Aircraft wing space frame

Abstract

Aircraft wings have an interior volume that incorporates a space frame as a primary supporting structure of the wing, and enables securement of an aircraft fuselage to the wing. The space frame includes carbon fiber rods arranged to handle tensile and compression loads otherwise carried by conventional wing spars, ribs, and stringers normally connected to heavy structural metal wing box joints at the sides of a fuselage for attachment of left and right wings. The space frame also includes sleeve and shaft connectors secured to the carbon fiber rods, the connectors arranged in truss-like configurations for preventing buckling of the carbon fiber rods. The space frame is designed to extend at least midspan between wings, so that traditional wing box joints on a fuselage can be eliminated. Finally, wing skin panels secured to the space frame are designed to support only aerodynamic loads of flight.