IP Library › Granted Patent US 12686487
Granted Patent B2
US 12686487 · App. 18/522,491 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Method for applying a cover to an aircraft wing and aircraft wing obtained by said method

Inventors: Georgina Galera Cordoba (Getafe, ES); Jose Maria Blanco Saiz (Getafe, ES); Pedro Nogueroles Viñes (Getafe, ES); Zulima Martin Moreno (Getafe, ES); Pablo Vazquez Sanchez (Getafe, ES); Antonio Torres Esteban (Getafe, ES); Oscar Bellido Fuentetaja (Getafe, ES)
Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.U.
B64C1/1446B29C65/02B64F5/10F16J15/10B64C3/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686487
App. No.
18/522,491
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for applying a cover to an aircraft wing including placing a skin provided with one or more manholes on the aircraft wing; placing a gasket for the, or each, manhole of the skin; placing a plug in the, or each, manhole; and curing the aircraft wing with the cover, the cover comprising the skin, the gasket or gaskets and the plug or plugs. The aircraft wing includes a cover applied by the described method including a skin, one or more gaskets and one or more plugs.

Claims (11)

1 . A method for applying a cover to an aircraft wing, comprising the following steps: placing a skin provided with one or more manholes on the aircraft wing; placing a gasket for the, or each, manhole of the skin in direct contact with the skin; placing a plug in the, or each, manhole, wherein the, or each, plug has a head which contacts an upper surface of the, or each, gasket and a post below the head which is disposed within an opening of the, or each, gasket and an opening of the skin, wherein a thickness of the post is equal to a combined thickness of the, or each, gasket and the skin; and co-curing the aircraft wing together with the cover, the cover comprising the skin, the one or more gaskets and the one or more plugs.

2 . The method for applying a cover to an aircraft wing according to claim 1 , wherein the curing is made in an autoclave.

3 . The method for applying a cover to an aircraft wing according to claim 1 , wherein the, or each, gasket is made from a thermoplastic material.

4 . The method for applying a cover to an aircraft wing according to claim 3 , wherein the, or each, gasket is made from recycled polyamide.

5 . The method for applying a cover to an aircraft wing according to claim 3 , wherein the, or each, gasket is made by injection.

6 . The method for applying a cover to an aircraft wing according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the, or each, plug is selected according to a thickness of the cover.

7 . An aircraft wing obtained by the method according to claim 1 , wherein the aircraft wing comprises the cover including the skin, the one or more gaskets and the one or more plugs.

8 . The aircraft wing according to claim 7 , wherein the, or each, gasket has a continuous thickness.

9 . The aircraft wing according to claim 7 , wherein the, or each, gasket is made from a thermoplastic material.

10 . The aircraft wing according to claim 9 , wherein the, or each, gasket is made from recycled polyamide.

11 . The aircraft wing according to claim 7 , wherein the, or each, gasket comprises carbon fiber.