IP Library Granted Patent US 9,988,136
Granted Patent B2
US 9,988,136 · App. 14/926,786 · Granted Jun 5, 2018

Structural component and method for producing a structural component

Inventors: Memis Tiryaki (Hamburg, DE); Michael Sauer (Hamburg, DE)
Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
B64C1/061B22F3/008B22F7/004B32B38/00B32B41/00B33Y80/00B64C1/064B64C3/182B64C3/187B64G1/22G05B19/4097B22F3/1055B22F3/1115B32B2038/0076B32B2305/08B32B2313/04B32B2605/18B33Y10/00B33Y50/02B64C2001/0072B64C2001/0081G05B2219/35134Y02P10/295
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,988,136
App. No.
14/926,786
Granted
Jun 5, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A structural component for reinforcing the fuselage of an aircraft or spacecraft is integrally formed and segmented into surface-like stiffening sections, whereby at least one stiffening section is formed as a rigid mesh section, and at least one stiffening section is formed as a solid section.

Claims (32)

1. An aircraft structural component for reinforcing a fuselage of an aircraft or spacecraft, the structural component comprising:

a planar web segmented into stiffening sections, wherein the stiffening sections are mutually co-planar,

wherein the structural component is an integrally formed frame element or stringer element,

wherein at least a first stiffening section of the stiffening sections is configured as a rigid mesh section,

wherein at least a second stiffening section of the stiffening sections is configured as a solid section,

wherein a plurality of solid sections are connected with each other to form a stiffening framework, and

wherein the plurality of solid sections of the stiffening framework surround a plurality of rigid mesh sections.

2. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the at least first stiffening section and the at least second stiffening section are arranged and formed to optimize a stiffness of the structural component for a predetermined stress load of the structural component.

3. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the structural component is integrally formed from metal.

4. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the structural component is substantially formed from aluminum or titanium.

5. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein the structural component is formed in an additive manufacturing process and the structural component is substantially formed from aluminum and/or titanium.

6. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of solid sections is configured as a frame coupling element and/or a stringer coupling element.

7. The structural component of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of solid sections is configured as an assembly area for assembling clips, support angles, and/or brackets to the structural component.

8. An aircraft or spacecraft comprising a structural component, the structural component comprising a planar web segmented into stiffening sections,

wherein the structural component is a frame element or a stringer element and is integrally formed therewith,

wherein the stiffening sections are mutually co-planar,

wherein at least a first stiffening section of the stiffening sections is configured as a rigid mesh section,

wherein at least a second stiffening section of the stiffening sections is configured as a solid section,

wherein a plurality of solid sections are connected with each other to form a stiffening framework, and

wherein the plurality of solid sections of the stiffening framework surround a plurality of rigid mesh sections.

9. A method for forming an aircraft structural component for reinforcing a fuselage of an aircraft or spacecraft, the structural component being a frame element or a stringer element comprising a planar web segmented into stiffening sections, which are each mutually co-planar, at least a first stiffening section of the stiffening sections being configured as a rigid mesh section, at least a second stiffening section of the stiffening sections being configured as a solid section, a plurality of solid sections being connected with each other to form a stiffening framework, the plurality of solid sections of the stiffening framework surrounding a plurality of rigid mesh sections, the method comprising:

using a computer-based system to operate upon data that corresponds to a geometric configuration of the structural component;

predetermining an expected stress load of the structural component with the computer-based system; and

integrally forming the structural component to segment the structural component into the stiffening sections;

wherein the at least first stiffening section and the at least second stiffening section are arranged and formed using topology optimization, such that a stiffness of the structural component is optimized for a predetermined stress load of the structural component.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein integrally forming the structural component comprises an additive manufacturing process.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein integrally forming the structural component comprises punching and/or milling holes into a sheet metal.

12. The method of claim 9 , comprising covering the structural component with a layer of fiber-reinforced composite material.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fiber-reinforced composite material contains a polymer matrix reinforced with carbon fibers, the method comprising curing the polymer matrix in an autoclave process.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the structural component is substantially formed from aluminum or titanium.

15. The method of claim 9 , comprising forming at least one of the plurality of solid sections as a frame coupling element and/or a stringer coupling element.

16. The method of claim 9 , comprising providing, on at least one of the plurality of solid sections, an assembly area for assembling clips, support angles, and/or brackets to the structural component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2015
From: TIRYAKI, MEMIS; SAUER, MICHAEL
To: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 037058/0358 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 14192008 · Nov 6, 2014 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160129984A1 · May 12, 2016