# US 12,759,692 B2 · System and method for supporting a leading edge of a wing of an aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,692 B2 - Document ID: US12759692B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/989,374 - Filed: 2024-12-20 - Published: 2026-06-25 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2024-12-20 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Zachary Clayton Williams; Greg Andrew Pillar; Greg J. Goodman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759692B2 ## CPC - B64C 3/28: Leading or trailing edges attached to primary structures, e.g. forming fixed slots - B64F 5/40: Maintaining or repairing aircraft - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A support system is configured to couple a leading edge of a wing to a main body of the wing. The support system includes an extender configured to secure to the leading edge and the main body. The extender is configured to extend and retract. The support system is in a retracted position when the extender is retracted. The support system is in a forward extended position when the extender is extended. The leading edge abuts the main body when the support system is in the retracted position. The leading edge is spaced apart from the main body when the support system is in the forward extended position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a wing including a leading edge and a main body, wherein fasteners securely fix the leading edge of the wing to the main body of the wing; and a support system coupling the configured to couple a leading edge of the wing to the main body of the wing, the support system comprising: an extender configured to secure to the leading edge and the main body, wherein the extender is configured to extend and retract, wherein the support system is in a retracted position when the extender is retracted, wherein the support system is in a forward extended position when the extender is extended, wherein the leading edge abuts the main body when the support system is in the retracted position, wherein the leading edge is spaced apart from the main body when the support system is in the forward extended position, wherein the fasteners prevent the support system from moving from the retracted position to the forward extended position, and wherein the fasteners are removable to allow the support system to be moved from the retracted position to the forward extended position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the extender comprises a pivot member configured to move the support system into an upward pivoted position, and wherein the support system in the upward pivoted position pivotally supports the leading edge in relation to the main body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising a strut configured to support the leading edge when the support system is in the upward pivoted position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the strut is moveably coupled to one or both of the leading edge or the main body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the wherein the pivot member moves the support system into the upward pivoted position to provide direct exposed access to internal areas of the leading edge and the main body of the wing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the extender is configured to be secured within the main body and the leading edge when the support system is in the retracted position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the extender comprises: a fixed rail configured to be secured to the main body; and an extension rail slidably secured to the fixed rail, wherein the extension rail is configured to be secured to the leading edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the extender comprises telescoping segments. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the extender comprises a pivot member which moves the support system into an upward pivoted position, wherein the extender is secured within the main body and the leading edge when the support system is in the retracted position, wherein the extender comprises a fixed rail secured to the main body, and an extension rail slidably secured to the fixed rail, wherein the extension rail is configured to be secured to the leading edge, wherein the support system in the upward pivoted position pivotally supports the leading edge in relation to the main body, wherein the system further comprises a strut which supports the leading edge when the support system is in the upward pivoted position, and wherein the strut is moveably coupled to one or both of the leading edge or the main body. ### Claim 10 An aircraft comprising: a wing having a leading edge and a main body, wherein fasteners securely fix the leading edge to the main body; and a support system coupling the leading edge to the main body, the support system comprising: an extender configured secured to the leading edge and the main body, wherein the extender is configured to extend and retract, wherein the support system is in a retracted position when the extender is retracted, wherein the support system is in a forward extended position when the extender is extended, wherein the leading edge abuts the main body when the support system is in the retracted position, wherein the leading edge is spaced apart from the main body when the support system is in the forward extended position, wherein the fasteners prevent the support system from moving from the retracted position to the forward extended position, and wherein the fasteners are removed to allow the support system to be moved from the retracted position to the forward extended position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aircraft of claim 10, wherein the extender comprises a pivot member configured to move the support system into an upward pivoted position, and wherein the support system in the upward pivoted position pivotally supports the leading edge in relation to the main body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The aircraft of claim 11, wherein the support system further comprises a strut configured to support the leading edge when the support system is in the upward pivoted position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the strut is moveably coupled to one or both of the leading edge or the main body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The aircraft of claim 10, wherein the extender is secured within the main body and the leading edge when the support system is in the retracted position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The aircraft of claim 10, wherein the extender comprises: a fixed rail configured to be secured to the main body; and an extension rail slidably secured to the fixed rail, wherein the extension rail is configured to be secured to the leading edge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The aircraft of claim 10, wherein the extender comprises telescoping segments. ### Claim 17 A method for a support system that couples a leading edge of a wing to a main body of the wing, the support system comprising: an extender secured to the leading edge and the main body, wherein the extender is configured to extend and retract, wherein the support system is in a retracted position when the extender is retracted, wherein the support system is in a forward extended position when the extender is extended, wherein the leading edge abuts the main body when the support system is in the retracted position, and wherein the leading edge is spaced apart from the main body when the support system is in the forward extended position, the method comprising: using fasteners to securely fix the leading edge to the main body of the wing when the support system is in the retracted position, wherein the fasteners prevent the support system from moving from the retracted position to the forward extended position; removing the fasteners to allow the support system to be moved from the retracted position to the forward extended position; retracting the extender to move the support system into the retracted position so that the leading edge abuts the main body; and extending the extender to move the support system into the forward extended position so that the leading edge is spaced apart from the main body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the extender comprises a pivot member configured to move the support system into an upward pivoted position, and wherein the method further comprises moving the support system into the upward pivoted position to pivotally support the leading edge in relation to the main body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising supporting, by a strut, the leading edge when the support system is in the upward pivoted position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said moving the support system into the upward pivoted position provides direct exposed access to internal areas of the leading edge and the main body of the wing.