The Boeing Company

Jack S Noble

Seiya Sakurai

Stephen John Fox

Gary D Oakes

Neal Van Huynh

Paul M Vijgen

Douglas S Lacy

Kevin W Beyer

James Miller Wheaton

Clayton A Prow

Stephen L Wells

Victor A Munsen

Paul T Meredith

Edward W Gronenthal

Michael F Fitzpatrick

Philip Belanger

Russell R Christianson

Paul L Johnson

Kee How Tan

John Tony Skomorowski

A wing fold system may move a second portion of a wing with respect to a first portion of the wing between flight positionand folded position. A first link may rotate in response to actuating an actuator. A second link may move in response to rotating of the first link. The second portion of the wing may move in response to moving the second link and the second portion may move with respect to the first portion of the wing. One of the first portion and the second portion may be a fixed portion of the wing and the other of the first portion and the second portion may be a wingtip of the wing.

Wing fold system

A device is used to plug an opening in a structure having a front side and a back side. The device includes a removable plug body for plugging the opening, and a retainer that is expandable into engagement with the back side of the structure to retain the plug in the opening. Means coupled with the retainer and the plug is provided for expanding the retainer.

Opening plug and method of installing the same

According to an embodiment, a flap malfunction indicator assembly for notifying an observer making a walk-around inspection of an aircraft of a malfunction of one or more connection points coupling a flap assembly to an aircraft wing includes a support mounted to the flap assembly having a perimeter defining an area, an indicator arm pivoted to the support and movable between a first stowed position in which a major portion of the arm is arranged substantially entirely within the area and a second deployed position in which a major portion of the arm is arranged substantially outside the area, a frangible pin or fastener securing the indicator arm to the support in the first stowed position, a trigger element mounted for rotation about a first pivot, an elongated pull linkage coupling the trigger element with a flap assembly, the pull linkage being supported for movement relative to the first pivot to cause rotation of the trigger element when malfunction of a flap assembly occurs, and a spring assembly at the support having one portion exerting a biasing force against a portion of the indicator arm located outside of the area, the spring assembly driving the indicator arm into the second deployed position when the frangible pin or fastener is broken.

Flap malfunction detection system

Trailing edge devices configured to carry out multiple functions, and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed. An external fluid flow body (e.g., an airfoil) configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a first portion and a second portion, at least a part of the second portion being positioned aft of the first portion, with the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a neutral position, a plurality of upward positions, and a plurality of downward positions. A guide structure can be coupled between the first and second portions, and an actuator can be operatively coupled between the first and second portions to move the second portion relative to the first portion. In one embodiment, a flexible surface can track the motion of the second portion and can expose a gap at some positions. In another embodiment, a controller can be coupled to the actuator and can be configured to direct the actuator to move the second portion to a high lift setting, a high drag setting, a roll setting, and a trim setting. In yet another embodiment, trailing edge devices on an airfoil can have scaled, mechanically similar guide structures.

Multi-function trailing edge devices and associated methods

A first upright leg has an upper end pivoted to the body of an aircraft by a first bracket secured to the aircraft skin, alongside a second leg pivoted to the aircraft by a second bracket. The bottom ends of the first and second legs are pivoted to a load bearing member which extends generally upward between them. The load beating member has a load connection point for pivotal attachment of the aft end of an aircraft trailing edge flap track thereto. Upward force applied at the load connection point by the aft end of the track biases the first leg, second leg and load bearing member to a stable central equilibrium position from which the aft end of the track can move laterally a few inches in either direction. Such force is transmitted primarily through one of the legs, rather than through both legs, and is applied to the body of the aircraft primarily as shear rather than as a punch load.

Bipod load support

Growing community of inventors

Shoreline, WA, United States of America

Jack S Noble