# US 9,751,613 B2 · Apparatuses and methods for manufacturing a structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,613 B2 - Document ID: US9751613B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/343,494 - Filed: 2016-11-04 - Published: 2017-03-16 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-28 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Steven R. Kent - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751613B2 ## CPC - B64C 3/185: {Spars} - B64C 3/18: Spars; Ribs; Stringers - B64C 3/182: {Stringers, longerons} - B64C 3/26: Construction, shape, or attachment of separate skins, e.g. panels - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS ## Abstract A brace (200) for geometrically interlocking stringer pairs A of first stringers (106), coupled to a first panel (102), and stringer pairs B of second stringers (108), coupled to a second panel (104), of a structure (100). The brace (200) comprises a chassis (202) comprising first interlocks (204) and second interlocks (206) opposite the first interlocks (204). The first interlocks (204) geometrically engage with one of the stringer pairs A of the first stringers (106) and the second interlocks (206) geometrically engage with one of the stringer pairs B of the second stringers (108) to constrain the brace (200) in all directions along a plane (112) perpendicular to the first stringers (106) and the second stringers (108). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A brace for geometrically interlocking stringer pairs A of first stringers, coupled to a first panel, and stringer pairs B of second stringers, coupled to a second panel, of a structure, the brace comprising: a chassis comprising first interlocks and second interlocks opposite the first interlocks; a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a first brace flange along the first side of the brace; a second brace flange along the second side of the brace; and a thickness T measured in a thickness direction, wherein the first brace flange and the second brace flange are offset from each other in the thickness direction, and wherein the first interlocks geometrically engage with one of the stringer pairs A of the first stringers and the second interlocks geometrically engage with one of the stringer pairs B of the second stringers to constrain the brace in all directions along a plane perpendicular to the first stringers and the second stringers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The brace of claim 1, further comprising: a first end, extending between the first side and the second side; a second end, extending between the first side and the second side, opposite the first end; two first corners adjacent the first end; and two second corners adjacent the second end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The brace of claim 2, wherein a first one of the first interlocks is located at one of the two first corners of the brace and a second one of the first interlocks is located at another one of the two first corners of the brace. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The brace of claim 3, wherein a first one of the second interlocks is located at one of the two second corners of the brace and the second one of the second interlocks is located at another one of the two second corners of the brace. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The brace of claim 4, wherein: one of the first interlocks comprises a first interlock surface at least partially defining a first interlock geometric shape and one of the second interlocks comprises a second interlock surface at least partially defining a second interlock geometric shape, the first interlock surface of the one of the first interlocks is configured to contact a first stringer surface of one of the first stringers, wherein the first stringer surface at least partially defines a first stringer geometric shape complementary to the first interlock geometric shape, and the second interlock surface of the one of the second interlocks is configured to contact a second stringer surface of one of the second stringers, wherein the second stringer surface at least partially defines a second stringer geometric shape complementary to the second interlock geometric shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The brace of claim 5, further comprising an adhesive applied to at least one of at least a portion of the first interlock surface of the one of the first interlocks and to at least a portion of the second interlock surface of the one of the second interlocks. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The brace of claim 4, wherein: the first brace flange includes a first linear dimension between the first one of the first interlocks and the first one of the second interlocks, the second brace flange includes a second linear dimension between the second one of the first interlocks and the second one of the second interlocks, and the first linear dimension and the second linear dimension are different. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The brace of claim 1, wherein: one of the first interlocks comprises a first interlock surface at least partially defining a first interlock geometric shape and one of the second interlocks comprises a second interlock surface at least partially defining a second interlock geometric shape, the first interlock surface of the one of the first interlocks is configured to contact a first stringer surface of one of the first stringers, wherein the first stringer surface at least partially defines a first stringer geometric shape complementary to the first interlock geometric shape, and the second interlock surface of the one of the second interlocks is configured to contact a second stringer surface of one of the second stringers, wherein the second stringer surface at least partially defines a second stringer geometric shape complementary to the second interlock geometric shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The brace of claim 8, further comprising an adhesive applied to at least one of at least a portion of the first interlock surface of the one of the first interlocks and to at least a portion of the second interlock surface of the one of the second interlocks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The brace of claim 1, wherein: one of the first interlocks comprises a first interlock surface at least partially defining a first interlock geometric shape and one of the second interlocks comprises a second interlock surface at least partially defining a second interlock geometric shape, the first interlock surface of the one of the first interlocks is configured to contact a first stringer surface of one of the first stringers, wherein the first stringer surface at least partially defines a first stringer geometric shape complementary to the first interlock geometric shape, and the second interlock surface of the one of the second interlocks is configured to contact a second stringer surface of one of the second stringers, wherein the second stringer surface at least partially defines a second stringer geometric shape complementary to the second interlock geometric shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The brace of claim 10, further comprising an adhesive applied to at least one of at least a portion of the first interlock surface of the one of the first interlocks and to at least a portion of the second interlock surface of the one of the second interlocks. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The brace of claim 1, wherein one of the first interlocks comprises a first interlock surface at least partially defining a first interlock geometric shape and one of the second interlocks comprises a second interlock surface at least partially defining a second interlock geometric shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The brace of claim 12, wherein the first interlock surface of the one of the first interlocks is configured to contact a first stringer surface of one of the first stringers, wherein the first stringer surface at least partially defines a first stringer geometric shape complementary to the first interlock geometric shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The brace of claim 13, wherein the second interlock surface of the one of the second interlocks is configured to contact a second stringer surface of one of the second stringers, wherein the second stringer surface at least partially defines a second stringer geometric shape complementary to the second interlock geometric shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The brace of claim 14, further comprising an adhesive applied to at least one of at least a portion of the first interlock surface of the one of the first interlocks and to at least a portion of the second interlock surface of the one of the second interlocks. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The brace of claim 1 geometrically interlocking a first stringer with a second stringer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An aircraft comprising a wing incorporating the brace of claim 1. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The aircraft of claim 17, wherein the brace is a rib of said wing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The brace of claim 1, wherein the first brace flange and the second brace flange are parallel to one another. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The brace of claim 1, wherein, with the first interlocks geometrically engaged with the one of the stringer pairs A of the first stringers and the second interlocks geometrically engaged with the one of the stringer pairs B of the second stringers, the first brace flange is configured to fit between a first one of the stringer pairs A of the first stringers and a first one of the stringer pairs B of the second stringers and the second brace flange is configured to fit between a second one of the stringer pairs A of the first stringers and a second one of the stringer pairs B of the second stringers.