Foldable aircraft wings

US11485474B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Paul Dees · Woodinville, US
• Eric G. Gruner · Seattle, US
• Michael Addington · Winchester, US
• David Douglas Boes · Bellevue, US
• Eric D. Blohm · Bellevue, US
• Matthew S. Elenbaas · Mukilteo, US
• Rickie Hansken · Bothell, US
• Mark John Herzberg · Seattle, US
• Eric Sean Kamila · Edmonds, US
• Jeffrey Michael Olds · Seattle, US
• Charuhas M. Soman · Bothell, US
• Keith Townsend · Leicester, GB
• Steven Paul Walker · Arlington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 24, 2019
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2022
• Expiry date: Jan 12, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/10
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Foldable aircraft wings are disclosed. An example aircraft includes a foldable wing having a fixed wing portion, a foldable wing portion and a hinge to pivotally couple the foldable wing portion relative to the fixed wing portion. The hinge includes a wing transition portion including wing hinge ribs and wing stub ribs, respective ones of the wing hinge ribs coupled to corresponding respective ones of the wing stub ribs. The hinge also includes a tip transition portion including tip hinge ribs, where respective ends of the tip hinge ribs positioned between corresponding respective ones of the wing hinge ribs and the wing stub ribs.