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US 2023/0058853 A1Published application
D-truss wing structure for an unmanned aerial vehicle
AssigneeAeroVironment, Inc.
InventorGreg T. Kendall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods including a leading edge tubular member; an upper tubular member; a lower tubular member; one or more upper rib members connected between the leading edge tubular member and the upper tubular member; one or more lower rib members connected between the leading edge tubular member and the lower tubular member; a rigid sandwich shell disposed between the upper tubular member and the leading edge tubular member; and a sandwich shear web disposed between the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member; where the rigid sandwich shell and the sandwich shear web form a D-shape.
Claims20
1:
- A system comprising:
- a leading edge tubular member;
- an upper tubular member;
- a lower tubular member;
- one or more upper rib members connected between the leading edge tubular member and the upper tubular member;
- one or more lower rib members connected between the leading edge tubular member and the lower tubular member;
- a rigid sandwich shell disposed between the upper tubular member and the leading edge tubular member;
- and
- a sandwich shear web disposed between the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member;
- wherein the rigid sandwich shell and the sandwich shear web form a D-shape.
7 more elements
2:
- The system of claim 1, wherein the leading edge tubular member, the upper tubular member, and the lower tubular member carry all bending loads.
3:
- The system of claim 1, wherein the rigid sandwich shell comprises one or more expansion joints.
4:
- The system of claim 3, wherein each expansion joint runs between the leading edge tubular member and the upper tubular member.
5:
- The system of claim 4, further comprising a polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film that covers the system except for the rigid sandwich shell, wherein the PVF film provides an airfoil shape.
6:
- The system of claim 5, wherein the PVF film covers one or more channels formed by the one or more expansion joints.
7:
- The system of claim 1, wherein the rigid sandwich shell comprises two thin composite face sheets separated by a low-density core.
8:
- The system of claim 7, wherein the two thin composite face sheets comprise carbon fiber and epoxy.
9:
- The system of claim 7, wherein the low-density core comprises foam.
10:
- The system of claim 7, wherein the low-density core comprises a honeycomb.
11:
- The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- one or more cross-bracing members connected between each of the one or more lower rib members.
12:
- The system of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more cross-bracing members are configured to pull the lower tubular member toward the leading edge tubular member.
13:
- A system comprising:
- a leading edge tubular member;
- an upper tubular member;
- one or more upper rib members connected between the leading edge tubular member and the upper tubular member;
- and
- a rigid sandwich shell disposed between the upper tubular member and the leading edge tubular member.
3 more elements
14:
- The system of claim 13, further comprising:
- a lower tubular member.
15:
- The system of claim 14, further comprising:
- one or more lower rib members connected between the leading edge tubular member and the lower tubular member.
16:
- The system of claim 15, further comprising:
- a sandwich shear web disposed between the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member.
17:
- The system of claim 16, wherein the rigid sandwich shell and the sandwich shear web form a D-shape.
18:
- The system of claim 17, wherein the leading edge tubular member, the upper tubular member, and the lower tubular member carry all bending loads.
19:
- The system of claim 17, wherein the rigid sandwich shell comprises one or more expansion joints.
20:
- The system of claim 19, wherein each expansion joint runs between the leading edge tubular member and the upper tubular member.