Aircraft Wingtip Adapter for Munitions Interchangeability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The dissimilar configurations of underwing and wingtip stations on military aircraft, with horizontal and vertical mounting surfaces respectively, limit the interchangeability and flexibility of munitions and auxiliary fuel tanks, restricting the variation in setup and location of weapons systems.
Innovation Solution
An adapter is designed to connect to wingtip stations, providing a physical interface that increases clearance between adjacent stations, allowing for the use of various weapons systems by featuring a contoured backing plate with adjustable bolt holes and a support member that can accommodate different weapons racks, including the option for auxiliary fuel tanks, while minimizing drag and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dissimilar rack configurations are used for underwing and wingtip stations, then each station can be optimized for its specific mounting surface orientation, but the interchangeability and flexibility of munitions between stations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly enables wingtip stations to accommodate racks previously only compatible with underwing stations, creating a universal mounting solution. The adapter includes a backing plate with multiple bolt hole patterns that can interface with different rack types, allowing the same rack configuration to be used across both underwing and wingtip stations regardless of mounting surface orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter assembly acts as an intermediary component between the wingtip station mounting surface and the munitions rack. It includes a backing plate that interfaces with the vertical wingtip mounting surface and a support member that interfaces with the rack, mediating the connection between incompatible interfaces and enabling interchangeability
2Adaptability or versatility
If wingtip stations use vertical mounting surfaces, then the stations are optimized for air-to-air missile systems, but the ability to carry other munition types is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly with its multiple bolt hole patterns and configurable support members enables wingtip stations to carry various munition types including air-to-ground missiles and auxiliary fuel tanks, not just air-to-air missiles. The same adapter infrastructure supports different rack configurations for different weapons systems
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter assembly includes adjustable and reconfigurable components such as bolt holes positioned at different locations and support members that can be configured in different orientations. This dynamic reconfigurability allows the wingtip stations to adapt to different munitions requirements and firing angle requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If clearance between adjacent stations is increased, then more weapon types can be accommodated, but the adapter structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a backing plate for mounting to the wingtip station, support members for holding the rack, and bolt hole patterns for configuration. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall structure while achieving the clearance objective
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter is disclosed for use with an aircraft including wingtip stations defining mounting surfaces. The adapter is configured and dimensioned for connection to the wingtip stations on either wing of the aircraft to facilitate the connection of a weapons rack to the aircraft. The adapter includes a backing plate, and a body connected to the backing plate that is configured and dimensioned to support the weapons rack. The backing plate is configured and dimensioned in correspondence with the mounting surfaces defined by the wingtip stations. The body includes a base extending outwardly from the backing plate along a first axis, and a support member extending outwardly from the base along a second axis. In one particular embodiment of the adapter, the first and second axes define an angle of 45° therebetween.