Aeroseal and method of forming the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111003-B2
Application number	US-201916414938-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2019
Priority date	May 17, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

An aeroseal comprises a substantially straight portion having a first engagement end and a second engagement end opposite the first engagement end. The aeroseal also comprises a first engagement extension extending transversely from the first engagement end of the substantially straight portion and having a distal end. The aeroseal further comprises a second engagement extension extending transversely from the second engagement end of the substantially straight portion and having a distal end. The aeroseal also comprises a substantially curved portion interconnecting the distal end of the first engagement extension and the distal end of the second engagement extension to form an acute angle between the first and second engagement extensions and facing away from the substantially straight portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aeroseal comprising:
a substantially straight portion having a first engagement end and a second engagement end opposite the first engagement end;
a first engagement extension extending transversely from the first engagement end of the substantially straight portion and having a distal end;
a second engagement extension extending transversely from the second engagement end of the substantially straight portion and having a distal end; and
a substantially curved portion interconnecting the distal end of the first engagement extension and the distal end of the second engagement extension to form an acute angle between the first and second engagement extensions and facing away from the substantially straight portion, wherein the substantially curved portion comprises a generally C-shaped portion having at least one interior bead disposed inside of the acute angle formed between the first and second engagement extensions.

2. The aeroseal of claim 1 wherein the substantially straight portion comprises a generally I-beam shaped portion.

3. The aeroseal of claim 1 wherein the first engagement extension includes a first exterior bead facing a first direction, and the second engagement extension includes a second exterior bead facing a second direction which is opposite the first direction.

4. The aeroseal of claim 3 wherein the substantially curved portion includes a first interior bead facing the first exterior bead of the first engagement extension, and a second interior bead facing the second exterior bead of the second engagement extension.

5. The aeroseal of claim 3 wherein the substantially straight portion includes a first slot facing one of the first and second directions, and a second slot facing the other one of the first and second directions.

6. The aeroseal of claim 5 wherein the first slot has a radius between 0.20 inch (0.5 cm) and 0.40 inch (1.0 cm) and the second slot has a radius between 0.20 inch (0.5 cm) and 0.40 inch (1.0 cm).

7. The aeroseal of claim 1 wherein the acute angle between the first and second engagement extensions is between five degrees and 45 degrees.

8. The aeroseal of claim 1 wherein the substantially straight portion, the first engagement extension, the second engagement extension, and the substantially curved portion are formed as a monolithic body.

9. A seal assembly comprising:
a first member;
a second member spaced apart from the first member; and
an aeroseal positioned between the first and second members, the aeroseal comprising:
a first C-shaped portion including first and second distal ends, defining a first partially enclosed volume within the first C-shaped portion; and
a second C-shaped portion including third and fourth distal ends, defining a second partially enclosed volume within the second C-shaped portion, wherein the second C-shaped portion is disposed in the first partially enclosed volume of the first C-shaped portion, wherein the second C-shaped portion includes at least one interior bead, protruding toward the second partially enclosed volume.

10. The seal assembly of claim 9 wherein the first distal end of the first C-shaped portion and the third distal end of the second C-shaped portion are attached to each other, and the second distal end of the first C-shaped portion and the fourth distal end of the second C-shaped portion are attached to each other.

11. The seal assembly of claim 10 wherein the first and second C-shaped portions comprise a monolithic body.

12. The seal assembly of claim 9 wherein the at least one interior bead includes a first interior bead positioned in a vicinity of the third distal end of the second C-shaped portion, and a second interior bead positioned in a vicinity of the fourth distal end of the second C-shaped portion.

13. The seal assembly of claim 9 wherein the first C-shaped portion includes at least one exterior bead, protruding away from the first partially enclosed volume.

14. The seal assembly of claim 13 wherein the at least one exterior bead includes a first exterior bead positioned in a vicinity of the first distal end of the first C-shaped portion, and a second exterior bead positioned in a vicinity of the second distal end of the first C-shaped portion.

15. The seal assembly of claim 14 wherein the first C-shaped portion includes at least one exterior slot, facing away from the first partially enclosed volume.

16. The seal assembly of claim 15 wherein the at least one exterior slot includes a first exterior slot positioned distal to the first exterior bead of the first C-shaped portion, and a second exterior slot positioned distal to the second exterior bead of the first C-shaped portion.

17. The seal assembly of claim 9 wherein one of the first and second members comprises an inboard flap of an aircraft, and the other one of the first and second members comprises an outboard flap of the aircraft.

18. A method for forming an aeroseal for an aircraft wing, the method comprising:
positioning a smaller C-shaped portion in a partially enclosed volume of a larger C-shaped portion;
attaching a distal end of the smaller C-shaped portion to a distal end of the larger C-shaped portion; and
attaching an opposite distal end of the smaller C-shaped portion to an opposite distal end of the larger C-shaped portion, wherein the smaller C-shaped portion defines a partially enclosed volume and wherein the smaller C-shaped portion comprises at least one interior bead, protruding toward the partially enclosed volume.

19. The aeroseal of claim 1 , wherein the substantially straight portion abuts a flap of an aircraft wing.

20. The aeroseal of claim 2 , wherein the substantially I-beam shaped portion, the first engagement extension, the second engagement extension, and the C-shaped portion are formed as a monolithic body.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Gruner Bryan J
• Dahl Bruce A

Classifications

• B64C1/0009 Primary

  Aerodynamic aspects · CPC title

• B64C23/005

  by other means not covered by groups B64C23/02 - B64C23/08, e.g. by electric charges, magnetic panels, piezoelectric elements, static charges or ultrasounds · CPC title

• B64C7/00 Primary

  Structures or fairings not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64C3/36

  Structures adapted to reduce effects of aerodynamic or other external heating · CPC title

• F16J15/027

  and with a hollow profile · CPC title