GB458789A - Improvements in or connected with the construction of aircraft wings - Google Patents

Abstract

458,789. Aircraft wing structures. VICKERS (AVIATION), Ltd., PIERSON, R. K., and BEWSHER, J., Byfleet Road, Weybridge, Surrey. June 27, 1935, No. 18409. [Class 4] In a stressed skin aircraft wing in which the skin is attached to upper and lower members spaced apart by bracing members the upper member is permanently attached to the bracing members whilst the lower member or a portion thereof is detachably secured to the bracing members by means of fastening-devices, the skin forming the underside of the wing being permanently attached to the said lower member in such manner that the said fastening-devices are accessible from the exterior of the wing. In one form, a two-spar wing has ribs comprising girders e, f, which may be of channel section, and Warren-girder bracing c. During construction the ribs are formed in a jig but lower flange f is not permanently attached to bracing members c, the lower apices of these latter being constituted by blocks g to which flange f is adapted to be connected by screws. In assembly rib flange d is riveted to upper surface skin e and then permanently attached to the spars. The skin e may extend around the leading part of the wing, in which case nose riblets j are provided permanently attached to flange d and the skin lower flange f is riveted to lower skin panel i and is then attached to blocks g and to the spars by countersunk screws. The forward edge of panel i, rear part of riblet j and forward part of rib flange f are joggled as shown to enable the forward end of panel i to fit inside skin e. According to a modification ribs with flat plate webs may be employed ; in this case blocks g will be suitably spaced and attached to the plate web. The lower panel need not extend the full distance between front and rear spars. The form of construction described may be employed for wings having only one spar. Specification 314,376, [Class 4], is referred to.