US 12,312,079 B2
Aerodynamic structures and methods of forming aerodynamic structures
Fedor Kleshchev, Seattle, WA (US); and Daniel Carrasco, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/574,389.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/140,659, filed on Jan. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0234719 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 3/28 (2006.01); B64C 3/18 (2006.01); B64C 3/26 (2006.01); F16B 19/10 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 3/28 (2013.01) [B64C 3/185 (2013.01); B64C 3/26 (2013.01); F16B 19/1045 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerodynamic structure, comprising:
a first skin region that includes a first skin edge;
a second skin region that includes a second skin edge, wherein the first skin region and the second skin region are angled relative to one another and define a gap between the first skin edge and the second skin edge;
a trailing edge structure that extends within the gap and between the first skin edge and the second skin edge, wherein the trailing edge structure includes:
(i) a leading region, which is positioned at least partially within the gap and includes a leading spar that defines a leading edge of the trailing edge structure and extends along a longitudinal length of the trailing edge structure, wherein the leading spar is a leading C-spar that is concave toward a trailing edge of the trailing edge structure, wherein a central curve of the leading C-spar defines the leading edge;
(ii) a trailing region, which defines the trailing edge; and
(iii) a transition region, which extends from the leading region to the trailing region; and
a plurality of blind fasteners, wherein:
(i) a first subset of the plurality of blind fasteners operatively interconnects the first skin region and the trailing edge structure; and
(ii) a second subset of the plurality of blind fasteners operatively interconnects the second skin region and the trailing edge structure;
wherein the first subset of the plurality of blind fasteners and the second subset of the plurality of blind fasteners both extend through a region of the trailing edge structure that is on a trailing side of the central curve of the leading C-spar; and
wherein the trailing edge structure is a monolithic trailing edge structure that defines an entirety of the leading region, the trailing region, and the transition region.