Wing lift system capability expansion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10934022-B2
Application number	US-201816004274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2018
Priority date	Jan 7, 2016
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A method for lifting a wing of an aircraft. A plurality of lifting assemblies is attached to a mounting ring supporting the wing. A first plurality of base assemblies is attached to a plurality of fittings connected to the fuselage of the aircraft. The plurality of lifting assemblies is moved away from the first plurality of base assemblies using a plurality of biasing systems correspondingly attached to the plurality of lifting assemblies, the moving causing the mounting ring to move away from the fuselage. The first plurality of base assemblies is removed. A second plurality of base assemblies is attached to the plurality of fittings. Thereafter, moving the plurality of lifting assemblies away from the second plurality of base assemblies using the plurality of biasing systems is repeated, the repeating moving causing the mounting ring to move away from the fuselage to the first height.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, configured to lift, in two stages, a wing on a mounting ring disposed on a fuselage of an aircraft relative to the fuselage of the aircraft, that comprises:
a lifting assembly configured to connect to the mounting ring and to a fitting connected to the fuselage;
a first base assembly configured to connect to the fitting, such that the first base assembly comprises a first length configured to move the wing away from the fuselage;
a biasing system attached to the lifting assembly, such that the biasing system comprises a piston configured to move the lifting assembly away from an anvil of the first base assembly; and
a second base assembly configured to replace the first base assembly and connect to the fitting, such that the second base assembly comprises a second length, greater than the first length, and configured to move the mounting ring further away from the fuselage than the first base assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lifting assembly comprises a lifting bracket configured to react a bending moment against the second base assembly when the lifting assembly is moved.

3. A machine configured to lift, in two stages, a wing connected to a mounting ring disposed on a fuselage of an aircraft to a first height-relative to the fuselage of the aircraft, such that the machine comprises:
a biasing system attached to a lifting assembly configured to:
attach to the mounting ring; and
move the mounting ring away from the fuselage to a second height, such that the second height is closer to the fuselage than the first height;

a first base assembly configured to attach to a fitting connected to the fuselage;
a first retaining object configured to hold the mounting ring at the second height with the first base assembly removed from the fitting; and
a second base assembly configured to replace the first base assembly and attach to the fitting.

4. The machine of claim 3 further comprising a third base assembly configured to:
replace the second base assembly;
attach to the fitting; and
move the mounting ring farther away from the fuselage than the first height.

5. The machine of claim 3 further comprising: the fitting comprising a shape that comprises two sides that form a channel that comprises an opening that faces away from the fuselage.

6. The machine of claim 3 further comprising the mounting ring comprising a flexible material.

7. The machine of claim 3 further comprising the first base assembly comprising a first length and the second base assembly comprising a second length greater than the first length.

8. The machine of claim 7 further comprising a first difference, between the second length and the first length, at least equal to a second difference, between the first height and the second height.

9. The machine of claim 3 further comprising:
the first base assembly comprising a first anvil;
the second base assembly comprising a second anvil; and
the biasing system comprising a piston configured to press against at least one of the first anvil or the second anvil.

10. The machine of claim 9 further comprising the piston comprising an extension limit less than or equal to the second height.

11. The machine of claim 3 further comprising the-first retaining object configured to insert between the fuselage and a bottom of the mounting ring.

12. The machine of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of first retaining objects comprising blocks cumulatively comprising a material strength sufficient to support a weight of the mounting ring.

13. The machine of claim 11 further comprising a second retaining object, larger than the first retaining object, configured to fit between the fuselage and the mounting ring.

14. The machine of claim 13 further comprising a third base assembly configured attach to the fitting in conjunction with the second retaining object being located between the fuselage and the mounting ring.

15. The machine of claim 3 further comprising the fitting comprising a first plurality of channels configured to receive bolts configured to connect the fitting to: the first base assembly and the second base assembly.

16. The machine of claim 15 further comprising the lifting assembly comprising a second plurality of channels configured to receive second bolts configured to connect the mounting ring to the lifting assembly.

17. The machine of claim 16 further comprising the first plurality of channels being unaligned with the second plurality of channels.

18. A system configured to lift, in two stages, a wing on a mounting ring disposed on a fuselage of an aircraft to a first height relative to the fuselage, such that the system comprises:
a lifting assembly that comprises a biasing system attached to the mounting ring;
a first base assembly, configured to:
attach to a fitting connected to the fuselage; and
move the mounting ring away from the fuselage to a second height;

a retaining object configured to hold the mounting ring at the second height with the first base assembly removed from the fitting;
a second base assembly configured to: attach to the fitting, replace the first base assembly, and move the mounting ring away from the fuselage to the first height, such that the first height comprises a distance away from the fuselage greater than the second height away from the fuselage; and
a piston, in the biasing system, configured to press against an anvil of at least one of: the first base assembly and the second base assembly, when attached to the fitting.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising the retaining object configured to:
fit within the second height between the fuselage and a bottom of the mounting ring; and
displace from between the fuselage and the bottom of the mounting ring with the second base assembly attached to the fitting.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising:
the lifting assembly comprising a lifting bracket; and
the mounting ring comprising a flexible metal.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Scheerer David E
• Joyce Patrick F

Classifications

• B64C1/26

  Attaching the wing or tail units or stabilising surfaces · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B64F5/50 Primary

  Handling or transporting aircraft components · CPC title