The Boeing Company

Corey Adam Rolfes

Adriana Willempje Blom-Schieber

Jeffrey F Stulc

Charles L Norman, Iv

A beaded panel includes a base panel and a beaded panel doubler made of a first fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite. The beaded panel doubler is joined to the base panel to supplement a stiffness of the base panel.

Beaded panels and systems and methods for forming beaded panels

A T-tail joint assembly is described that is used to mechanically couple a left and right horizontal stabilizer to a vertical stabilizer. In one embodiment, the T-tail joint assembly comprises a plurality of lower rib chord members, each having a first base member, a first fin projecting from a first surface of the first base member, notches in the first fin proximate to ends of the first base member, and attachment members projecting from a second surface of the first base member that opposes the first surface. The T-tail joint assembly further comprises a plurality of upper rib chord member, each having a second base member, a second fin projecting from a surface of the second base member, and notches in the second fin proximate to ends of the second base member. The T-tail joint assembly further comprises a plurality of spar fittings disposed between the upper rib chord members and the lower rib chord members, wherein the spar fittings engage the notches in the first fin of the lower rib chord members and the notches in the second fin of the upper rib chord members, and a plurality of spar chords coupled to and separating pairs of the upper rib chord members and the lower rib chord members, wherein the plurality of spar chords is proximate to ends of the first base member and the second base member.

T-tail joint assemblies for aircraft

A closeout fitting for a hat stringer includes a cover that has a fitting surface. The fitting surface is substantially complementary to at least a portion of an outer surface of the hat stringer. The cover is configured to couple against the hat stringer outer surface. The cover also includes a first portion configured to extend across a gap defined in a cap portion of the hat stringer. The closeout fitting also includes an insert. The insert includes a first outer perimeter surface that is substantially complementary to at least a portion of an interior surface of a channel defined by the hat stringer. The insert is configured to couple against the channel interior surface proximate the hat stringer closeout portion. The insert and the cover are formed with a suitable stiffness to limit a deformation of the hat stringer proximate the closeout portion.

Hat stringer closeout fitting and method of making same

A fitting for a vent stringer of a type having an open end and an outer edge defining the open end. The fitting may include a fitting body receivable along the open end of the vent stringer, the fitting body having a groove that generally corresponds with the outer edge of the vent stringer, the groove of the fitting body shaped to receive the outer edge of the vent stringer to create a tongue and groove joint with the outer edge; and a connection between the fitting and the stringer to prevent slidable movement of the fitting relative to the stringer.

Growing community of inventors

Everett, WA, United States of America

Corey Adam Rolfes