Open Truss/lattice Construction Patents (Class 244/123.4)
  • Patent number: 11077930
    Abstract: A central airfoil box comprising two beams, each beam having a wall pierced with a first bore centered on a first axis, a connecting rod comprising, for each wall, a yoke joint having two flanks arranged on either side of the wall and pierced with a bore. Each yoke joint is fixed to the wall by a fixing system. The fixing system comprises a bearing lodging in the first bore, and being pierced with a second bore centered on a second axis parallel and offset to the first axis, a cylindrical shoulder, secured to and coaxial with the bearing and bearing against the wall, an outer perimeter of the shoulder having a plurality of splines, at least one block fixed to the wall around the first bore and configured to lodge in one of the splines, and a shaft lodging in the second bore and the yoke joint bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventor: Julien Salomon
  • Patent number: 10640221
    Abstract: A light-weight stiffened wing airfoil includes at least one wing segment (52). The wing segment comprises an upper (53b) and a lower skin assembly (53a), wherein each of the upper and lower skin assemblies incorporates a plurality of inwardly facing stringers (74); a first rib (64-1) at a distal end of the wing segment and a second rib (64-2) at a proximal end of the wing segment; a plurality of rib trusses (70) extending from the first and second ribs to the opposing skin assembly (53); and a plurality of support members extending from the inwardly facing stringers to the opposing skin assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Erik Grip, Aaron J. Kutzmann, Blaine Knight Rawdon
  • Patent number: 10589837
    Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a spar member for an aircraft wing including a support beam having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and opposing ends configured for an aircraft wing, the interior surface and exterior surface disposed between the opposing ends; and a first spar flange extending generally laterally from the exterior surface, the first spar flange configured for attachment with a first wing skin. The first spar flange can be an upper or lower spar flange. In some embodiments, the first spar flange is at an acute angle relative to the exterior surface of the support beam. In certain embodiments, the first spar flange is at an angle of from about 50 degrees to about 85 degrees relative to the exterior surface of the support beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Wolfe, David G. Carlson, John R. McCullough, George R. Decker
  • Patent number: 10465527
    Abstract: A core for an airfoil casting, including: a cantilevered core section; and a boss extending from the cantilevered core section to an outer profile of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Robert Peter Hanet
  • Patent number: 10399663
    Abstract: A central wing box for an aircraft, including a top panel, a bottom panel, a front spar, a rear spar, and at least one secondary rib. A secondary rib includes two stiffeners, a first stiffener extending adjacent to the top panel and to one of the front spar and the rear spar, and a second stiffener extending adjacent to the bottom panel and to the other of the front spar and the rear spar. A reduced number of components can be employed, thereby simplifying the construction of the central wing box of an aircraft, particularly the installation of the secondary ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Denis Soula, Matthieu Plet, Javier Maqueda Lahoz
  • Patent number: 9868510
    Abstract: A structure of a control surface for aircrafts, such as elevators, rudders, landing flaps, ailerons, and other similar lifting surfaces. The control surface includes a front spar, a rear spar, a plurality of ribs, at least one hinge fitting, and at least one actuator fitting, the hinge and actuator fittings joined with the front spar. A first rib is joined with a hinge fitting to form a first oblique angle with the front spar; a second rib is joined with an actuator fitting to form a second oblique angle with the front spar. The rear spar, located between the front spar and trailing edge of the control surface, extends only between the second rib and an outboard end of the control surface. The ribs are located in correspondence with the main torsion and bending load paths created in the control surface during flight, landing or takeoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.
    Inventors: Fernando Pereira Mosqueira, Enrique Guinaldo Fernandez, Carlos Garcia Nieto, Francisco Javier Honorato Ruiz, Andrea Ivan Marasco, Francisco José Cruz Dominguez
  • Patent number: 9797133
    Abstract: A method of reinforcing a masonry structure is described wherein polyester thread reinforcement strips are manufactured and mounted on the masonry structure to protect it from lateral forces caused by earthquake and other natural occurring phenomena that generally produce bending moments in the masonry structure. The disclosed method can easily and economically be applied to reinforce masonry structures in underprivileged regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: University of Dammam
    Inventor: Muhammad Saleem
  • Patent number: 9556854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile rotary drive for a wind rotor of a wind power plant having a frame comprising a drive wheel for driving a segment of a rotor shaft of the wind power plant and a drive set which drives the drive wheel in rotation as a drive pinion, wherein the drive wheel is a friction wheel and interacts with a pressing device in such a way that the pressing device generates a force which presses the friction wheel onto the segment with the result that the friction wheel can apply a drive torque to the segment through friction, wherein a torque support for supporting an opposing torque to the drive torque generated by the friction wheel is also provided. Thanks to the friction wheel drive, there is no need for specific pre-equipping of the wind power plant. The invention makes available a mobile rotary drive which can be transported from one wind power plant to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SENVION SE
    Inventor: Christian Goettsche
  • Patent number: 9381992
    Abstract: An optimized leading edge for an aircraft lifting or supporting surfaces, such as wings and stabilizers, wherein the leading edge includes inboard and outboard leading edge sections that are span-wise arranged so as to form together an aerodynamic surface of the leading edge. Each of the leading edge sections includes a skin panel and a support structure formed by spars that are internally arranged in the skin panel. These two support structures are designed taking into account the different load requirements of those two different sections, so that the number of spars in each leading edge section is progressively reduced from root to tip of the leading edge, in such a way that the support structure of the outboard leading edge section, has less spars than the inboard leading edge section. Hence the weight of the leading edge is reduced while still maintaining the required structural behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.
    Inventors: Fernando Pereira Mosqueira, Enrique Guinaldo Fernandez, Carlos Garcia Nieto, Francisco Javier Honorato Ruiz, Andrea Ivan Marasco
  • Patent number: 9016551
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting device in an aircraft. In one aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for assembling a metal securement member of the mounting device. In another aspect of the invention, a mounting device is disclosed. In another aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for installing and using a mounting device in an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brad L. Kirkwood, Paul S. Gregg, Gerry D. Miller, Jeff D. Will, David W. Evans
  • Patent number: 8827057
    Abstract: It is desired to make a shock absorbing structure small in size. The shock absorbing structure includes a beam-like structural member having a concave section; and a shock absorbing member, one end of which is arranged in the concave section to abut to the structural member and the other end of which is arranged outside the structural member. Even in a case of a dead stroke when the shock absorbing member is bottomed out, the concave section overlaps with the structural member supporting the structure, so that there is no wasteful space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsumi Tanaka, Naoki Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8678315
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strut system for the stabilization of the shell (2) of an aerodynamic aircraft component in a commercial aircraft, comprising a pair of connection supports (4a, 4b) connected on the inside to the shell (2) and opposing each other, between which connection supports (4a, 4b) several struts (5) extend to form a latticework structure (3), which struts (5) in nodal points (6a, 6b) arranged on the ends are non-detachably connected to the connection supports (4a, 4b), wherein the area extension of the latticework structure (3) is aligned in such a manner relative to a middle plane of symmetry (11) that the struts (5), formed with an open symmetrical cross section, as well as the cross section of the connection supports (4a, 4b), are arranged so as to be symmetrical to the aforesaid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Airbus SAS, Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Tomschke, Pasquale Basso
  • Patent number: 8602356
    Abstract: A wing box for an aircraft wing with a framework and a first shell. The framework is connected to the first shell such that a load acting on the first shell can be transferred by the framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Maenz
  • Patent number: 8353476
    Abstract: An aircraft engine pylon comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall. The left side wall includes a left truss structure along with a left upper ledge and a left lower ledge. The right side wall includes a right truss structure along with a right upper ledge and a right lower ledge. The top wall is joined with the left upper ledge and the right upper ledge and an upper truss structure is formed in the left upper ledge, the right upper ledge, and the top wall. The bottom wall is joined with the left lower ledge and the right lower ledge and a lower truss structure is formed in the left lower ledge, the right lower ledge, and the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon R. Crook, Randall R. West, George Larimore Huggins
  • Patent number: 8348197
    Abstract: The lifting surfaces comprise a torsion box capable of bearing aerodynamic and inertial loads. The torsion box has lateral parts that are connected together by an attachment comprising a rib, having a central upper part and a central support lower part joined only by angled cross bars, forming a truss structure along the length of the central support upper part and the central support lower part. The angled cross bars are attached to the upper and the lower parts of the central support: alternatively to both sides of a plane of symmetry defined by said upper and lower parts of the central support, dividing the torsion box in the two lateral parts making a zone of access perpendicular to the length of the central supports, where said zone of access is closed with a piece provided with at least one hole for permanent access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations, SL
    Inventors: Abel Lobo Barros, Jesús Vicente Bajo González, José Luis Lozano García, Antonio Francisco Pintor Archilla, Jesús Rodrígues Bodas
  • Patent number: 8205834
    Abstract: A support structure for an aircraft, includes one or several bar elements and one or several junction elements. At least one bar element includes a transition region which can be made to engage at least one junction element. When the transition region of the bar element engages at least one junction element, centric force transmission takes place between the bar element and the junction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Maenz
  • Patent number: 7997534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connecting structure for an aircraft or spacecraft, with a structural component and a stringer. The stringer is connected to the structural component by means of connecting regions. In order to reduce stress peaks that result for example from impact in the structural component, a high impact material is introduced into at least one of the connecting regions to provide a local increase in the energy absorbing capacity of the at least one connecting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Eberth
  • Patent number: 7938360
    Abstract: Plural regions are defined within a main wing by a plurality of spars and ribs. Of these regions, predetermined regions extending from a main wing connecting portion of the pylon to an internal space of a leading edge skin are used as wiring/piping accommodating chambers for collectively accommodating wiring and piping which provide communication between an engine and a fuselage, a predetermined region adjacent to parts of the wiring/piping accommodating chambers is used as a landing device accommodating chamber for accommodating a landing device and predetermined regions adjacent to other parts of the wiring/piping accommodating chambers are used as fuel tanks. Thus, the maintainability is improved as compared with the case where the wiring and the piping are distributed within the main wing. In addition, because the wiring/piping accommodating chambers are isolated from the landing device accommodating chamber and the fuel tanks, the operational reliability can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Nakazawa, Kazuhide Hasegawa, Hirohide Azuma
  • Patent number: 7891950
    Abstract: A lightweight wind turbine blade formed with a truss support structure assembly of composite truss joints including composite spar and cross members attached to and supporting in spaced relation a spine of lightweight rib panels. The rib panels are oriented in parallel spaced relation from one another and individually molded with perimeters defining individual areas of curvature for the finished blade assembly. The truss support structure is covered with a lightweight fiberglass or hardened fabric skin attached to and fitted on respective rib panel edges forming an airfoil structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Modular Wind Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Myles L. Baker, Cory P. Arendt
  • Patent number: 7891949
    Abstract: A lightweight wind turbine blade formed with a truss support structure assembly of composite truss joints including composite spar and cross members attached to and supporting in spaced relation a spine of lightweight rib panels. The rib panels are oriented in parallel spaced relation from one another and individually molded with perimeters defining individual areas of curvature for the finished blade assembly. The truss support structure is covered with a lightweight fiberglass or hardened fabric skin attached to and fitted on respective rib panel edges forming an airfoil structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Modular Wind Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Myles L. Baker, Cory P. Arondt
  • Patent number: 7891948
    Abstract: A lightweight wind turbine blade formed with a truss support structure assembly of composite truss joints including composite spar and cross members attached to and supporting in spaced relation a spine of lightweight rib panels. The rib panels are oriented in parallel spaced relation from one another and individually molded with perimeters defining individual areas of curvature for the finished blade assembly. The truss support structure is covered with a lightweight fiberglass or hardened fabric skin attached to and fitted on respective rib panel edges forming an airfoil structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Modular Wind Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Myles L. Baker, Cory P. Arendt
  • Patent number: 7837919
    Abstract: An open cell or highly porous woven composite truss utilizes fibers of carbon, glass, ceramic, or the like that are woven together in a loom. The warps or tow are woven with the wefts, while the fibers are impregnated with resin. The resin impregnation step may be performed before or after the weaving step. The truss is then cured on the loom and later may be machined as needed. A rigid foam material may be used to stabilize the shape of the truss prior to curing and while machining. The foam may be later chemically dissolved or otherwise disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Slade H. Gardner, Brian T. Rosenberger
  • Publication number: 20090294590
    Abstract: A wing box for an aircraft wing with a framework and a first shell. The framework is connected to the first shell such that a load acting on the first shell can be transferred by the framework.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Maenz
  • Patent number: 7611595
    Abstract: A metallic-composite joint is formed by inserting a metallic member into a slot of a pi-shaped composite preform. The preform is formed from woven carbon fiber in a binder of resin and may or may not be cured prior to assembly. An inert compliant layer is located between the legs of the preform and the metallic member. The resin binder or an adhesive is used to bond the compliant layer to the preform. The compliant layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion that more closely matches that of the preform. The properties of the compliant layer also avoid galvanic corrosion between the carbon in the preform and the metallic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7597287
    Abstract: A device for reinforcement of hollow structures such as aircraft boxes, composed of a front panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, and a rear panel, the device comprising a network of reinforcement rods with the ends attached to at least some of the panels comprising the structure. The device comprises at least a first rod and a second rod, both inclined, the first end of the first rod being attached to the internal side of the front panel, the second end of the first rod being attached to the internal side of the upper panel, the second end of the second rod being attached to the internal side of the lower panel, the device comprising in addition a third rod connecting said second ends of said first and second rods, the first, second and third rods thus comprising a reinforcement triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: Stephane Gay
  • Publication number: 20090045286
    Abstract: A grid fin control system for a fluid-borne body includes a nozzle extension, an optional stabilization device, and a plurality of grid fins. The grid fins are stowable folded against the nozzle extension and deployable to extend radially outwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: KaZak Composites, Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. King, Jerome P. Fanucci
  • Patent number: 7481398
    Abstract: An intercostal for an aircraft for dissipating a load from a first frame onto a second frame and/or a skin of the aircraft, the intercostal having a framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Schimmler, Thomas Grauerholz, Alastair Tucker, Lars Krog
  • Publication number: 20080217808
    Abstract: A curved extrusion includes a body that has indefinite length and a cross-section, and that is formed to contour and at least one channel cut into the cross-section that is filled with deposited material such that said cross-section of said body is restored. By cutting the channels into the cross-section of the extrusion, the extrusion may be easily formed onto a contoured tool to be curved with lower forming and residual stresses and distortion. By filling the channels with deposited material, the original cross-section and strength of the extrusion can be restored. By adding a transverse stiffener, the strength of the original extrusion may not only be restored but also further improved. By depositing material to create structural features the cross-section of the extrusion may be locally changed. The method for forming curved extrusions of the present invention may be used, for example, to produce T-chords of an aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Tracy MacDonald-Schmidt, Kevin T. Slattery