Low load shear out auxiliary support joint
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBryan J. Gruner, John Thomas B. Homrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flap support structure incorporates an auxiliary flap support attachment fitting and an auxiliary flap support track. A primary load pin couples the auxiliary support track to the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting and reacts operating loads on the flap. At least one fuse pin extends through the primary load pin to limit translation of the primary load pin relative to the attachment fitting.
Claims20
A flap support structure comprising:
- a flap support attachment fitting;
- a flap support track;
- a primary load pin coupling the flap support track to the flap support attachment fitting, said primary load pin transverse to the flap support attachment fitting reacting operating loads;
- and
- at least one fuse pin extending through the primary load pin to limit translation of the primary load pin relative to the attachment fitting, the flap support attachment fitting configured for translation of the primary load pin aligned with flap deployment loads upon fracture of the at least one fuse pin.
An operating flap system for an aircraft, said system comprising:
- a flap supported by at least one primary support with an actuator driven mechanism and a passively operating auxiliary support providing deflection control and carrying loads from the flap;
- an auxiliary flap support track operatively engaged by the auxiliary support and configured to extend upon deployment of the flap and retract upon retraction of the flap;
- an auxiliary flap support attachment fitting;
- a primary load pin coupling the auxiliary support track to the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting, said primary load pin transverse to the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting reacting operating loads on the flap;
- and
- at least one fuse pin extending through the primary load pin to limit translation of the primary load pin relative to the attachment fitting, said at least one fuse pin reacting shear loads induced on the primary load pin by the auxiliary flap support track, the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting configured for translation of the primary load pin aligned with flap deployment loads upon fracture of the at least one fuse pin.
A method for fusing of shear out loading on an auxiliary flap support attachment fitting, said method comprising:
- reacting operating loads on a flap with a primary load pin coupling an auxiliary support track to the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting and transverse to the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting;
- reacting flap deployment loads induced on the primary load pin by the auxiliary flap support track with at least one fuse pin extending through the primary load pin to limit translation of the primary load pin relative to the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting;
- fracturing the at least one fuse pin responsive to a jam of the auxiliary support track imposing a shear out load on the pin and the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting;
- and,
- translating the primary load pin in the auxiliary flap support attachment fitting aligned with flap deployment loads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.