The Boeing Company

John Hershey Fogarty

Kevin Matthew Retz

Charles R Saff

Terry D Richardson

Haozhong Gu

Jeffrey H Wood

John Scott Kruse

Daniel C Stanley

Haozhang Gu

A airborne vehicle comprising a fuselage, a folding wing-like structure which is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position, and a hinge mechanism which couples the folding wing-like structure to the fuselage in a manner so that the folding wing-like structure displaces and rotates during movement from the stowed position to the deployed position. The hinge mechanism is housed within an outer mold line of the fuselage and folding wing-like structure to decrease the signature of the airborne vehicle.

Low-profile wing hinge mechanism

An aircraft wing includes a rib attached by a joint to a tubular spar that varies in cross sectional shape during flight. The joint includes a ring attached to the tubular spar, and pivot pins connecting the ring with the rib. The pivot pins allow relative movement between the rib and the tubular spar as the tubular spar varies in cross sectional shape.

Attachment of aircraft ribs to spars having variable geometry

A composite sandwich structure comprises a core sandwiched between composite laminate facesheets. The core includes a plurality of core sections spliced together at joints that incorporate integral features for arresting the propagation of irregularities in the facesheets.

Sandwich structure having arrestment feature

Sandwich structure having arrestment feature and method of making the same

Techniques for providing fastener-free primary structural joint for sandwich panels are disclosed. In one embodiment, a technique includes positioning a first panel having a first edge portion proximate a second panel having a second edge portion such that the first and second edge portions cooperatively form an interior recess on an interior side of the first and second panels, applying adhesive to at least one of the recessed interior side of the panel assembly and a plug configured to occupy the interior recess, inserting the plug into the interior recess, the plug including a cap that extends beyond the interior recess and overlaps adjacent portions of the first and second panels, applying adhesive to at least one of a splice and an exterior side opposite from the interior side, and attaching the splice on the exterior side.

Fastner-free primary structural joint for sandwich panels

A floor beam assembly, system, and method for installing floor beams within a structure are provided. According to one embodiment, a floor beam assembly for installing a floor beam within a structure is provided. The assembly includes at least one floor beam and at least one floor beam bracket attached to a respective floor beam. The assembly also includes at least one pivot arm pivotally attached to the structure. In addition, the assembly includes a pad attached to the at least one pivot arm, wherein the at least one pivot arm is configured to pivot the pad to a position proximate to a respective floor beam bracket to be attached thereto.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

John Hershey Fogarty