Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly between a front fitting and the traction coupling of the two lateral boxes of the horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft comprising a front fitting (1, 1a and 1b), a front shear plate (2), an upper shear plate (4), a lower shear plate (5) and a “rib post” union piece (3) in such a way that the loads being transferred to the lateral boxes are minimized, and at the same time it allows a proper trimming of the horizontal stabilizer. Moreover, the present invention describes a compact front fitting, made of one piece, as a whole, and in composite material.

Abstract: An aircraft having a lambda-box wing configuration includes, a fuselage, a propulsion system, a first pair of swept-back airfoils, connected to the top forward portion of the fuselage, a second pair of swept-forward airfoils, connected to the lower rear portion of the fuselage at a point of the said fuselage aft of the connection of the swept-back airfoils, and a third pair of substantially vertical airfoils, the tips of the swept-forward airfoils being connected to the lower side of the swept-back airfoils at an intermediate point of the span of the said swept-back airfoils, by the substantially vertical airfoils, the swept-back airfoils having a higher aspect ratio than that of the swept-forward airfoils, which makes the swept-back airfoils have a reduced induced drag without penalizing their weight.

Abstract: A system of automatic drilling/riveting of pieces for aeronautical assembly, includes a robot governed by a numerical control device containing drilling/riveting information. A module allows for introduction of data by the operator. A piece checking module detects a piece starting from the data input by the operator. A converter module receives from the numerical control device the information input by the operator and information on the detected piece along with the drilling/riveting to be done and converts that information into information that can be read by a governing and graphic representation module, which transforms the information into geometric information to permit graphic representation on a screen.

Abstract: Joining structure for aircraft fairing (7), said fairing (7) being arranged between the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer or fuselage section (6) of the aircraft, the structure comprising fittings (2) in the shape of angle, the fittings in turn comprising a vertical surface and a horizontal surface, the fittings (2) being joined via their vertical surface to the fairing (7) with removable fixing parts (12), the structure also comprising a deformable resilient element (13) between the fairing (7) and the vertical surface of the fitting (2), such that the resilient element (13) is able to compensate for the necessary deformation play and the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the fittings (2), the fairing (7), the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer or fuselage section (6) with different torques for tightening of the above parts.

Abstract: A repair process for a composite material panel that forms part of a fuselage, wings, or stabilizers of an aircraft, with the panel having large dimensions and including irregular contours in some areas and edges prone to damages occurring from handling and assembly of the panel. The process a) locates the damage in the element of the composite material panel; b) sands the area that includes the damage in an area larger than the damage, makes a cut in the panel, having the cut of a same form as a piece that will serve to repair panel; c) places the piece in the cut, so that it is perfectly flush with the panel to be repaired; and d) attaches the piece to the composite material panel.

Abstract: Computer assisted method for the advanced design of bent parts of composite material using a computer assisted CAD system comprising the following stages: a) Supplying the 2D mesh model (11) of the part; b) Generating the 3D outer surface (19) of the part; c) Obtaining the 3D mesh model (51) by adapting the 2D mesh model (11) to the geometry of the 3D outer surface (19) by bending the contour lines (17) of the patterns (13) of the 2D model (11) with respect to some bending lines (23) set up in relation to a bending surface (31) similar to that of the tool provided for bending the part; d) Generating the solid model (53) of the bent part. The invention also relates to a computer program that when it is executed on a computer together with a CAD system it causes the execution of the method.

Abstract: Weathertight fitting (41) for the mounting of the tail vertical stabiliser of an aircraft in a rear area of its fuselage, the construction being based on a casing (5) made with a composite material as one unitary piece and some frames (7) that are comprised of: one first piece (43) comprised of two bodies (45, 45?), that include the mounting lugs (47, 47?) for the tail vertical stabiliser and some vertical walls (49, 49?) for joining the fitting (43) to the frames (7) of the fuselage, and a weathertight central profile (51); two pairs of additional pieces (55, 55?; 65, 65?) of angular shape, that include some horizontal walls (57, 57?; 67, 67?) for joining to the casing (5) and some vertical walls (59, 59?; 69, 69?) for joining to the aforementioned bodies (45, 45?). All the weathertight fitting's (41) pieces are made with a composite material.

Abstract: A stabilizing and directional-control surface of an aircraft includes a vertical stabilizer and a rudder that deflects relative to the vertical stabilizer. The rudder includes an internal profile that is extendable and retractable by an actuating system. An aerodynamic control surface area of the rudder is increased when the internal profile of the rudder is extended as compared to the aerodynamic control surface area of the rudder when the internal profile of the rudder is retracted.

Abstract: A riveted union arrangement between parts of composite material in which, in the area of the union, at least one of the parts (11) is a strengthened directionally part whose lay-up comprises ply packets (13, 13?, 13?) with the optimum direction for carrying out the load transmission in the union inserted between at least one continuous ply (15) along said union area, where each of those ply packets (13, 13?, 13?) has a different length, so that said directionally strengthened part (11) be structured in the area of the union in stretches (17, 17?, 17?) with a different number of ply packets (13, 13?, 13?).

Abstract: Ventral fairing for an aircraft provided between a left wing and a right wing, which comprises a lower central section of convex transverse cross-section located between the left lower surface of the left wing and the right lower surface of the right wing, and with an angle between the cross-section of the fairing and the line of cross-section corresponding to the lower surface of each wing of less than 90 degrees, separate left and right lower lateral sections of concave transverse cross-section which are respectively extended between the lower surface of each wing and the central section; separate first lines of inflection between the lower surface of each wing and the corresponding lateral section; separate second lines of inflection between the lateral sections and the central section.

Abstract: A structure of a pneumatic installation in a tail zone of an aircraft includes an auxiliary power unit (1) for supply of pneumatic and electrical power, whose pneumatic power outlet is linked to a duct (2) which conventionally incorporates bends (7) and compensation elements (6) for thermal expansion and for compensation of the vibrations produced by the APU (1) in its functioning. The power outlet of the APU (1) is arranged in its front part in which is connected the duct consisting of a straight pipe (2a) inclined downwards toward the lower part of the aircraft in which compensation elements (6) for thermal expansion and for compensation of vibrations are inserted in order to reduce the length of the duct (2) and eliminate the bends, so that the pressure losses are considerably reduced.

Abstract: The system comprises a headstock (1) in which is established a rotary shaft (10) driven via a cone (8) that can be coupled to a drive means, for example a robot, the shaft (10) being linked to a spring (11) which permits axial displacement of the shaft (10) in the upward and downward direction, while coupled to the other end, with the interposition of an eccentric (21), is a plate (2) for carrying an abrasive disc (3) intended for sanding the pins of the fasteners, following the operation of shaving said pins. The eccentric (21) transforms the rotation of the shaft (10) into an orbital motion so that, in combination with the upward and downward displacements by means of the spring (11), the abrasive disc (3) is successfully adapted on the surface on which the pin of the fasteners intended to sand is located.

Abstract: The system has special application in the manufacture of aircraft wing covers (10 made of carbon fiber and the stringers (3) cured jointly with the wing cover during the polymerization in autoclave. The tool pieces (4) being used are defined by angular elements (5, 6) copying the geometry of the stringers (3). The shape of these stringers corresponds to the “T” section. The angular elements (5, 6) comprise, in their upper part, a pair of battlements (7) in order to be caught by part of the clamps (9) of a head (10) linked to a robot (11) of the spherical type with articulated arm with six axes. The angular elements (5, 6) are made of INVAR material and they are used to keep in position the stringers during the curing cycle in the autoclave.

Abstract: An Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) includes a power module (1) to be supplied with fuel (2), a gearbox (5), an electric generator (6), and an element selected from a compressor (4), a hydraulic pump and a combination thereof, in order to provide a functioning mode for production of power selected from electric (8), pneumatic (7), hydraulic and a combination thereof; the APU presents the novelty of including an electric motor (9), integrated into the electric generator (6), with the electric motor (9) and the electric generator (6) connected to the power module (1) via the gearbox (5a) and a main clutch (10). Moreover, the compressor (4) and/or the hydraulic pump are also connected to the power module (1) via the gearbox (5a) and the main clutch (10). Also, the compressor (4) and/or hydraulic pump are connected to the power module (1) via the gearbox (5a) and the main clutch (10).

Abstract: A fitting for trimming the horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft, made of composite material, the fitting including side walls of a torsion box as well as joining elements which join the fitting to the frames of the tail fuselage of the aircraft, the side walls being joined together by a central element which includes a first end part joined to the first side wall of the fitting, a second end part joined to the second side wall of the fitting and a central part which joins together the end parts, the fitting includes end elements which are joined to the side walls on their outer face, the fitting having, owing to its greater rigidity in response to side load and vertical load stresses which tend to close the side walls, its greater integration and the simplicity of the load path, an optimum structural behavior in response to the aircraft stresses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a curing tool (11) for curing a composite material part formed by bundles of fibers embedded in a resin matrix in an installation, such as an autoclave, allowing the curing of the part by means of applying high pressures and/or temperatures, comprising at least one mechanical vibrating actuator (1) acting on the curing tool (11) itself to facilitate resin distribution in the part during the curing process.

Abstract: Integrated aircraft structure in composite material that comprises a skin and stringers (1), with the skin comprising a string part (5) and a basic skin (3), which structure further comprises U-shaped elements (15) each of which comprises in its turn two L-shaped sections (4a+5a and 4b+5b) together with the skin part (5), in such a way that these U-shaped elements (15) fulfill two structural functions in said structure at the same time, acting as frame feet and as skin, providing an integrated fuselage structure without rivets or joints. The invention also relates to a manufacturing process of an integrated aircraft structure in composite material.

Abstract: A lifting structure for aircraft is essentially applicable to a horizontal stabilizer that includes two side symmetrical boxes that converge at one end (its root) thereof in a shared center area in order to connect integrally in the central area. Both boxes connect by a single part that constitutes a center rib with a double T-shaped profile. The root of the side boxes overlap converging on the inside surfaces of the wings of the center rib. The connection is ensured with rivets (lap joint). The proposed connection simplifies the assembly process (single part) and lead to a weight reduction since a carbon fiber connecting rib can be used.

Abstract: An attachment system for attaching a component (11) such as a vertical tail plane to a fuselage (27) of an aircraft; the component (11) being structured as a box comprising front and rear spars (13, 14), ribs (15) extending from the front spar (13) to the rear spar (14), and a skin (17), and also comprising a plurality of intermediate spars (23) arranged to be attached to fuselage frames (33); the fuselage (27) comprising a skin (31) and frames (33) and also comprising a mounting arrangement suitable for receiving the additional spars (23) and for allowing its attachment to the frames (33).

Abstract: New ecological operating mode that limits ventilation and air conditioning in the cabin (3) of the aircraft when the ecological operating mode has been selected, the aircraft is stationed on the ground, the engines are off, the engines' start up system has not been activated, the pneumatic or electrical energy supply system that typically controls ventilation and air conditioning in the aircraft has been activated and is supplying air, to provide a new method of operating at an established minimum limit independent of the difference between the selected temperature and the temperature measured, saving energy, and reducing pollutant emissions and noise.