초록 ▼

An internal stiffening member of varying configurations in which the stiffening elements support the skin using a compression-only load path is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the stiffening element has a peripheral edge that is adapted to be press fit into contact with the skin. The stiffen

An internal stiffening member of varying configurations in which the stiffening elements support the skin using a compression-only load path is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the stiffening element has a peripheral edge that is adapted to be press fit into contact with the skin. The stiffening member may be held in place by various retention devices. Another configuration is a slip-in rib having a flange with a peripheral channel in which a filler material is disposed. The rib is inserted into an assembled structural box beam, and the filler material is used to fill any gaps between the slip-in rib and the interior surface of the structural box beam. The filler material is preferably an expandable material, such as an expandable foam-type material. However, in situations where a slip-in rib forms a primary structural rib, the filler material is preferably a structural adhesive or liquid shim material. A solid adhesive or filler would not crush under the clamping forces from fasteners or bolts at localized fitting attachments.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An internal stiffening member for use in supporting a thin-walled structural skin comprising: a web portion;a peripheral flange having a thickness, the peripheral flange disposed about the periphery of the web portion, such that the structural skin completely surrounds the peripheral flange;a cha

1. An internal stiffening member for use in supporting a thin-walled structural skin comprising: a web portion;a peripheral flange having a thickness, the peripheral flange disposed about the periphery of the web portion, such that the structural skin completely surrounds the peripheral flange;a channel in the peripheral flange, the channel having a recessed channel surface which is recessed into the peripheral flange so as to define a channel depth therebetween;a recessed slot in an interior surface of the thin-walled structural skin, the recessed slot having a recessed slot surface which is recessed into the thin-walled structural skin so as to define a slot depth therebetween, such that the channel depth does not exceed the peripheral flange thickness; anda filler material disposed in the channel of the peripheral flange and in the recessed slot in the interior surface of the thin-walled structural skin, the filler material being configured as a lock between the flange and the interior surface of the thin-walled structural skin, so as to limit a longitudinal movement of the internal stiffening member relative to the thin-walled structural skin, the longitudinal movement being a direction approximately perpendicular to the web portion;wherein the internal stiffening member supports the structural skin primarily in a compression-only load path;wherein the thin-walled structural skin and the internal stiffening member form an aircraft structure;wherein an interior of the thin-walled structural skin forms an at least partially hollow space;wherein the filler material acts to retain the internal stiffening member within the thin-walled structural skin. 2. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, wherein the web portion and the flange have an I-beam shaped cross-sectional geometry. 3. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one aperture passing longitudinally through the web portion. 4. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, wherein the flange is configured to contour to the shape of the interior surface of the thin-walled skin. 5. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, further comprising: a structural adhesive adapted to be forced into the channel for forming a mechanical bond. 6. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, wherein the filler material is an expandable adhesive. 7. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, wherein the internal stiffening member is configured to be inserted into the interior of the thin-walled skin after the thin-walled skin is fabricated and assembled. 8. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, wherein the web portion is solid. 9. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, wherein the web portion includes void spaces. 10. The internal stiffening member according to claim 1, further comprising: means for reacting loads perpendicular to the plane of the internal stiffening member.