Single piece co-cure composite wing

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a wing structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a single piece composite wing structure.

#2. Technical Background

#In order that the manner in which the advantages and features of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention summarized above will be rendered by reference to the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings only provide selected embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting in scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wing having a cutaway section.

#FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of a spar.

#The preferred embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, where like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The members of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures, may be implemented in a wide variety of configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

#The present invention provides for a single piece co-cured composite wing structure. Referring to FIG. 1, a single piece co-cured wing 100 having a composite flying surface 112 and a plurality of composite structural members is illustrated. The composite structural members may have various embodiments for maintaining the general shape of the flying surface 112 and allowing the lift of the wing structure 100 to be transferred to a fuselage (not shown).

#The wing structure 100 may include the various components of the wing, such as the ailerons, wing tips, horizontal stabilizers, vertical stabilizers, flaps, elevators, canards and the like. These wing structures will have a flying surface and structural members that are co-cured into a single piece. In some instances, the structural members may include thickened sections of the flying surface to provide structural support. References to a wing 100 or wing structure herein shall include the individual attachable components of a wing 100, such as those listed above and not simply the main portion of the wing. It should be noted that the various components need not be co-cured to each other, but rather the individual components are single piece co-cured structures.