IP Library Granted Patent US 7,740,202
Granted Patent B2
US 7,740,202 · App. 11/978,722 · Granted Jun 22, 2010

Wing structure for aircraft

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,740,202
App. No.
11/978,722
Granted
Jun 22, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a wing structure for an aircraft, a rib extends in a chord direction for connecting spars to each other with upper and lower stringer through holes through which stringers of skins pass being formed in upper and lower edges of the rib. A bead is formed on the rib so as to extend between the upper and lower stringer through holes. Upper and lower ends of the bead are formed into arcuate shapes so as to surround the upper and lower stringer through holes, respectively. Thus, it is possible to enhance the buckling strength of the rib against a shear load acting on the wing of the aircraft.

Claims (36)

1. A wing structure for an aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of spars extending in a span direction;

a plurality of stringers arranged between the spars and extending in the span direction;

a rib extending in a chord direction to connect the spars to each other; and

skins for covering upper and lower surfaces of the spars, the stringers and the rib;

wherein upper and lower stringer through holes through which the stringers pass are formed on upper and lower edges of the rib;

wherein a bead is formed on the rib so as to extend between the upper and lower stringer through holes which face each other in a vertical direction, said bead including a straight portion, an upper end and a lower end; and

wherein each of the upper and lower ends of the bead are formed into arcuate shapes including a forwardly projecting portion extending beyond the straight portion and a rearwardly projecting portion extending beyond the straight portion so as to surround the upper and lower stringer through holes, respectively.

2. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein at least one aperture is formed in said rib for lightening the weight of the rib.

3. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one aperture comprises an aperture formed in a portion of said rib adjacent to a front spar and an aperture formed in a portion of said rib adjacent to a rear spar.

4. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein said bead is a vertically extending bead that is integrally press-molded between two lightening apertures formed in the rib.

5. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein said straight portion is a vertically-extending substantially straight portion and said arcuate shapes are a pair of arcuate portions formed at opposite ends in the vertical direction of the substantially straight portion.

6. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 1 , wherein the bead is formed to bulge inwardly in the span direction when the rib is press-molded.

7. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 1 , and further including a pair of front and rear flanges bent inwardly in the span direction and formed on opposite sides in the front and rear direction of the stringer through holes on a lower edge of the rib for securing the rib to a lower surface of the wing.

8. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 7 , and further including a mounting portion disposed at a front end of the rib for securing the rib to a portion of a front spar.

9. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 7 , and further including a pair of front and rear mounting portions provided at an upper edge of the rib for securing the rib to an upper skin of the wing.

10. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 7 , and further including a mounting portion provided at a rear of the rib for securing the rib to a main spar.

11. A wing structure for an aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of spars extending in a span direction;

a plurality of stringers arranged between the spars and extending in the span direction;

a rib extending in a chord direction to connect the spars to each other; and

an upper skin for covering an upper surface of the spars, the stringers and the rib;

a lower skin for covering a lower surface of the spars, the stringers and the rib;

an upper stringer through hole on an upper edge of the rib for enabling a stringer to pass therethrough;

a lower stringer through hole on a lower edge of the rib for enabling a stringer to pass therethrough;

a bead formed on the rib and extending between the upper and lower stringer through holes which face each other in a vertical direction, said bead including a straight portion, an upper end and a lower end; and

arcuate shapes being formed in each of said upper and lower ends of the bead said arcuate shapes including a forwardly projecting portion extending beyond the straight portion and a rearwardly projecting portion extending beyond the straight portion for surrounding the upper and lower stringer through holes, respectively.

12. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 11 , wherein at least one aperture is formed in said rib for lightening the weight of the rib.

13. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 12 , wherein said at least one aperture comprises an aperture formed in a portion of said rib adjacent to a front spar and an aperture formed in a portion of said rib adjacent to a rear spar.

14. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 11 , wherein said bead is a vertically extending bead that is integrally press-molded between two lightening apertures formed in the rib.

15. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 11 , wherein said straight portion is a vertically-extending substantially straight portion and said arcuate shapes are a pair of arcuate portions formed at opposite ends in the vertical direction of the substantially straight portion.

16. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 11 , wherein the bead is formed to bulge inwardly in the span direction when the rib is press-molded.

17. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 11 , and further including a pair of front and rear flanges bent inwardly in the span direction and formed on opposite sides in the front and rear direction of the stringer through holes on a lower edge of the rib for securing the rib to a lower surface of the wing.

18. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 17 , and further including a mounting portion disposed at a front end of the rib for securing the rib to a portion of a front spar.

19. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 17 , and further including a pair of front and rear mounting portions provided at an upper edge of the rib for securing the rib to an upper skin of the wing.

20. The wing structure for an aircraft according to claim 17 , and further including a mounting portion provided at a rear of the rib for securing the rib to a main spar.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2022
From: HONDA PATENTS & TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA, LLC
To: AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Reel/Frame 061497/0609 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT INSERTION OF A COMMA FROM THE ASSIGNEE COMPANY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 027470 FRAME 0322. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT NAME OF THE ASSIGNEE IS HONDA PATENTS & TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA, LLC. Recorded Jan 9, 2013
From: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
To: HONDA PATENTS & TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 029598/0189 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2012
From: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
To: HONDA PATENTS & TECHNOLOGIES, NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 027470/0322 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2008
From: NAMAIZAWA, MASAKI; HASEGAWA, KAZUHIDE; NAKAZAWA, JUN; AZUMA, HIROHIDE
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 020509/0959 →