Patent ID: 8602355
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: B64C

Abstract:
1. An aircraft wing including (i) an attachment structure; (ii) a wing skin connected to the attachment structure; and (iii) at least one edge panel adjacent to the wing skin, wherein the edge panel is fastened to the attachment structure using a slidable joint, such that the edge panel is connected to the wing skin and able to slide relative to the wing skin during use of the aircraft wing in flight, and wherein either (a) the at least one edge panel includes, in the region of its edge adjacent the wing skin, at least one apertured member being a lip which extends into the interior of the wing, and having an aperture, the aperture engaging with a projecting member extending from the attachment structure; or (b) the attachment structure is provided with, in a region adjacent the at least one edge panel, at least one apertured member being a lip which extends into the interior of the wing and which has an aperture, the aperture engaging with a projecting member extending from the at least one edge panel; said projecting member extending generally transverse to the spanwise direction of the wing, and in which the aperture has a spanwise dimension greater than a spanwise dimension of the engaged projecting member thereby providing free play in one spanwise direction of the engaged projecting member in the aperture and thus allowing spanwise sliding movement of at least a portion of the edge panel relative to the wing skin; said lip slides relative to the projecting member, and in which the vertical dimension of the aperture is closely spaced to the vertical dimension of the engaged projecting member thereby minimizing free play in the vertical direction of the engaged projecting member in the aperture to prevent movement in a vertical direction of the engaged projecting member in the aperture.