Segmented aircraft wing having solar arrays
First Claim
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1. An aircraft wing, comprising:
- a wing spar that may flex;
a plurality of separate wing segments each having an outer wing skin, the wing segments being mounted on the spar for movement relative to the spar and spaced apart to form variable gaps between the wing segments;
a trailing edge bar, the plurality of separate wing segments each being mounted on the trailing edge bar for movement relative to the trailing edge bar, and the trailing edge bar disposed opposite the wing spar relative to opposing ends of the plurality of wing segments; and
a plurality of rigid members having their opposite ends respectively attached to the wing spar and the trailing edge bar, wherein ones of ends of the plurality of rigid members are connected to each other at differing locations on the spar and the trailing edge bar such that the plurality of rigid members form a zig-zag pattern across ones of the plurality of separate wing segments.
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Abstract
An aircraft wing has a plurality of wing segments mounted on a wing spar by joints that allow relative movement between the spar and the wing segments. Tuning of coefficients of thermal expansion is employed to reduce induced stresses from changes in temperature.
25 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An aircraft wing, comprising:
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a wing spar that may flex; a plurality of separate wing segments each having an outer wing skin, the wing segments being mounted on the spar for movement relative to the spar and spaced apart to form variable gaps between the wing segments; a trailing edge bar, the plurality of separate wing segments each being mounted on the trailing edge bar for movement relative to the trailing edge bar, and the trailing edge bar disposed opposite the wing spar relative to opposing ends of the plurality of wing segments; and a plurality of rigid members having their opposite ends respectively attached to the wing spar and the trailing edge bar, wherein ones of ends of the plurality of rigid members are connected to each other at differing locations on the spar and the trailing edge bar such that the plurality of rigid members form a zig-zag pattern across ones of the plurality of separate wing segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification