The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

Richard Forrest Ewing

Steven D Ingham

Robert Dustin Lane

A flexible strengthening joint for a pressurized vessel includes an outer skin having a localized abrupt change in shape. The outer skin includes a first skin section and a second skin section, the localized abrupt change in shape being located at a junction between the first skin section and the second skin section. A reinforcing bulkhead is located in the interior of the pressurized vessel. The reinforcing bulkhead includes a first bulkhead section that is directly attached to the first section of the outer skin and a second bulkhead section that unattached directly to the first section. A kick frame is located in the interior, the kick frame spanning at least the second bulkhead section. At least one intercostal is secured to the second bulkhead section. The at least one intercostal is also secured to the kick frame.

Pressurized monocoque structure with abrupt change in shape

A center wing box assembly for an aircraft which includes: a composite lower wing skin, a composite upper wing skin and a composite spar which extends between the composite lower wing skin and the composite upper wing skin. The center wingbox assembly further includes a composite stringer which extends along a web of the composite spar in a wing span direction. The composite spar has a co-cure securement with the composite lower wing skin and with the composite upper wing skin and the composite stringer has a co-cure securement with the web of the composite spar.

Co-cured spar and stringer center wing box

A spacecraft. The spacecraft includes a rocket engine; a first stage connected to the rocket engine; and a payload stage connected to the first stage. The spacecraft also includes a payload structure inside the payload stage between a first compartment of the payload stage and a second compartment of the payload stage. The payload structure may be a single shell that has a corrugated shape such that an inside surface and an outside surface of the payload structure vary in shape to form the corrugations.

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Everett, WA, United States of America

Richard Forrest Ewing