Hat stringer closeout fitting and method of making same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9399510-B2
Application number	US-201414464098-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2014
Priority date	Aug 20, 2014
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

A closeout fitting for a hat stringer includes a cover that has a fitting surface. The fitting surface is substantially complementary to at least a portion of an outer surface of the hat stringer. The cover is configured to couple against the hat stringer outer surface. The cover also includes a first portion configured to extend across a gap defined in a cap portion of the hat stringer. The closeout fitting also includes an insert. The insert includes a first outer perimeter surface that is substantially complementary to at least a portion of an interior surface of a channel defined by the hat stringer. The insert is configured to couple against the channel interior surface proximate the hat stringer closeout portion. The insert and the cover are formed with a suitable stiffness to limit a deformation of the hat stringer proximate the closeout portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A closeout fitting for a hat stringer, said closeout fitting comprising:
a cover comprising:
a fitting surface, said fitting surface is substantially complementary to at least a portion of an outer surface of the hat stringer, wherein said cover is configured to couple against said hat stringer outer surface; and
a first portion configured to extend across a gap defined in a cap portion of the hat stringer when said cover is coupled against a closeout portion of the hat stringer; and
an insert comprising an outer perimeter surface and a wall that is sealingly enclosed by said outer perimeter surface, wherein at least a first portion of said outer perimeter surface is substantially complementary to at least a portion of an interior surface of a channel defined by the hat stringer, said insert is configured to couple to said cover and to couple against the channel interior surface proximate the hat stringer closeout portion such that said wall is disposed across the channel and such that a deformation of the hat stringer proximate the closeout portion is limited, and wherein said insert is configured to substantially block flow communication through the channel.

2. The closeout fitting according to claim 1 , wherein at least a second portion of said outer perimeter surface is substantially complementary to at least a portion of said cover fitting surface.

3. The closeout fitting according to claim 1 , wherein said cover further comprises a plurality of first cover openings defined in and extending through said cover, and said insert further comprises a plurality of first insert openings defined in and extending through said outer perimeter surface, each said first cover opening is configured to align with a corresponding said first insert opening and a corresponding one of a plurality of first closeout openings defined in the hat stringer closeout portion when said cover is positioned for coupling to the hat stringer closeout portion.

4. The closeout fitting according to claim 1 , wherein said cover further comprises a plurality of third cover openings defined in and extending through said cover, each said third cover opening is configured to be positioned proximate the gap when said cover is positioned for coupling to the hat stringer closeout portion, each said third cover opening is configured to align with a corresponding one of a plurality of third insert openings defined in said insert when said cover and said insert are positioned for coupling to the hat stringer closeout portion.

5. The closeout fitting according to claim 1 , wherein said cover further comprises a vent connector, said vent connector defines an orifice that extends through said cover such that said vent connector is configured to be in flow communication with the channel via the gap when said cover is positioned for coupling to the hat stringer closeout portion.

6. An aircraft comprising:
a wing;
a hat stringer coupled to an interior surface of a panel of said wing, said hat stringer defines a channel, said hat stringer comprises a cap portion, wherein a gap is defined in said cap portion proximate a closeout portion of said hat stringer; and
a closeout fitting comprising:
a cover coupled against an outer surface of said hat stringer, wherein a fitting surface of said cover is substantially complementary to at least a portion of said hat stringer outer surface, and wherein a first portion of said cover extends across said gap; and
an insert comprising an outer perimeter surface and a wall that is sealingly enclosed by said outer perimeter surface, wherein at least a first portion of said outer perimeter surface of said insert is substantially complementary to at least a portion of said channel interior surface, said insert is coupled to said cover and coupled against said channel interior surface proximate said closeout portion such that said wall is disposed across said channel and such that a deformation of said hat stringer proximate said closeout portion is limited, and wherein said insert is configured to substantially block flow communication through said channel.

7. The aircraft according to claim 6 , wherein at least a second portion of said outer perimeter surface is substantially complementary to at least a portion of said cover fitting surface.

8. The aircraft according to claim 6 , wherein said cover further comprises a plurality of first cover openings defined in and extending through said cover, and said insert further comprises a plurality of first insert openings defined in and extending through said outer perimeter surface, each said first cover opening is aligned with a corresponding said first insert opening and a corresponding one of a plurality of first closeout openings defined in said hat stringer closeout portion.

9. The aircraft according to claim 6 , wherein said cover further comprises a plurality of third cover openings defined in and extending through said cover, each said third cover opening is positioned proximate said gap, each said third cover opening is aligned with a corresponding one of a plurality of third insert openings defined in said insert.

10. The aircraft according to claim 6 , wherein said cover further comprises a vent connector, said vent connector defines an orifice that extends through said cover such that said vent connector is in flow communication with said channel via said gap.

11. The aircraft according to claim 10 , further comprising:
at least one vent coupled in flow communication with said channel; and
at least one fuel tank in flow communication with said vent connector, such that a fluid flow path is defined from said at least one fuel tank, through said vent connector, through said gap, through said channel, to said at least one vent.

12. The aircraft according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a fuselage comprising a vent port, said at least one fuel tank is disposed in an interior of said fuselage, said at least one fuel tank is in flow communication with said vent port; and
a vent tube, wherein a first end of said vent tube is coupled in flow communication with said vent connector and a second end of said vent tube is coupled in flow communication with said vent port, such that said fluid flow path is defined from said at least one fuel tank, through said vent port, through said vent tube, through said vent connector, through said gap, through said channel, to said at least one vent.

13. A method of making a closeout fitting for a hat stringer of a vehicle, said method comprising:
forming a fitting surface of a cover to be substantially complementary to at least a portion of an outer surface of the hat stringer, such that the cover is configured to couple against the hat stringer outer surface;
configuring a first portion of the cover to extend across a gap defined in a cap portion of the hat stringer when the cover is coupled against a closeout portion of the hat stringer; and
forming an insert that includes an outer perimeter surface and a wall that is sealingly enclosed by the outer perimeter surface, wherein at least a first portion of the outer perimeter surface is substantially complementary to at least a portion of an interior surface of a channel defined by the hat stringer, such that the insert is configured to couple to the cover and to couple against the channel interior surface proximate the hat stringer closeout portion such that the wall is disposed across the channel and such that a deformation of the hat stringer proximate the closeout portion is limited, and wherein forming the insert further comprises configuring the insert to substantially block flow communication through the cha

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Rolfes Corey A
• Stulc Jeffrey F

Classifications

• B64D37/04

  Arrangement thereof in or on aircraft · CPC title

• B64C3/34

  Tanks constructed integrally with wings, e.g. for fuel or water · CPC title

• B64C3/182 Primary

  Stringers, longerons · CPC title

• B64D37/005

  Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28 · CPC title

• B64D37/10

  to facilitate fuel pressurisation · CPC title