# US 12,179,919 B2 · Slat movement system for aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,919 B2 - Document ID: US12179919B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/299,491 - Filed: 2023-04-12 - Published: 2024-10-17 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2023-04-12 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Emily Georgia Rayner; Kevin Raylin Tsai; Ramón Augustin Burin; Bret Alan Bowers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179919B2 ## CPC - B64C 9/24: by single flap - B64C 9/02: Mounting or supporting thereof - B64C 9/06: with two or more independent movements - B64C 9/22: at the front of the wing - B64C 13/38: with power amplification - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS ## Abstract The illustrative examples provide a slat movement system for use in an aircraft. An aircraft comprises a wing having a fixed edge and a wing front spar, and a moveable slat connected to the wing by a four bar linkage and a slat arm, the slat arm movable along a track comprising a slot terminating prior to the wing front spar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft that comprises: a wing that comprises a fixed edge and a wing front spar; and a slat moveably connected to the wing by a linkage and a slat arm, the slat arm movably connected within a track that comprises a slot that terminates prior to the wing front spar, wherein the linkage comprises: a coupler connected to the slat; a rocker rotationally connected to the coupler and to a set of ribs; and a crank rotationally connected to the coupler and to the set of ribs, wherein the rocker is longer than the crank. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising: an actuator connected to the slat and configured to drive the slat relative to the fixed edge of the wing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the track comprises a shape that comprises curves. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the track directs the slat between a cruise position, a takeoff position, and a landing position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the set of ribs are located between the wing front spar and the slat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the track is a slot secured to the set of ribs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The aircraft of claim 2, wherein the actuator connected to the slat is a linear actuator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The aircraft of claim 7, wherein a distance between a rotational attachment of the rocker to the set of ribs and a rotational attachment between the crank and the set of ribs is shorter than the rocker. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The aircraft of claim 7, wherein the rocker is connected to the set of ribs by a rotational attachment closer to the fixed edge than a rotational attachment between the crank and the set of ribs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising: a second linkage and a second slat arm connected to the slat and the wing, the second slat arm movably connected within a second track that terminates prior to the wing front spar. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the slat comprises an up stop configured to rest on a reaction pad of a set of ribs of the wing and configured to transfer loads from the slat to the set of ribs. ### Claim 12 A slat movement system for a wing of an aircraft, wherein the slat movement system comprises: a linkage connected to a slat and to a set of ribs, wherein the linkage comprises: a coupler connected to the slat; a rocker rotationally connected to the coupler and to the set of ribs; and a crank rotationally connected to the coupler and to the set of ribs, wherein the rocker is longer than the crank; a track that comprises a slot contained between a fixed edge of the wing and a wing front spar in the wing; and a slat arm movably connected to the track by a roller within the slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The slat movement system of claim 12, wherein the slat is connected to a linear actuator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The slat movement system of claim 13, wherein the rocker is connected to the set of ribs by a rotational attachment closer to the fixed edge than a rotational attachment between the crank and the set of ribs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The slat movement system of claim 14, wherein the set of ribs comprises a pair of ribs, wherein a rotational attachment between the rocker and the set of ribs comprises a pin, and wherein a rotational attachment between the crank and the set of ribs is another pin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The slat movement system of claim 12, wherein the slot comprises a shape that comprises curves. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The slat movement system of claim 12, wherein the track directs the slat between a cruise position, a takeoff position, and a landing position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The slat movement system of claim 12, wherein the set of ribs comprises a reaction pad configured to support an up stop of the slat and transfer loads from the slat to the set of ribs. ### Claim 19 A wing of an aircraft that comprises: a fixed edge; a frame of the wing comprising a number of ribs and a wing front spar; a slat movable relative to the fixed edge; a plurality of linkages connecting the slat to the frame of the wing, wherein each of the plurality of linkages comprises: a coupler connected to the slat; a rocker rotationally connected to the coupler and to a respective set of ribs of the frame of the wing; and a crank rotationally connected to the coupler and to the respective set of ribs, wherein the rocker is longer than the crank; and a plurality of slat arms connected to the slat, each of the plurality of slat arms attached by a roller to a respective track that comprises a shape that comprises curves, each track connected to the frame, each track terminating prior to the wing front spar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The wing of the aircraft of claim 19, wherein the slat is connected to a linear actuator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The wing of the aircraft of claim 20, wherein a distance between a rotational attachment of the rocker to the respective set of ribs and a rotational attachment between the crank and the respective set of ribs is shorter than the rocker. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The wing of the aircraft of claim 20, wherein the rocker is connected to the respective set of ribs by a rotational attachment closer to the fixed edge than a rotational attachment between the crank and the respective set of ribs.