Attachment of Aircraft Ribs to Spars Having Variable Geometry
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJohn Scott Kruse, John Hershey Fogarty
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aircraft wing includes a rib attached by a joint to a tubular spar that varies in cross sectional shape during flight. The joint includes a ring attached to the tubular spar, and pivot pins connecting the ring with the rib. The pivot pins allow relative movement between the rib and the tubular spar as the tubular spar varies in cross sectional shape.
Claims23
For use in an aircraft wing, a joint for attaching a rib to a tubular spar that varies in cross sectional shape during flight, comprising:
- a ring substantially surrounding and attached to tubular spar;
- and
- pivot pins connecting the ring with the rib and allowing relative movement between the rib and the tubular spar as the tubular spar varies in cross sectional shape.
A joint between a substantially non-deformable structure and a tubular member having a cross sectional shape that deforms about points of inflection along a curvature of the tubular member, comprising:
- a ring extending substantially around the circumference of and attached to the tubular member;
- and
- pivot pins connecting the ring with the non-deformable structure respectively at the points of inflection.
A method of attaching an aircraft wing rib to a tubular wing spar having a cross sectional shape that may deform during flight, comprising:
- placing a ring around the tubular spar;
- loading the ring against the tubular spar;
- and
- pivotally connecting the ring to the rib.
A method of transferring loads between a substantially non-deformable structure and a tubular member having a cross sectional shape that deforms under load, comprising:
- pivoting the tubular member relative to the non-deformable structure as the cross sectional shape of the tubular member deforms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.