Methods and apparatus to control a gap between movable aircraft wing components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10501166-B2
Application number	US-201715628311-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2017
Priority date	Sep 20, 2012
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to control a gap between movable aircraft wing components are disclosed. An example apparatus includes spoiler including a first panel and a second panel, a flexible tip extending from an intersection of the first and second panels; and a rub block coupled to a surface of the second panel, the rub block positioned to engage a flap to maintain a distance between the spoiler and the flap and to enable the flexible tip to perform deform to change aerodynamic properties of the spoiler.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a spoiler including a first panel and a second panel, a flexible tip extending from an intersection of the first and second panels; and
a rub block coupled to a surface of the second panel, the flexible tip extending beyond the rub block, the rub block positioned to engage a flap to maintain a distance between the spoiler and the flap and to enable the flexible tip to deform to change aerodynamic properties of the spoiler.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rub block is a first rub block, and further comprising a second rub block and a third rub block, the first rub block coupled adjacent a first side of the spoiler, the second rub block coupled adjacent a second side of the spoiler opposite the first side, the third rub block coupled to the spoiler, the first, second, and third rub blocks being spaced to enable airflow between the first rub block and the second rub block and to enable airflow between the second rub block and the third rub block.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the spoiler includes a hinge adjacent a leading edge of the spoiler, the flexible tip including a trailing edge of the spoiler, the rub blocks positioned between the hinge and the trailing edge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the third rub block extends a greater distance toward the hinge than the first and second rub blocks to provide a larger contact area between the third rub block and the flap.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels include metal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a fastener extending through the first and second panels at the intersection to couple the first and second panels.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further including a spacer coupled between the first and second panels at the intersection between the first and second panels.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible tip includes the first panel and the second panel, the rub block ending forward of a bondline between the first and second panels.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rub block ends forward of a bondline between the first and second panels.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rub block ends aft of a bondline between the first and second panels.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a rub block assembly including the rub block and the flexible tip.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the rub block assembly includes a recess to receive at least one of the first panel or the second panel to couple the rub block assembly to the second panel.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the rub block includes a bulbous portion structured to engage the flap.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spoiler includes an internal structure to react compressional loads.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the internal structure includes a high-density core.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the internal structure includes a honeycomb structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the internal structure includes at least one rib that extends between the first panel and the second panel.

18. An apparatus, comprising:
a spoiler including a first panel and a second panel, a flexible tip extending from an intersection of the first and second panels;
a flap; and
means for contacting the flap when the spoiler overlaps the flap to manage a position of the spoiler relative to the flap, the flexible tip extending beyond the means for contacting the flap.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the means for contacting the flap includes a rub block centrally disposed and coupled to the second panel of the spoiler, the rub block being spaced from first and second lateral sides of the spoiler to reduce an aerodynamic penalty contributed by the rub block, the rub block structured to react a contact load between the spoiler and the flap when the spoiler and the flap engage.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the rub block includes a first rub block, wherein the means for contacting the flap includes a second rub block and a third rub block, the second rub block coupled to the second panel adjacent the first lateral side, the third rub block coupled to the second panel adjacent the second lateral side, the spoiler includes a hinge adjacent a leading edge of the spoiler to enable the spoiler to be coupled to a wing, the first rub block extending closer to the hinge than the second rub block and the third rub block, the first rub block spaced from the second rub block, the first rub block spaced from the third rub block.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Balzer Michael A
• Kordel Jan A

Classifications

• B64C3/50 Primary

  by leading or trailing edge flaps · CPC title

• B64C7/00

  Structures or fairings not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64C9/02

  Mounting or supporting thereof · CPC title

• B64C9/16

  at the rear of the wing · CPC title

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title