The Boeing Company

Keith Allan Etling

Hilary G Knight

Manny S Urcia

Michael William Hayes

Jordan Kreitzman

Andrews Guadron

Jennifer R Green

Robert A DiChiara

Rehan Kaluarachchi

Stephen L Spicknall

Rehan Milarachi

David S Blum

Robert A Dichiara

Craig A Blackburn

An aerial vehicle including a main body having a leading edge. An inlet is recessed aft from the leading edge. Forward protrusions extend from the main body on opposite sides of the inlet. An outlet nozzle is proximate to an aft end. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet nozzle. Wings extend from the main body.

Quiet aerial vehicle

A flow path duct system for a propulsion system of an aircraft includes a base defining a flow surface. The base has an internal surface and an external surface. A plurality of perforations are formed through the base between the internal surface and the external surface. A plurality of supports define a plurality of cavities. The plurality of supports extend outwardly from the external surface of the of the base. One or more of the plurality of cavities are in fluid communication with the one or more of the plurality of perforations. A backing surface is secured to the plurality of supports. The plurality of supports are disposed between the base and the backing surface. The one or more of the plurality of cavities are in fluid communication with an internal volume defined by the internal surface of the base through the one or more of the plurality of perforations. The base, the plurality of supports, and the backing surface can be integrally formed together as a monolithic, load-bearing structure.

Propulsion flow path duct systems and methods

Aerial vehicle

A seal assembly includes a seal body having a seal bottom surface and a plurality of seal cavities spaced along a lengthwise direction of the seal body. The seal cavities are each open to the seal bottom surface via a respective cavity opening. The seal assembly further includes a plurality of locking rings configured to be captured respectively within a corresponding plurality of the seal cavities. Each one of the locking rings includes a ring body having a ring inner perimeter that is externally accessible via the cavity opening when the locking ring is captured within one of the seal cavities. The ring inner perimeter is configured to engage a locking ring engagement portion of a fastener head of a seal-engaging fastener installed in a structure.

Seal system and method

Flexible control surfaces and related methods are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include an airfoil including a skin, the skin having perforations filled with an elastomer to increase a flexibility of the skin; and a flexible core adjacent the perforations of the skin to support the skin.

Flexible control surfaces and related methods

A fastener system includes a fastener including a fastener first end and a longitudinally opposed fastener second end, and an anchor configured to receive and capture the fastener upon rotation of the fastener in a first direction, wherein the anchor is further configured to engage the fastener first end upon complete rotation of the fastener in the first direction, and the anchor is further configured to prohibit further rotation in a second direction, opposite the first direction, upon engagement with the fastener first end.

Anti-rotational fastener system

An attachment system for mounting a tile of a thermal protection system to a substructure includes a post assembly configured to interconnect the tile to the substructure. The post assembly may allow relative sliding movement between the tile and the substructure along a plane which is generally parallel to the tile. The attachment system facilitates installation and removal of the tile from the substructure for inspection, maintenance, and repair of the tile and/or the substructure.

Attachment system for thermal protection system

A transition section forms a continuous contour across a gap between a pair of structures. The transition section comprises at least one rib mounted within the gap and being pivotable relative to the structures. A tip may be mounted to an aft end of the rib and may be rotatable about a tip axis. A skin panel may extend between the structures and may at least partially cover the tip. The skin panel may be deformable during pivoting of the rib such that the tip may rotate into substantial alignment with the skin panel.

Morphing control surface transition

An attachment system for mounting a tile of a thermal protection system to a substructure comprises a post assembly configured to interconnect the tile to the substructure. The post assembly is configured to allow relative sliding movement between the tile and the substructure along a plane which is generally parallel to the tile. The attachment system facilitates installation and removal of the tile from the substructure for inspection, maintenance and repair of the tile and/or the substructure.

Attachment system and method for thermal protection system

A latch assembly for a door is provided. The latch assembly includes a force actuated locking mechanism having a depressable actuator, a sleeve coupled to an inside surface of the door, wherein the sleeve includes a cylindrical opening configured to receive at least a portion of the force actuated locking mechanism therein and maintain the force actuated locking mechanism with respect to the door. The latch assembly also includes a flexible membrane oriented such that the depressable actuator is operable through the flexible membrane.

Flush-mounted latching assembly

An apparatus comprises a structure having a leading edge, a skin covering the structure, a tip, and a channel. The tip is located at the leading edge, wherein the tip has a number of openings. The channel extends through the structure to the tip, wherein the channel is in communication with the number of openings in the tip.

Anti-icing apparatus for honeycomb structures

The apparatus and method for sealing at least two surfaces includes a sealing member with an attachment portion fixed to one of the surfaces, and a seal portion connected to the attachment portion. The seal portion of the sealing member includes a deformable segment that may be received and retained by a receiving aperture that is defined by at least one of the surfaces. The receiving aperture may further be defined by at least one engagement member extending from at least one of the surfaces. At least one coating, such as paint, may also be located on a side of the sealing member opposite the surfaces. The seal may be engaged and disengaged without requiring reapplication of the coating. Thus, the present invention provides an effective technique for sealing parts of an object, such as sealing a door, panel, cover or the like to a surrounding structure.

Growing community of inventors

Shiloh, IL, United States of America

Keith Allan Etling