The Boeing Company

Kenneth M Harrison

James Robert Schnelz

Edward McMurray Fisher, Jr

Wesley L Holman

Derek J Fox

Menelaos S Kafkalidis

Christopher T Allen

Patrick D Bertrand

Donald T Powell

Brett D Whitmer

William B H Grace

William B Grace

A structural member such as a strut includes a composite material tube having metal end fittings that are attached to the tube by co-bonded, double shear joints. The double shear bond joint construction reduces the residual stress on the bonds that result from mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the composite tube and the metal end fittings. The ends of the fittings that are bonded to the tube may include a stepped profile that functions to limit the peak stresses in the bonds.

Composite tube having co-bonded end fittings

Aircraft engine nacelles and methods for structurally attaching them to aircraft structures, such as aircraft wings. In one embodiment, an aircraft engine nacelle is attached to a wing between a trailing edge region of the wing and an aft deck region of the wing. In one aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a forward portion having first and second structural attach points offset from each other in a first direction at least generally perpendicular to a central axis of the engine nacelle. The first and second structural attach points can be configured to fixedly attach the engine nacelle to the wing at least proximate to the trailing edge region. In another aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a side portion having at least a third structural attach point offset from the first and second structural attach points in a second direction at least generally parallel to the central axis. The third structural attach point can be configured to fixedly attach the engine nacelle to the wing at least proximate to the aft deck region.

Apparatuses and methods for attaching engine nacelles to aircraft

Growing community of inventors

Mukilteo, WA, United States of America

Kenneth M Harrison