초록 ▼

A single piece co-cured composite wing is disclosed. The wing has a flying surface and structural members. In one embodiment the structural members may be a plurality of spars. The spars may have various shapes to increase the buckling strength. The spars may be wave shaped, such as a sinusoidal sha

A single piece co-cured composite wing is disclosed. The wing has a flying surface and structural members. In one embodiment the structural members may be a plurality of spars. The spars may have various shapes to increase the buckling strength. The spars may be wave shaped, such as a sinusoidal shape. The flying surface and the structural members are co-cured in order to form a single piece, integral wing structure. A process for manufacturing a single piece co-cured wing is also disclosed. The process may include laying out composite sheets for the flying surface of the wing. Then, the composite material of the spars is arranged around a plurality of pressurizable forms. Finally, the composite material is cured in a clamshell frame.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A composite wing structure comprising:a composite flying surface; a plurality of composite spars having a substantially sinusoidal shape, wherein the flying surface and the plurality of composite spars form a single piece co-cured wing; and a plurality of slosh gates for controlling the movement

1. A composite wing structure comprising:a composite flying surface; a plurality of composite spars having a substantially sinusoidal shape, wherein the flying surface and the plurality of composite spars form a single piece co-cured wing; and a plurality of slosh gates for controlling the movement of fuel within the wing. 2. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the spars have spar caps.3. The apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein the spar caps are comprised of filament bands orientated generally parallel from the flying surface.4. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the spars have a webbing.5. The apparatus, as recited in claim 4, wherein the webbing is comprised of filament bands orientated about 45° from the flying surface.6. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the spars are comprised of two substantially C-shaped composite sections.7. The apparatus, as recited in claim 6, wherein the C-shaped sections are positioned in opposing orientations to form an I-beam.8. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the spars have a J-shaped cross-section.9. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the spar have a C-shaped cross-section.10. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the spars have substantially flat sections to allow attachment of the slosh gate.11. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1 wherein the composite flying surface comprises an upper flying surface, the apparatus further comprising a lower flying surface.12. The apparatus, as recited in claim 11 wherein the upper flying surface is substantially comprised of a first sheet of composite material and the lower flying surface is substantially comprised of a second sheet of composite material.13. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet intersect at a location below a leading edge of the wing.14. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one rib.15. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the wing structure is a complete wing span.16. The apparatus, as recited in claim 15, wherein the complete wing span has a spar that is continuous through the complete wing span.17. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein the wing structure has strands of conductive material imbedded in the composite material.18. The apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a layer of primer co-cured to the flying surface.