The Boeing Company

Michael Chih-Huan Wang

Brian Jay Tillotson

Dan John Clingman

Anat Bordoley

Kevin Raylin Tsai

Nathan Alphonse Secinaro

Elizabeth Rose Benson

An airfoil coupling system includes plural airfoil coupling structures, each of which includes a body having a horizontal flange with a first coupling interface that is coupled with panels of an airfoil of an aircraft. The first coupling interface extends between first and second ends in a first direction, and between third and fourth ends in a second direction. The body also includes a vertical flange having a mating end that is coupled with the horizontal flange. The vertical flange includes a second coupling interface that is coupled with a rib of the airfoil. The second coupling interface extends between fifth and sixth ends in the second direction, and between mating and free ends in a third direction. Each of the airfoil coupling structures are disposed at different locations along a length of the rib between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the rib.

Airfoil coupling systems and methods

A flap support mechanism includes a carrier beam on which a flap is mounted. The carrier beam is rotatably mounted to a flap support for rotation relative to a wing. A crankshaft assembly is rotatable about an axis and has a crankshaft eccentrically extending between an inboard cylindrical support and an outboard cylindrical support. A coupler link is rotatably engaged to the crankshaft and pivotally connected to the carrier beam. Rotation of the crankshaft from a first eccentric position to a second eccentric position translates the coupler link between a retracted position and a deployed position.

Efficient crankshaft

An actuation mechanism, a flap mechanism, and an aircraft. The actuation mechanism includes drive links and drive mechanisms connected to opposite ends of the flap that move the flap to various positions. The drive mechanisms are actuated by torque tubes connected to a drive motor via a differential. The differential distributes torque to the torque tubes. In the event of abnormal operation of one of the drive links or drive mechanisms, the differential limits torque to the remaining drive link and drive mechanism such that the flap does not deploy or retract in a skewed manner.

Differential for control surface actuators

A deployable vortex generator attached to a lifting surface includes a vane moveable relative to the lifting surface. The vane moves from a deployed position to a retracted position in response to a change in ambient conditions. In the deployed position, the vane acts on the air flow to create vortices. In the retracted position, the vane is closely aligned with the free stream velocity.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Michael Chih-Huan Wang