# US 10,479,477 B2 · Engagement member for splicing a spar assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,477 B2 - Document ID: US10479477B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/424,402 - Filed: 2017-02-03 - Published: 2017-08-10 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-08 - Assignees: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Applicants: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Inventors: James E. King; James E. Kooiman; Charles D. Hogue - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479477B2 ## CPC - B64C 3/187: {Ribs} - B29C 35/045: {using gas or flames} - B29C 70/302: {Details of the edges of fibre composites, e.g. edge finishing or means to avoid delamination} - B29C 70/34: and shaping or impregnating by compression {, i.e. combined with compressing after the lay-up operation} - B64C 3/185: {Spars} - B64C 3/20: Integral or sandwich constructions - B64C 3/26: Construction, shape, or attachment of separate skins, e.g. panels - B64C 29/0033: {the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage} - B64F 5/10: Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor - F16B 5/01: by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels - F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)} - B29K 2105/0872: {Prepregs} - B29L 2031/3085: {Wings} - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract In one aspect, there is an engagement member for splicing a spar assembly in an aircraft wing including a joining portion having a first attachment for connecting to a first spar and a second attachment surface for connecting to a second spar; and a rib post extending from the joining portion and disposed between the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface. In an embodiment, the rib post is integral to the joining portion and is configured to couple with a rib web. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engagement member for a spar assembly in an aircraft wing comprising: a joining portion having a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface, the first attachment surface is configured to attach to a first C-shaped spar member and the second attachment surface is configured to attach to a second C-shaped spar member; and a post extending from and integral to the joining portion and disposed between the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface; wherein the engagement member serves as a post to couple with a rib assembly and to join the first C-shaped spar member and the second C-shaped spar member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The engagement member according to claim 1, wherein the the joining portion further comprises a top side and a bottom side, each top and bottom side including an interior surface and an exterior surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The engagement member according to claim 2, wherein the first C-shaped spar member includes a first upper spar flange and a first lower spar flange extending from an interior surface of a first support beam and the second C-shaped spar member includes a second upper spar flange and a second lower spar flange extending from an interior surface of a second support beam, wherein when the first C-shaped spar member is fixedly attached to the first attachment surface, the first upper spar flange is fixedly attached to the top side of the first attachment surface and the first lower spar flange is fixedly attached to the bottom side of the first attachment surface; wherein when the second C-shaped spar member is fixedly attached to the second attachment surface, the second upper spar flange is fixedly attached to the top side of the second attachment surface and the second lower spar flange is fixedly attached to the bottom side of the second attachment surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The engagement member according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member comprises at least one of metallic material and composite material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The engagement member according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member further comprises an interior surface opposing the first attachment surface and second attachment surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The engagement member according to claim 1, wherein the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface are an exterior surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The engagement member according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is a “T” shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The engagement member according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the top and bottom sides includes a slope on the interior surface having an increasing thickness at the post to provide reinforcement when the post is coupled with a rib assembly and the first and second attachment surfaces are coupled to the first C-shaped spar member and the second C-shaped spar member, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The engagement member according to claim 8, wherein the slope includes at least one step. ### Claim 10 An engagement system for a spar assembly in an aircraft wing comprising: a joining portion having a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface, the joining portion including a top side and a bottom side, each top and bottom side including an interior surface and an exterior surface; and a post extending from and integral to the joining portion and disposed between the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface; wherein the first attachment surface is coupled to a first spar member and the second attachment surface is coupled to a second spar member to form a spar assembly; wherein the engagement system serves as a post to couple with a rib assembly and to join the first spar member and the second spar member; wherein at least one of the top and bottom sides of the joining portion includes a slope on the interior surface having an increasing thickness at the post to provide reinforcement when the post is coupled with a rib assembly and the first and second attachment surfaces are coupled to the first spar member and the second spar member, respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The engagement system of claim 10, wherein each of the first attachment surface coupled to the first spar member and the second attachment surface coupled to the second spar member are coupled with at least one of an adhesive material and a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The engagement system of claim 10, wherein the post is coupled to a rib assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The engagement system of claim 12, wherein the post is coupled to the rib assembly with at least one of an adhesive material and a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The engagement system according to claim 10, wherein the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface are an exterior surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The engagement system of claim 14, wherein an end of the first spar member overlaps the first attachment surface on the exterior surface of the engagement system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The engagement system of claim 14, wherein an end of the second spar member overlaps the second attachment surface on the exterior surface of the engagement system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The engagement system of claim 10, wherein the engagement system is a “T” shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The engagement system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second spar members is a C-shaped spar member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The engagement system of claim 10, wherein the slope includes at least one step. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The engagement system of claim 10, wherein the first spar member and the second spar member are butt jointed.