Patent · US Active

Aircraft wing with knuckled rib structure

US8783604B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
16References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 21, 2011
Grant dateJul 22, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 6, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64U30/12
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An aircraft wing has hinged ribs, and a skin covering the ribs. The ribs each include plural rib sections, array from the leading edge of the wing, to the trailing edge of the wing, and a lock to hold the rib sections together in a deployed state or condition. The wings are initially in a stowed state, with the ribs and the rib sections having a curved chord, and deploy to the deployed state, in which the ribs have a straightened chord that defines an airfoil state. The wing may have foam material between the ribs to allow the wings to expand in the wingspan direction, for instance after the ribs have been placed in the deployed state.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.