Back to results
US 9,441,652 B2Granted
Joint assembly and method of assembling the same
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKenneth H. Griess, Gary Georgeson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A joint assembly is that includes a first component and a second component that includes a first portion and a plurality of flexible members extending therefrom for coupling the second component to the first component. The plurality of flexible members are preloaded in a predetermined direction and are configured to flex in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when coupling the second component to the first component.
Claims19
A joint assembly comprising:
- a first component comprising a first barrel section having a first edge portion;
- and
- a second component comprising a second barrel section having a second edge portion with a plurality of flexible members extending longitudinally therefrom that are configured to flex when coupling said flexible members to said first edge portion of said first component, wherein said plurality of flexible members are configured to individually uncouple from said first component such that a disbond between said first component and said second component is restricted from spreading laterally to adjacent flexible members of said plurality of flexible members;
- and
- wherein a joint formed by said first and second edge portions defines a substantially uniform thickness.
2 more elements
A fuselage assembly comprising:
- a first barrel section comprising a body portion extending from a first end to a second end;
- and
- a second barrel section comprising a body portion extending from a first end to a second end and a plurality of flexible members extending longitudinally from at least one of said first end and said second end of said second barrel section, wherein said plurality of flexible members are configured to flex when coupling said flexible members to one of said first and second ends of said first barrel section, and wherein said flexible members are configured to individually uncouple from said first component such that a disbond between said first barrel section and said second barrel section is restricted from spreading laterally to adjacent flexible members of said plurality of flexible members;
- and
- wherein a joint formed by said first and second barrel sections defines a substantially uniform thickness.
2 more elements
A method of assembling a joint, said method comprising:
- providing a first component comprising a first barrel section including a first edge portion and a plurality of flexible members extending longitudinally therefrom;
- providing a second component comprising a second barrel section including a second edge portion;
- and
- coupling the plurality of flexible members to said second edge portion of said second component, wherein said flexible members are configured to flex when coupling said flexible members to the second edge portion of said second component, wherein the plurality of flexible members are configured to individually uncouple from the first component such that a disbond between the first component and the second component is restricted from spreading laterally to adjacent flexible members of the plurality of flexible members, wherein a joint formed by said first and second edge portions defines a substantially uniform thickness.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.