US 11,866,165 B2
Duct stringers having ovaloid vents for aircraft wing boxes
Christopher John Deatrick, Everett, WA (US); Bonnie Ann Keefe, Everett, WA (US); and Erik Alan Phillips, Kirkland, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/671,309.
Prior Publication US 2023/0312077 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 3/18 (2006.01); B64D 37/08 (2006.01); B64C 3/34 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 3/182 (2013.01) [B64C 1/064 (2013.01); B64C 3/34 (2013.01); B64D 37/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A duct stringer for an aircraft wing box, the duct stringer comprising:
a base;
a pair of sidewalls projecting from the base in a spaced-apart relationship;
a cap wall extending between and interconnecting the pair of sidewalls, wherein the cap wall is spaced apart from the base by the pair of sidewalls; and
an ovaloid vent formed in the cap wall, wherein the ovaloid vent comprises a perimeter that circumscribes an aperture and that defines a closed shape, wherein the perimeter comprises a pair of curved end regions opposed to one another and that each arc at least substantially through 180 degrees, wherein each curved end region of the pair of curved end regions comprises a non-uniform radius of curvature.