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 finned spar member of the plurality of finned spar members includes a main body, a plurality of web members extending from a flange of the main body, a circuit board formed on the main body, and a bus bar comprising a tube positioned in an opening formed in the main body, the bus bar being in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein a compartment is formed between adjacent web members, the compartment being sized to receive a battery.
Claims19
A structural member for a vehicle, the structural member comprising:
- a plurality of finned spar members interlocked with one another, wherein each finned spar member of the plurality of finned spar members includes:
- a main body;
- a plurality of web members extending from a flange of the main body, wherein each of the plurality of web members includes a flexible portion;
- retaining members formed on the flange and configured to 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 comprising a tube positioned in an opening formed in the flexible portion of the main body, the bus bar being in electrical communication with the circuit board,
- wherein a compartment is formed between adjacent web members, the compartment being sized to receive a battery.
An aircraft spar, comprising:
- a plurality of finned spar members interlocked with one another, wherein each finned spar member of the plurality of finned spar members includes:
- a main body;
- a plurality of web members extending from a flange, wherein each of the plurality of web members includes a flexible portion configured to attach to a retaining member of the flange;
- a circuit board affixed to the main body;
- and
- a bus bar comprising a tube positioned in an opening formed by a web member of the plurality of web members, the bus bar being in electrical communication with the circuit board,
- wherein a compartment is formed between adjacent web members, each compartment being sized to receive a plurality of batteries.
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 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 interlock the first finned spar member to the second finned spar member;
- a circuit board formed on the main body;
- and
- a bus bar comprising a conductive tube positioned in an opening formed in the main body, the bus bar being in electrical communication with the circuit board,
- 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.