels while minimizing space and avoiding interference with mechanical and electrical routings, while also ensuring structural integrity and ease of installation/removal.
Innovation Solution
The use of a panel support arrangement featuring a link that extends from the trailing edge panel to a fairing, with pivot joints configured to allow rotation in a fore-aft direction, enabling the panel to deflect and reducing the risk of clash with routings, and incorporating a resilient seal to maintain airflow and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid support structure is used to attach the trailing edge panel to the fairing, then structural integrity is improved, but the risk of clash with mechanical and electrical routings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support link is designed with pivot joints at both ends, allowing it to rotate and deflect relative to the trailing edge panel. This dynamic capability enables the rigid link to accommodate movements and deflections of the panel, preventing clashes with routings while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot joints change the operational parameters of the support link from fixed-position to rotating connection. This allows the link to adapt its orientation and position dynamically, resolving the conflict between maintaining structural integrity and avoiding routing interference.
2Ease of operation
If the pivot joint is located above the plane of the trailing edge panel, then ease of installation is improved, but the link may interfere with routings running along the wing
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot joint's location above the panel plane combined with its rotational capability allows the link to be installed from above while still accommodating routing passages. The dynamic rotation enables the link to clear routings during operation despite the elevated pivot position.
3Reliability
If a complex support arrangement is used to ensure structural integrity, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented into two simple pivot joints at the ends of a single link, rather than using a complex multi-component assembly. This segmentation achieves reliability through simplicity, reducing device complexity while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex active mechanism to maintain structural integrity, the invention uses a passive link with pivot joints that relies on the natural rotation capability to accommodate panel movements. This inverted approach achieves reliability without complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft wing including a wingbox with an upper cover, a lower cover, and a rear spar. A lower trailing edge panel is provided with a leading edge attached to the wingbox. The wing includes a flap, a flap deployment mechanism which is configured to deploy the flap, and a fairing which covers the flap deployment mechanism. A first end of a link is pivotally attached to the lower trailing edge panel at a first pivot joint, and a second end of the link is pivotally attached to the fairing at a second pivot joint. The second pivot joint is lower than the first pivot joint.