US 12,145,739 B2
Wingbox with fuel tank attached to ribs
William Tulloch, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB)
Filed by Airbus Operations Limited, Bristol (GB)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/652,374.
Claims priority of application No. 2102725 (GB), filed on Feb. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0266980 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. B64D 37/04 (2006.01); B64C 3/18 (2006.01); B64D 37/30 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 37/04 (2013.01) [B64C 3/185 (2013.01); B64C 3/187 (2013.01); B64D 37/30 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft wingbox assembly, comprising:
a wingbox comprising an upper cover, a lower cover and a pair of spars;
a plurality of ribs in the wingbox,
wherein the plurality of ribs divide the wingbox into bays;
a fuel tank in the wingbox, wherein all or part of the fuel tank is located in a first one of the bays between a first one of the ribs and a second one of the ribs,
the fuel tank comprising a tank wall and first and second tank lugs extending from the fuel tank wall,
wherein the first tank lug is located in the first one of the bays between the first one of the ribs and the second one of the ribs;
a first fastener attaching the first tank lug to the first one of the ribs;
a second fastener attaching the second tank lug to the second one of the ribs; and
wherein the first or second one of the ribs comprises a rib hole, and the rib hole and the fuel tank are configured to enable one or both of the first and second tank lugs to pass through the rib hole.