Structural frame
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsSean Richard Cysewski, Christopher Veto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an example, a structural frame is described. The structural frame includes a hub and a plurality of truss members. The hub includes a plurality of hub slots around a perimeter of the hub. The plurality of truss members are configured to couple with the hub and each other. Each truss member is a monolithic structure including: (i) a body extending from a first end of the truss member to a second end of the truss member, (ii) a truss fastener at the first end and configured to couple with a respective one of the plurality of the hub slots of the hub, (iii) a truss slot at the second end and configured to couple to the truss fastener of another one of the plurality of truss members, and (iv) one or more retainers extending along the body between the first end and the second end.
Claims21
A structural frame, comprising:
- a hub comprising a plurality of hub slots around a perimeter of the hub;
- and
- a plurality of truss members configured to couple with the hub and each other, wherein each truss member is a monolithic structure comprising:
- a body extending from a first end of the truss member to a second end of the truss member,
- a truss fastener at the first end and configured to couple with a respective one of the plurality of the hub slots of the hub,
- a truss slot at the second end and configured to couple to the truss fastener of another one of the plurality of truss members, and
- one or more retainers extending along the body between the first end and the second end,
- wherein, for each truss member, the one or more retainers comprises a plurality of conduits extending through the body of the truss member from the first end to the second end.
A structural frame, comprising:
- a hub comprising a plurality of hub slots around a perimeter of the hub;
- and
- a plurality of truss members coupled to the hub, wherein each truss member is a monolithic structure comprising:
- a body extending from a first end of the truss member to a second end of the truss member,
- a truss fastener at the first end and coupled with a respective one of the plurality of the hub slots of the hub, and
- one or more retainers extending along the body between the first end and the second end,
- wherein, for each truss member, the one or more retainers comprises a plurality of conduits extending through the body of the truss member from the first end to the second end;
- and
- a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the one or more retainers of the plurality of truss members.
A structural frame, comprising:
- a hub comprising a plurality of hub slots around a perimeter of the hub;
- a first truss member comprising:
- a first body extending from a first end of the first truss member to a second end of the first truss member,
- a truss fastener at the first end of the first truss member and coupled to a hub slot of the plurality of hub slots,
- a truss slot at the second end of the first truss member, and
- a plurality of conduits extending through the first body between the first end and the second end of the first truss member;
- a second truss member coupled to the first truss member, wherein the second truss member comprises:
- a second body extending from a first end of the second truss member to a second end of the second truss member,
- a truss fastener at the first end of the second truss member and coupled to the truss slot of the first truss member, and
- a plurality of conduits extending through the second body between the first end and the second end of the second truss member;
- an optical fiber coupled to a first conduit of the plurality of conduits of the first truss member and a second conduit of the plurality of conduits of the second truss member;
- and
- a fiber optic sensing system (FOSS) configured to sense light reflected in the optical fiber and determine, based on the light, a physical condition of the first truss member and the second truss member,
- wherein the first truss member is a monolithic structure, and
- wherein the second truss member is a monolithic structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.