US 12,286,222 B2
Expandable strut assembly for a wing of an aircraft and method of using the same
Robert E. Grip, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); Christopher K. Droney, Long Beach, CA (US); John C. Vassberg, Long Beach, CA (US); Dino L. Roman, Lake Forest, CA (US); John J. Brown, Costa Mesa, CA (US); Nathaniel J. Noel, North Charleston, SC (US); and Charles Daniel Peyton, Summerville, SC (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/171,345.
Prior Publication US 2024/0278902 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 3/48 (2006.01); B64C 3/18 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 3/48 (2013.01) [B64C 3/18 (2013.01)] 50 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An expandable strut assembly for a wing of an aircraft, the expandable strut assembly comprising:
a strut having a strut cross section with an airfoil shape, and the strut having an outboard end coupled to the wing of the aircraft, an inboard end coupled to a fuselage of the aircraft, and an elongate body defined between the outboard end and the inboard end; and
at least one shape transition assembly connected to an interior of the strut, each shape transition assembly configured to transition the strut between a contracted position and an expanded position, and configured to transition the strut cross section between a contracted airfoil shape and an expanded airfoil shape, each shape transition assembly comprising:
a shape transition mechanism attached to one or more interior portions in the interior of the strut, the shape transition mechanism comprising:
a plurality of fixed length structural members;
a drive mechanism connected to the plurality of fixed length structural members, the drive mechanism comprising one or more variable length structural members;
an actuation mechanism connected to the shape transition mechanism, the actuation mechanism configured to actuate the drive mechanism of the shape transition mechanism; and
an activation mechanism coupled to the actuation mechanism, the activation mechanism configured to activate the actuation mechanism, to initiate a position transition of the strut between the contracted position and the expanded position, and to initiate a shape transition of the strut cross section between the contracted airfoil shape and the expanded airfoil shape.