# US 10,131,417 B2 · Hybrid carbon/fiberglass structural component for an aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,131,417 B2 - Document ID: US10131417B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/495,152 - Filed: 2017-04-24 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2018-11-20 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-24 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Max U. Kismarton; Devin E. Knowles; Francis E. Andrews - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10131417B2 ## CPC - B64C 1/18: Floors - B64C 1/065: {Spars} - B32B 5/12: characterised by the relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of {different layers, e.g. the fibres or filaments being parallel or perpendicular to each other} - B64C 2001/0072: {from composite materials} - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - Y10T 428/192: Sheets or webs coplanar - Y10T 428/195: Beveled, stepped, or skived in thickness - Y10T 428/197: with noncoplanar reinforcement - Y10T 428/24099: On each side of strands or strand-portions - Y10T 428/24116: Oblique to direction of web - Y10T 428/24124: Fibers - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A hybrid carbon/fiberglass structural component or beam for an aircraft is constructed with layers of strips of glass fibers interspersed with layers of strips of unidirectional carbon fibers where the carbon fibers are oriented only in alignment with or along the longitudinal direction of the length of the beam thereby adding strength and stiffness to the beam while reducing weight and manufacturing costs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structural component for an aircraft, the structural component comprising: a beam having a length extending in a longitudinal direction between a first terminal end of the beam and a second terminal end of the beam, the beam having a width extending in a lateral direction across the beam; a first plurality of strips of composite material on the beam, the first plurality of strips of composite material extending along the length of the beam, the first plurality of strips of composite material being comprised of strips of glass fibers; a second plurality of strips of composite material on the beam, the second plurality of strips of composite material extending along the length of the beam, the second plurality of strips of composite material being comprised of strips of unidirectional carbon fibers where the carbon fibers are only oriented in alignment with the length of the beam; and, a third plurality of strips of composite material on the beam, the third plurality of strips of composite material being on the beam adjacent the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, the third plurality of strips of material being comprised of glass fibers, the third plurality of strips of composite material being connected to opposite ends of the second plurality of strips of composite material at the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structural component of claim 1, further comprising: the first plurality of strips of composite material comprising strips of glass fibers on the beam oriented at an angle of +45° relative to the longitudinal direction of the length of the beam; the first plurality of strips of composite material comprising strips of glass fibers on the beam oriented at an angle of −45° relative to the longitudinal direction of the length of the beam; the first plurality of strips of composite material comprising strips of glass fibers on the beam oriented at an angle of 90° relative to the longitudinal directional of the length of the beam; and, the second plurality of strips of composite material comprising strips of unidirectional carbon fibers on the beam oriented at an angle of 0° relative to the longitudinal direction of the length of the beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The structural component of claim 2, further comprising: the strips of unidirectional carbon fibers all having carbon fibers oriented at 0° relative to the longitudinal directional of the length of the beam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The structural component of claim 2, further comprising: no strips of the strips of unidirectional carbon fibers have carbon fibers that are oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the length of the beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The structural component of claim 2, further comprising: the plurality of unidirectional carbon fibers are oriented only in the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The structural component of claim 2, further comprising: the beam having an upper flange, the upper flange having a horizontal orientation, the upper flange having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the upper flange having a width that extends across the width of the beam; the beam having a lower flange, the lower flange having a horizontal orientation, the lower flange having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the lower flange having a width that extends across the width of the beam; the beam having a central web, the central web having a vertical orientation, the central web having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the central web having a height that extends between the upper flange and the lower flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The structural component of claim 6, further comprising: the strips of the second plurality of strips have first and second terminal end portions on the beam adjacent the first and second terminal ends of the beam, respectively; and, the first terminal end portions and the second terminal end portions are comprised of glass fiber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The structural component of claim 7, further comprising: the first terminal end portions extend entirely across the width of the beam adjacent the first terminal end of the beam; the first terminal end portions are connected by splices to the strips of unidirectional carbon fibers adjacent the first terminal end of the beam; and, a proportion of the terminal end portions extending across the width of the beam decreases and a proportion of the strips of unidirectional carbon fiber extending across the width of the beam increases as the splices extend from the first terminal end of the beam toward the second terminal end of the beam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The structural component of claim 8, further comprising: the second terminal end portions extend entirely across the width of the beam adjacent the second terminal end of the beam; the second terminal end portions are connected by splices to the strips of unidirectional carbon fibers adjacent the second terminal end of the beam; and, a proportion of the second terminal end portions extending across the width of the beam decreases and a proportion of the strips of unidirectional carbon fibers extending across the width of the beam increases as the splices extend from the second terminal end of the beam toward the first terminal end of the beam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The structural component of claim 1, further comprising: the beam having an eye-beam cross-section configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The structural component of claim 1, further comprising: the beam being constructed from two back to back composite channels. ### Claim 12 A structural component for an aircraft, the structural component comprising: a beam having a length extending in a longitudinal direction between a first terminal end of the beam and a second terminal end of the beam, and having a width extending in a lateral direction across the beam; a first strip of composite material on the beam, the first strip being comprised of glass fibers that are oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam; a second strip of composite material on the beam, the second strip extending along the length of the beam, the second strip being comprised of unidirectional carbon fibers that are oriented in the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam; a third strip of composite material on the beam, the third strip being comprised of glass fibers that are oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam; the second strip being sandwiched between the first strip and the third strip with the first strip and the third strip shielding the second strip from an exterior environment of the beam; the second strip has a length that extends along, the length of the beam between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, the second strip has an intermediate portion on the beam and first and second terminal end portions on the beam adjacent the first and second terminal ends of the beam, respectively; and, the intermediate portion of the second strip is comprised of carbon fibers and the first terminal end portion and the second terminal end portion of the second strip are comprised of glass fibers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The structural component of claim 12, further comprising: the second strip being one of a plurality of second strips on the beam that are comprised of unidirectional carbon fibers that are oriented in the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam; and, no strips of the plurality of second strips comprised of unidirectional carbon fibers have carbon fibers oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The structural component of claim 12, further comprising: the second strip being one of a plurality of second strips on the beam that are comprised of unidirectional carbon fibers; and, the unidirectional carbon fibers in the plurality of second strips are oriented only in the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The structural component of claim 12, further comprising: an upper flange of the beam, the upper flange having a horizontal orientation, the upper flange having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the upper flange having a width that extends across the width of the beam; a lower flange of the beam, the lower flange having a horizontal orientation, the lower flange having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the lower flange having a width that extends across the width of the beam; a central web of the beam, the central web having a vertical orientation, the central web having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the central web having a height that extends between the upper flange and the lower flange. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The structural component of claim 12, further comprising: the beam having an eye-beam cross-section configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The structural component of claim 12, further comprising: the beam being constructed from two back to back composite channels. ### Claim 18 A structural corn orient for, an aircraft the structural component comprising: a beam having length extending in a longitudinal direction between a first terminal end of the beam and a second terminal end of the beam, and having a width extending in a lateral direction across the beam; a first strip of composite material on the beam, the first strip being comprised of glass fibers that are oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam; a second strip of composite material on the beam, the second strip extending along the length the beam, the second strip being comprised of unidirectional carbon fibers that are oriented in the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam; a third strip of composite material on the beam, the third strip being comprised of glass fibers that are oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction along the length of the beam; the second strip being sandwiched between the first strip and the third strip with the first strip and the third strip shielding the second strip from an exterior environment of the beam; an upper flange of the beam, the upper flange having a horizontal orientation, the upper flange having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the upper flange having a width that extends across the width of the beam; a lower flange of the beam, the lower flange having a horizontal orientation, the lower flange having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the lower flange having a width that extends across the width of the beam; and, a central web of the beam, the central web having a vertical orientation, the central web having a length that extends between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, and the central web having a height that extends between the upper flange and the lower flange; the second strip has a length that extends along the length of the beam between the first terminal end of the beam and the second terminal end of the beam, the second strip has an intermediate portion on the beam and first and second terminal end portions on the beam adjacent the first and second terminal ends of the beam, respectively; and, the intermediate portion of the second strip is comprised of carbon fibers and the first terminal end portion and the second terminal end portion of the second strip are comprised of glass fibers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The structural component of claim 18, further comprising: the first terminal end portion of the second strip extends entirely across the width of the beam adjacent the first terminal end of the beam; the first terminal end portion of the second strip is connected by a splice to the intermediate portion of the second strip adjacent the first terminal end of the beam; a proportion of the first terminal end portion of the second strip extending across the width of the beam decreases and a proportion of the intermediate portion of the second strip extending across the width of the beam increases as the splice extends from the first terminal end of the beam toward the second terminal end of the beam. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The structural component of claim 19, further comprising: the second terminal end portion of the second strip extends entirely across the width of the beam adjacent the second terminal end the beam; the second terminal end portion of the second strip is connected by a splice to the intermediate portion of the second strip adjacent the second terminal end of the beam; and, a proportion of the second terminal end portion of the second strip extending across the width of the beam decreases and a proportion of the intermediate portion of the second strip extending across the width of the beam increases as the splice extends from the second terminal end of the beam toward the first terminal end of the beam.