An aircraft wingbox assembly 105 has a wingbox with upper and lower covers 10,11, a pair of spars (fig.14,112,13) and a number of ribs 114a-d. The ribs divide the inside of the wingbox into bays (fig.13,121a-e). The fuel tank has a wall 151 with two lugs 151a,151b, each lug extending and attached with a fastener (fig.13,152a-d) to a respective one of a first and second ribs forming the bay in which part, or all, of the fuel tank is located. The fuel tank wall may extend continuously in a spanwise direction through two ribs so that parts of the fuel tank are located in three bays. Preferably, each of the ribs has a web 117 and feet 118,119 attaching the web to the covers, the first lug attached to the web or a foot of the first rib, the second lug attached similarly to the second rib. The ribs may each have a rib lug 161d to which the respective tank lugs are attached by the fasteners. The tank lugs may be retractable (fig.10b) and spaced apart across the length or width of the lower half of the tank. Preferably, the tank is for a cryogenic fuel such as hydrogen.
Wingbox with fuel tank attached to ribs
2022-08-31
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge / B64D Ausrüstung für Flugzeuge , EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT / B64F GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT , Boden- oder Flugzeugträgerdeckeinrichtungen besonders ausgebildet für die Verwendung in Verbindung mit Luftfahrzeugen |