US 12,202,601 B2Granted

Extendable compression chain system and method of using the same

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorsRobert E. Grip, John J. Brown

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Abstract

There is provided an extendable compression chain system for extending a structure. The system includes a track assembly, a curved guide assembly, an extendable compression chain assembly, an actuation mechanism, and a mechanical power apparatus. The extendable compression chain assembly is configured to travel along the track assembly and to follow the curved portion of the track assembly, to move from a retracted position to an extended position, to extend the structure coupled to the extendable compression chain assembly. The extendable compression chain assembly includes a compression chain structure having a first end, a second end, and modules. The modules are movable between a rigid position and a collapsed position, as the compression chain structure follows the curved portion of the track assembly, and wraps around the curved guide assembly. The extendable compression chain assembly includes an actuation end fitting and a structure interface end fitting.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An aircraft having two wing struts with an extendable compression chain system, the aircraft comprising:

a fuselage;
two wings coupled to the fuselage, and extending from the fuselage opposite each other;
a respective wing strut attached to each of the two wings, the wing strut having a strut cross section with an airfoil shape;
the extendable compression chain system coupled to an interior of each wing strut, the extendable compression chain system comprising:
a track assembly having a curved portion and a straight portion;
a curved guide assembly coupled to the track assembly;
an extendable compression chain assembly configured to travel along the track assembly and configured to follow the curved portion of the track assembly, the extendable compression chain assembly configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position, to extend the strut cross section between a contracted airfoil shape and an extended airfoil shape, the extendable compression chain assembly comprising:
a compression chain structure having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of modules connected together in a series configuration between the first end and the second end, the plurality of modules movable between a rigid position and a collapsed position, as the compression chain structure follows the curved portion of the track assembly, and wraps around the curved guide assembly, and the compression chain structure carrying an axial compression load in a first portion of the compression chain structure, where the plurality of modules are in the rigid position;
an actuation end fitting attached to the first end of the compression chain structure;
and
a structure interface end fitting attached to the second end of the compression chain structure;
an actuation mechanism coupled to the extendable compression chain assembly, to move the extendable compression chain assembly along the track assembly toward the curved portion of the track assembly;
and
a mechanical power apparatus coupled to the actuation mechanism, to power the actuation mechanism to move the extendable compression chain assembly.

11 more elements

A method of extending a wing strut of an aircraft using an extendable compression chain system, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling the extendable compression chain system to the wing strut, the extendable compression chain system comprising:
a track assembly having a curved portion and a straight portion;
a curved guide assembly coupled to the track assembly;
an extendable compression chain assembly comprising:
a compression chain structure having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of modules connected together in a series configuration between the first end and the second end, the plurality of modules movable between a rigid position and a collapsed position, as the compression chain structure follows the curved portion of the track assembly, and wraps around the curved guide assembly, and the compression chain structure carrying an axial compression load in a first portion of the compression chain structure;
an actuation end fitting attached to the first end of the compression chain structure;
and
a structure interface end fitting attached to the second end of the compression chain structure;
an actuation mechanism coupled to the extendable compression chain assembly;
and
a mechanical power apparatus coupled to the actuation mechanism;
moving the extendable compression chain assembly, using the actuation mechanism powered by the mechanical power apparatus, along the track assembly, to move a second portion of the compression chain structure toward the curved portion of the track assembly;
moving the extendable compression chain assembly, using the actuation mechanism powered by the mechanical power apparatus, around the curved guide assembly, to move one or more of the plurality of modules between the rigid position and the collapsed position, as the compression chain structure follows the curved portion of the track assembly, and to move the first portion of the compression chain structure toward the wing strut;
and
extending the wing strut, using the extendable compression chain system, by pushing the wing strut with the first portion of the compression chain structure, wherein the compression chain structure carries the axial compression load in the first portion, and the first portion comprises the plurality of modules in the rigid position.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.