Energy subsystems integrated into structural components of an aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRoger D. Bernhardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a structural member for a vehicle. The structural member comprises a plurality of finned spar members interlocked with one another, wherein each of the finned spar members include a main body, a plurality of web members extending from a flange, a circuit board formed on the main body, and a bus bar formed on the main body, wherein a compartment is formed between adjacent web members, each compartment being sized to receive a battery.
Claims21
A structural member for a vehicle, the structural member comprising:
- a plurality of finned spar members directly interlocked with one another, wherein each of the finned spar members include:
- a main body;
- a plurality of web members extending from a flange, wherein each of the plurality of web members includes a flexible portion;
- retaining members formed on the flange and configured to directly interlock each of the finned spar members of the plurality of finned spar members, wherein the flexible portion is configured to flex and rebound to compress and couple to the retaining members;
- a circuit board formed on the main body;
- and
- a bus bar formed on the main body in electrical communication with the circuit board,
- wherein a compartment is formed between adjacent web members of different finned spar members of the plurality of finned spar members when directly interlocked with one another, and
- wherein the compartment is sized to receive a battery.
An aircraft spar, comprising:
- a plurality of finned spar members directly interlocked with one another, wherein each of the finned spar members include:
- a main body;
- a plurality of web members extending from a flange;
- retaining members formed on the flange and configured to directly interlock each of the finned spar members of the plurality of finned spar members;
- a circuit board affixed to the main body;
- and
- a bus bar formed on the main body, wherein a compartment is formed between adjacent web members of different finned spar members of the plurality of finned spar members when directly interlocked with one another;
- and
- a plurality of batteries disposed in each compartment formed between the adjacent web members.
An onboard energy subsystem for a vehicle, the onboard energy subsystem comprising:
- a structural member comprising a plurality of batteries, wherein the structural member comprises:
- a first finned spar member directly interlocked with a second finned spar member, wherein each of the first and second finned spar members include:
- a main body;
- a plurality of web members extending from a flange;
- retaining members formed on the flange and configured to directly interlock the first finned spar member to the second finned spar member;
- a circuit board formed on the main body;
- and
- a bus bar provided on the main body,
- wherein:
- the first finned spar member is rotated 180 degrees relative to the second finned spar member along a length direction of the first finned spar member in the interlocked position, and
- a battery of the plurality of batteries is compressed in a compartment formed between adjacent web members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.