US 12,214,876 B2
Cover panel
Thomas Barnett, Bristol (GB); and Lee Proudler, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB)
Appl. No. 18/029,071
Filed by AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB)
PCT Filed Aug. 11, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/072355
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 28, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/069101, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2015364 (GB), filed on Sep. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0373610 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 3/26 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01); B64C 3/20 (2006.01); B64C 23/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 3/26 (2013.01) [B64C 1/069 (2013.01); B64C 3/20 (2013.01); B64C 23/069 (2017.05)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cover panel for an aircraft comprising:
a first region with a first external aerodynamic surface of the aircraft,
a second region configured to underlie a portion of a second panel, wherein the second panel includes a second external aerodynamic surface of the aircraft adjacent the first external aerodynamic surface, and
a ramp spanning a gap between the first and second external aerodynamic surfaces, wherein the gap is parallel to the first and second external aerodynamic surfaces,
wherein at least a portion of the ramp is between the first region and the second region,
wherein a thickness of the cover panel varies to form the portion of the ramp between the first region towards the second region, wherein the ramp includes a tapered region such that a width of the ramp tapers towards a free-edge of the first region, and
wherein the free-edge forms a butt-joint with the second panel.