# US 10,871,232 B2 · Aircraft gap seal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,232 B2 - Document ID: US10871232B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/813,516 - Filed: 2017-11-15 - Published: 2018-05-17 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-15 - Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH - Applicants: Airbus Operations Limited - Inventors: Julien Laverne; Philip Jaggard; Matt Harding - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871232B2 ## CPC - F16J 15/447: Labyrinth packings - B64C 1/12: Construction or attachment of skin panels - B64C 3/26: Construction, shape, or attachment of separate skins, e.g. panels - F16J 15/104: {characterised by structure} - B64C 9/00: Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders (trimming stabilising surfaces B64C5/10) - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS ## Abstract An aircraft assembly including: first and second external skin panels having opposing edge faces separated by a gap, the gap having a width in a first direction extending between the opposing edge faces and a depth in a second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction; and a gap seal arranged in the gap to at least partially fill the gap, wherein the gap seal is formed of a material configured such that compression of the gap seal in the first direction results in substantially no expansion of the gap seal in the second direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft assembly comprising: first and second external skin panels having opposing edge faces separated by a gap, the gap having a width in a first direction extending between the opposing edge faces and a depth in a second direction generally orthogonal to the first direction, a gap seal arranged in the gap to at least partially fill the gap, wherein the first and second external skin panels are configured to move relative to one another between a first configuration in which the gap seal is arranged in the gap to at least partially fill the gap and a second configuration in which the gap seal is compressed in the first direction, and wherein the gap seal comprises material configured such that compression of the gap seal in the first direction across the width of the gap results in substantially no expansion of the gap seal in the second direction corresponding to a depth of the gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material of the gap seal has a Poisson's ratio in at least the first direction: equal to or less than 0.1; or equal to or less than 0.06; or equal to or less than 0.05. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material of the gap seal comprises a grid of cells. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly according to claim 3, wherein the material comprises a substrate and each cell comprises a uniform pattern of apertures in the substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the material is formed from at least one of the following: polyurethane; polytetrafluoroethylene; an elastomer, including silicon rubber or neoprene; or cork. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, including a blade seal attached to the first or second external skin panel and extending across the width of the gap to obscure the gap in at least the second configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the blade seal is configured to slide relative to the other of the first or second external skin panel, respectively, during relative movement of the first and second external skin panels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gap seal is fixed to the opposing edge face of a respective one of the first or second external skin panel, and is not fixed to the opposing edge face of the other of the first or second external skin panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, including a friction layer between the gap seal and the opposing edge face of the other of the first or second external skin panel, wherein the friction layer has a higher coefficient of friction than the gap seal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a respective one of the first and second external skin panels comprises a panel of one of a movable control surface, an access door, and a landing gear bay door. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft assembly includes an inner wing section comprising the first external skin panel, and an outer wing section comprising the second external skin panel, the outer wing being pivotable relative to the inner wing between a folded configuration in which the first and second external skin panels are separated, and a flight configuration in which the gap seal is compressed in the first direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An aircraft comprising the assembly according to claim 1. ### Claim 13 An assembly to seal a gap comprising: a gap between opposing edges of external skin panels on an aircraft, a gap seal in the gap wherein the gap seal has a width commensurate to a width of the gap along a direction parallel to at least one of the external skin panels, wherein a material forming the gap seal has a Poisson's ratio of no greater than 0.1, and wherein the external skin panels are configured to move relative to one another between a first configuration in which the gap seal is arranged in the gap to at least partially fill the gap and a second configuration in which the gap seal is compresses in the first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein a thickness of the gap seal is commensurate with a thickness of each of the external skin panels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein the gap seal is compressed by the opposing edges. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein the material forming the gap seal includes a substrate layer and slots in the substrate layer, wherein the slots are arranged in a pattern forming repeating cells on the layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16 wherein the cells are each hexagonal in shape.