Dual-Channel Wiring Harness Sleeve for Folding Wing Tip Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenges of providing power and data transmission to a folding wing tip in aircraft, particularly with high voltage requirements, are exacerbated by limited space, harsh environmental conditions, and the need for reliable segregation and tolerance to movement, while ensuring no risk of arcing or abrasion.
Innovation Solution
A protective sleeve made of fluorosilicone polymer is used to house the wiring harness, which includes features like slits for easy installation and removal, and guides to constrain movement, ensuring separation of high and low voltage conductors and minimizing the risk of arcing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wiring harness is extended across the folding wing tip joint to provide power and data, then power and data transmission is enabled, but the wiring harness is exposed to harsh environmental conditions, movement, and tensional load changes that can damage the cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested protective structures where an inner protective sleeve encloses the wiring harness, which is itself nested within the folding wing tip structure. This multi-layer nesting approach protects the wiring from environmental factors while maintaining the folding mechanism's functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible protective sleeves made of elastomeric materials that can bend and flex with the folding wing tip movement. These flexible shells protect the wiring harness from environmental conditions while accommodating the dynamic movement and tensional changes without damaging the cables
2Power
If high voltage feed is provided to the folding wing tip, then sufficient power is available, but the risk of arcing and damage to adjacent structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protective sleeves as intermediary barriers between the high voltage wiring and adjacent structures. These sleeves act as insulating mediators that prevent direct contact and potential arcing, while still allowing the high voltage power transmission to function effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible insulating sleeves that provide electrical isolation for high voltage conductors. These thin film-like protective layers prevent arcing to adjacent structure while accommodating the dynamic movement of the folding wing tip
3Reliability
If wiring harness is routed through the folding wing tip, then power and data can be transmitted, but there is limited space available which restricts the ability to incorporate slack and provide segregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes nested protective sleeves where multiple layers are concentrically arranged within the limited space of the folding wing tip. This nesting approach maximizes the use of available volume while providing multiple protective functions without requiring additional external space
4Adaptability or versatility
If the wing tip device is made movable between flight and ground configurations, then the aircraft can operate at airports with gate limits, but the wiring harness must cope with repeated movement and tensional changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible protective sleeves that can bend and flex repeatedly with the wing tip movement between flight and ground configurations. These flexible shells protect the wiring harness from damage due to repeated movement and tensional changes while maintaining the adaptability of the wing span
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4B
AI summary
An aircraft 1 with a folding wing tip arrangement and first and second wiring harnesses 15a, 15b extending between a fixed wing 5 and a wing tip device 11. It is desirable to transfer power and/or data into a folding wing tip, which presents challenges such as repeated exposure to potentially harsh environmental conditions, with movement, and/or with changes in tensional loads. The wiring harnesses 15a, 15b comprise a plurality of conductors and are arranged to transmit electrical power and/or data to the wing tip device 11. The sleeve 25 comprises two channels 31, 33 to receive the harnesses, the position of the channels 31, 33 being fixed, relative to one another, such that the harnesses are held apart.