US 10,882,601 B2Granted

Aircraft wings having improved deflection control ribs

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorsErin Ahern, Tom Mark Balut, Gary Bond, Bryan Jacob Gruner, Eric Milligan

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Abstract

Aircraft wings having improved deflection control ribs are described. An example aircraft wing includes a rear spar, an outboard flap, a rear spar fitting, and a deflection control rib. The outboard flap is movable relative to the rear spar between a stowed position and a deployed position. The outboard flap includes a closure rib and a roller coupled to the closure rib. The rear spar fitting is coupled to the rear spar. The deflection control rib includes a primary arm and a catch. The primary arm is coupled to and extends rearward from the rear spar fitting proximate a lower surface of the aircraft wing. The catch is coupled to and extends rearward from the primary arm. The catch includes an opening to receive the roller of the outboard flap when the outboard flap is in the stowed position.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An aircraft wing, comprising:

a rear spar;
an outboard flap movable relative to the rear spar between a stowed position and a deployed position, the outboard flap including a leading edge, a trailing edge located rearward of the leading edge, an upper surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a lower surface located opposite the upper surface and extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a closure rib extending between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the upper surface, and the lower surface, and a roller coupled to the closure rib, the roller located between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the upper surface, and the lower surface of the outboard flap;
a rear spar fitting coupled to the rear spar;
and
a deflection control rib including:
a primary arm coupled to and extending rearward from the rear spar fitting adjacent a lower surface of the aircraft wing;
and
a catch coupled to and extending rearward from the primary arm, the catch including an opening to receive the roller of the outboard flap when the outboard flap is in the stowed position.

5 more elements

A deflection control rib, comprising:

a primary arm coupled to and extend rearward from a rear spar fitting of an aircraft wing adjacent a lower surface of the aircraft wing, the rear spar fitting coupled to a rear spar of the aircraft wing;
and
a catch coupled to and extending rearward from the primary arm, the catch including an opening to receive a roller of an outboard flap of the aircraft wing when the outboard flap is in a stowed position, the outboard flap movable relative to the rear spar between the stowed position and a deployed position, the outboard flap including a leading edge, a trailing edge located rearward of the leading edge, an upper surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a lower surface located opposite the upper surface and extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and a closure rib extending between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the upper surface, and the lower surface of the outboard flap, the roller coupled to the closure rib, the roller located between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the upper surface, and the lower surface of the outboard flap.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.