Transition shim between structure for fastening a wing to a fuselage of an aircraft, and aircraft having such a shim
View Patent ↗A shim adapted for positioning on the upper surface of at least one wing of an aircraft. The shim restores an aerodynamic profile of the wing at the position of a zone of transition between structure fastening the wing to the fuselage of the aircraft and the upper surface of the aircraft. The shim enables a seal to run from the fastening structure to the upper surface of the wing, in eliminating the zones at which the seal may break open. An aircraft provided with such a shim is also disclosed.
1. An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage;
an airfoil comprising two wings fixed on either side of the fuselage, each wing being operably coupled to the fuselage by a fastening structure, the fastening structure forming a reinforcement at least one of an upper surface or a lower surface of the wing;
a ventral fairing fixed to a lower part of the fuselage, the ventral fairing comprising a base and two panels extending radially relative to the base and rising laterally along the fuselage, each panel being provided with structure defining an opening for receiving a wing therethrough;
a seal fixed to a periphery of each opening, the seal being at least partially positioned between an internal wall of the opening and the wing, wherein the seal is subjected to a difference in height along a transition zone defined between the fastening structure and the wing;
wherein the aircraft includes, on at least one wing, a transition shim positioned in the transition zone between the fastening structure and the wing, a thickness of the shim decreasing from an edge of the fastening structure to the wing corresponding to the difference in height along the transition zone, thereby defining a slope of the shim, and wherein a profile of the shim restores an aerodynamic profile of the wing in the transition zone.
2. An aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the slope is configured such that a rate of compression of at a first part of the seal between the fastening structure and the internal wall of the opening and at a second part of the seal between the wing and the internal wall of the opening is uniform.
3. The aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the shim is positioned on an upper surface of the wing.
4. The aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the shim is positioned on a lower surface of the wing.
5. The aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the shim comprises an expanded plastic material.
6. The aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the shim is adhered to the wing.
7. The aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the shim is fitted with rounded ridges.
8. The aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the shim is coated with sealant.
9. The aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein an external contour of the shim is adapted to fit an external contour of the fastening structure at a zone of contact between said shim and said fastening structure.