US 11,718,384 B2
Hat-stringer assemblies for an aircraft and methods of forming same
Steve L. Patterson, Glen Mills, PA (US); Daniel M. Levine, Seattle, WA (US); Jeffrey E. Barnes, Shoreline, WA (US); Jeffrey F. Stulc, Stanwood, WA (US); Christopher R. Loesche, Bothell, WA (US); and Garrett C. Hanson, Everett, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/390,244.
Prior Publication US 2023/0031639 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 1/00 (2006.01); B64C 3/18 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 3/182 (2013.01) [B64C 1/064 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hat-stringer assembly (100) for an aircraft (500), the hat-stringer assembly (100) comprising:
a hat stringer (110) comprising:
a first hat-stringer leg (140) having a first-hat-stringer-leg surface (141);
a second hat-stringer leg (150) having a second-hat-stringer-leg surface (151), wherein the second hat-stringer leg (150) is spaced apart from the first hat-stringer leg (140);
a first hat-stringer sidewall (114) having a first-hat-stringer-sidewall surface (115) extending from the first-hat-stringer-leg surface (141);
a connecting wall (112) extending from the first hat-stringer sidewall (114) and having a virtual connecting-wall symmetry plane (126) passing through the connecting wall (112);
a second hat-stringer sidewall (116) having a second-hat-stringer-sidewall surface (117) extending from the connecting wall (112) to the second-hat-stringer-leg surface (151); and
a ventilation opening (128) extending through the connecting wall (112); and
a fitting (200) coupled to the hat stringer (110) and the fitting comprising:
a first channel member (210) comprising:
a first-channel-member sidewall (212) in contact with the first hat-stringer sidewall (114);
a first-channel-member base leg (214) extending from the first-channel-member sidewall (212) and in contact with the first hat-stringer leg (140); and
a first-channel-member cap leg (216) extending from the first-channel-member sidewall (212);
a second channel member (240) comprising:
a second-channel-member sidewall (242) in contact with the second hat-stringer sidewall (116);
a second-channel-member base leg (244) extending from the second-channel-member sidewall (242) and in contact with the second hat-stringer leg (150); and
a second-channel-member cap leg (246) extending from the second-channel-member sidewall (242);
a web cap (260) in contact with the first-channel-member cap leg (216) and the second-channel-member cap leg (246), wherein the web cap (260) comprises a web-cap opening (262) in fluid communication with the ventilation opening (128); and
a noodle (280) in contact with the connecting wall (112) of the hat stringer (110), the first channel member (210), the second channel member (240), and the web cap (260) of the fitting (200).