IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,312,468

Granted Patent B2

US 11,312,468 · App. 16/058,230 · Granted Apr 26, 2022

Elongate structures, structural assemblies with elongate structures, and methods for supporting a structural load

Inventors: Kenneth H. Griess (Kent, WA); Karen D. MacKenzie (Lake Forest Park, WA)

Assignee: The Boeing Company

B64C1/064 B64C1/061 B64C1/068

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 11,312,468
App. No.: 16/058,230
Granted: Apr 26, 2022
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A structural assembly includes a support structure and an elongate structure intersecting the support structure. The elongate structure has a length and a mass. The mass of the elongate structure varies along the length of the elongate structure. A localized mass of the elongate structure decreases toward the support structure and increases away from the support structure.

Claims (161)

1. A structural assembly ( 100 ), comprising:

a support structure ( 104 A), comprising:

a first side;

a second side, opposite the first side; and

an opening ( 206 ), extending from the first side to the second side;

an elongate structure ( 102 ) that passes through the opening ( 206 ) in the support structure ( 104 A), the elongate structure ( 102 ) comprising:

a web ( 120 ); and

a lower flange ( 122 ), extending from the web ( 120 ); and

a panel structure ( 108 ), coupled to the lower flange ( 122 ) of the elongate structure ( 102 ),

wherein:

a first virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is spaced away from the first side of the support structure ( 104 );

the first side of the support structure ( 104 A) faces toward the first virtual cross-section, and the second side of the support structure ( 104 A) faces away from the first virtual cross-section;

a second virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is spaced away from the second side of the support structure ( 104 A);

the second side of the support structure ( 104 A) faces toward the second virtual cross-section, and the first side of the support structure ( 104 A) faces away from the second virtual cross-section;

a third virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is in the opening ( 206 ) of the support structure ( 104 A);

the web ( 120 ) has a first height at the first virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the web ( 120 ) has a second height at the second virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the web ( 120 ) has a third height at the third virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the third height of the web ( 120 ) is smaller than the first height of the web ( 120 );

the third height of the web ( 120 ) is smaller than the second height of the web ( 120 );

the lower flange ( 122 ) has a first width at the first virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the lower flange ( 122 ) has a second width at the second virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the lower flange ( 122 ) has a third width at the third virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the third width of the lower flange ( 122 ) is smaller than the first width of the lower flange ( 122 ); and

the third width of the lower flange ( 122 ) is smaller than the second width of the lower flange ( 122 ).

2. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the first virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) has a first area;

the second virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) has a second area;

the third virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) has a third area;

the third area of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is smaller than the first area of the elongate structure ( 102 ); and

the third area of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is smaller than the second area of the elongate structure ( 102 ).

3. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the web ( 120 ) has a minimum height and a maximum height;

the third height of the web ( 120 ) is equal to the minimum height of the web ( 120 ); and

at least one of the first height and the second height of the web ( 120 ) is equal to the maximum height of the web ( 120 ).

4. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the opening ( 206 ) in the support structure ( 104 A) has a height; and

the height of the opening ( 206 ) is smaller than at least one of the first height and the second height of the web ( 120 ) of the elongate structure ( 102 ).

5. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a second support structure ( 104 B), spaced away from the support structure ( 104 A), wherein the second support structure ( 104 B) comprises:

a third side;

a fourth side, opposite the third side; and

a second opening, extending from the third side to the fourth side,

wherein:

the elongate structure ( 102 ) passes through the second opening in the second support structure ( 104 B);

the second virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is spaced away from the third side of the second support structure ( 104 B);

the third side of the second support structure ( 104 B) faces toward the second virtual cross-section;

the fourth side of the second support structure ( 104 B) faces away from the second virtual cross-section;

a fourth virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is spaced away from the fourth side of the second support structure ( 104 B);

the fourth side of the second support structure ( 104 B) faces toward the fourth virtual cross-section;

the third side of the second support structure ( 104 B) faces away from the fourth virtual cross-section;

a fifth virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is in the second opening of the second support structure ( 104 B);

the web ( 120 ) has a fourth height at the fourth virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the web ( 120 ) has a fifth height at the fifth virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the fifth height of the web ( 120 ) is smaller than the second height of the web ( 120 ); and

the fifth height of the web ( 120 ) is smaller than the fourth height of the web ( 120 ).

6. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the lower flange ( 122 ) extends from the web ( 120 ) along an entirety of the elongate structure ( 102 ).

7. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the web ( 120 ) has a first thickness at the first virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the web ( 120 ) has a second thickness at the second virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the web ( 120 ) has a third thickness at the third virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the third thickness of the web ( 120 ) is smaller than the first thickness of the web ( 120 ); and

the third thickness of the web ( 120 ) is smaller than the second thickness of the web ( 120 ).

8. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 7 , wherein:

the first virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) has a first area;

the second virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) has a second area;

the third virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 ) has a third area;

the third area of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is smaller than the first area of the elongate structure ( 102 ); and

the third area of the elongate structure ( 102 ) is smaller than the second area of the elongate structure ( 102 ).

9. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the elongate structure ( 102 ) further comprises an upper flange ( 128 ), extending from the web ( 120 ), opposite the lower flange ( 122 ),

wherein:

the upper flange ( 128 ) has a first width at the first virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the upper flange ( 128 ) has a second width at the second virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the upper flange ( 128 ) has a third width at the third virtual cross-section of the elongate structure ( 102 );

the third width of the upper flange ( 128 ) is smaller than the first width of the upper flange ( 128 ); and

the third width of the upper flange ( 128 ) is smaller than the second width of the upper flange ( 128 ).

10. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 9 , wherein:

the upper flange ( 128 ) has a minimum width and a maximum width;

the third width of the upper flange ( 128 ) is equal to the minimum width of the upper flange ( 128 ); and

at least one of the first width and the second width of the upper flange ( 128 ) is equal to the maximum width of the upper flange ( 128 ).

11. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the elongate structure ( 102 ) is a monolithic structure.

12. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the elongate structure ( 102 ) is coupled to the support structure ( 104 A); and

the panel structure ( 108 ) is coupled to the support structure ( 104 A).

13. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the support structure ( 104 A) is a frame of an aircraft ( 1200 );

the elongate structure ( 102 ) is a stringer of the aircraft ( 1200 ); and

the panel structure ( 108 ) is a skin panel of the aircraft ( 1200 ).

14. The structural assembly ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the lower flange ( 122 ) has a minimum width and a maximum width;

the third width of the lower flange ( 122 ) is equal to the minimum width of the lower flange ( 122 ); and

at least one of the first width and the second width of the lower flange ( 122 ) is equal to the maximum width of the lower flange ( 122 ).

15. An elongate structure ( 102 ) for a structural assembly ( 100 ), the elongate structure ( 102 ) comprising:

a web ( 120 );

a lower flange ( 122 ), extending from the web ( 120 );

a first virtual cross-section;

a second virtual cross-section, spaced away from the first virtual cross-section; and

a third virtual cross-section between the first virtual cross-section and the second virtual cross-section,