The Boeing Company

Kyle J Johnson

Kevin Raylin Tsai

Steve G Mackin

Jan A Kordel

Gregory M Santini

Bryan Gruner

Ross Westermeier

Austin J Snider

Richard J Glenn, Iii

Seiya Sakurai

Stephen Roger Amorosi

Bruce Alfin Dahl

Peter Schupp

Richard J Glenn Iii

Structural composite airfoils include a primary structural element, a secondary structural element defining the trailing edge of the structural composite airfoil, and a discrete leading edge structure defining the leading edge of the structural composite airfoil. The primary structural element includes an upper skin panel, a lower skin panel, and a middle C-channel spar that is coupled to the upper skin panel and the lower skin panel. The discrete leading edge structure is coupled to the upper leading edge end of the upper skin panel and to the lower leading edge end of the lower skin panel. The upper skin panel may include a first panel bend adjacent the discrete leading edge structure, and the lower skin panel may include a second panel bend adjacent the discrete leading edge structure.

Structural composite airfoils with a single spar, and related methods

Structural composite airfoils include a front C-channel spar having an upper flange coupled to an upper skin panel, and a lower flange coupled to a lower skin panel. The lower skin panel includes a joggle adjacent a lower leading edge end, with the joggle being positioned forward of the front C-channel spar. An upper skin surface of the lower leading edge end faces an internal volume defined between the upper skin panel and the lower skin panel. A lower skin surface of the lower leading edge end faces an internal surface of the upper leading edge end of the upper skin panel, and the lower leading edge end of the lower skin panel is coupled to the upper leading edge end of the upper skin panel forward of the front C-channel spar. The leading edge has a bullnose shape defined by the upper skin panel.

Structural composite airfoils with an improved leading edge, and related methods

An aircraft including a flap support assembly for a flap support. An aircraft includes a fuselage comprising a pressure deck, where at least a portion the pressure deck is substantially horizontal. The aircraft further includes a wing extending from the fuselage, where the wing includes a leading edge and a trailing edge. The wing additionally includes a flap assembly on the trailing edge of the wing, where the flap assembly is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The aircraft further includes a flap support coupled to the flap assembly comprising a plurality of load-bearing connection points, where at least one of the load-bearing connection points is coupled to the pressure deck.

Aircraft wing flap support

Apparatus and methods to deploy a fluid flow channel are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first loop coupled to an outside surface of a vehicle via a first fastener, a second loop coupled to the vehicle and disposed a distance from the first loop, and a flexible material having a first end coupled to the first loop and a second end coupled to the second loop, where the flexible material is to form a fluid flow channel between the first loop and the second loop.

Apparatus and methods to deploy a fluid flow channel

A trailing edge flap mechanism for an aircraft incorporates a flap actuatorand a fore flap linkthat pivots by actuation of the flap actuator. The fore flap link has a hinged endpivotally coupled to a fore flap structureand a clevis endpivotally coupled to a fixed wing structureat a first hinge axle. A rocking leveris pivotally coupled to a second hinge axleon the fixed wing structure. A connector barhas a first endpivotally coupled to the fore flap link at a first connection axleand a second endpivotally coupled to the rocking lever at a second connection axle. Pivotal movement of the fore flap link causes movement of the connector bar that is translated into rotational movement of the rocking lever about second hinge axleto move an aft flap linkpivotally coupled to an aft flap structureat a first pivot axleand pivotally coupled to the rocking lever at a second pivot axle, thereby deploying the flap to a lowered position relative to a trailing edge portion of the wing.

Wing flap mechanism for high fowler, drooping spoilers and high efficiency

An aircraft wing has a flap arrangement with an inboard flap configured to move in a chordwise extension direction relative to the wing, the inboard flap having an outboard side, and an outboard flap adjacent to the inboard flap and configured to move in the chordwise extension direction relative to the wing, the outboard flap including an inboard side. A flap interconnect between the inboard flap and outboard flap has a roller mounted to a pin extending from the outboard side of the inboard flap and a guide track extending from the inboard side of the outboard flap. The guide track engages the roller on the inboard flap to limit deflection of the outboard flap relative to the inboard flap during movement of the inboard flap in the chordwise extension direction and movement of the outboard flap in the chordwise extension direction, to provide relative alignment of the inboard flap and outboard flap.

Flap interconnect for deflection control

A trailing edge flap actuation mechanism has a flap drive link with a first end pivotally coupled to a fore flap structure of a flap and a second end pivotally coupled to an underwing support structure. An aft tension link has a leading end pivotally coupled proximate an aft end of the underwing support structure and a trailing end coupled to a mid-section structure of the flap. An actuator, when actuated, rotates the flap drive link about a first pivot axle to move the flap between a retracted position and a deployed lowered position. The actuator, including a ball-screw drive shaft having a universal joint, is positioned in a cove above the underwing support structure whereby the extent that the underwing support structure protrudes below the wing is reduced.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Kyle J Johnson