Attachment of aircraft ribs to spars having variable geometry
First Claim
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1. For use in an aircraft wing, a joint for attaching a rib to a tubular spar, the tubular spar having a cross sectional shape that deforms during flight, the joint comprising:
- a ring substantially surrounding and attached to the tubular spar, wherein the ring extends around and engages substantially an entire circumference of the tubular spar; and
pivot pins extending substantially parallel to the tubular spar, connecting the ring with the rib, and allowing relative movement between the rib and the tubular spar as a cross-sectional shape of the tubular spar deforms, wherein the rib includes upper and lower gaps into which the ring and the tubular spar deform.
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Abstract
An aircraft wing includes a rib attached by a joint to a tubular spar that varies in cross sectional shape during flight. The joint includes a ring attached to the tubular spar, and pivot pins connecting the ring with the rib. The pivot pins allow relative movement between the rib and the tubular spar as the tubular spar varies in cross sectional shape.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. For use in an aircraft wing, a joint for attaching a rib to a tubular spar, the tubular spar having a cross sectional shape that deforms during flight, the joint comprising:
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a ring substantially surrounding and attached to the tubular spar, wherein the ring extends around and engages substantially an entire circumference of the tubular spar; and pivot pins extending substantially parallel to the tubular spar, connecting the ring with the rib, and allowing relative movement between the rib and the tubular spar as a cross-sectional shape of the tubular spar deforms, wherein the rib includes upper and lower gaps into which the ring and the tubular spar deform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A joint between a substantially non-deformable structure and a tubular member having a cross sectional shape that deforms about points of inflection along a curvature of the tubular member, comprising:
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a ring extending substantially around a circumference of and attached to the tubular member, wherein the ring extends around and engages substantially an entirety of the circumference of the tubular member; and pivot pins extending substantially parallel to the tubular member and connecting the ring with the non-deformable structure respectively at the points of inflection, wherein the tubular member includes upper and lower gaps into which the ring and the tubular member deform. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of attaching an aircraft wing rib to a tubular spar having a cross sectional shape that deforms during flight, comprising:
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placing a ring around the tubular spar, wherein the ring extends around and engages substantially an entire circumference of the tubular spar; loading the ring against the tubular spar; and pivotally connecting the ring to the rib, wherein pivotally connecting the ring to the rib includes locating pivotal pins in the rib and the tubular spar such that the pivotal pins extend substantially parallel to the tubular spar, and wherein the rib includes upper and lower gaps into which the ring and the tubular spar deform. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification