Patent ID: 8752795

Claim:
An aircraft nacelle comprising: an inlet nose cowl comprising a single piece of sheet metal material between and defining at least a portion of an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the exterior surface is exposed to external airflow during flight, and wherein the single piece of sheet metal material forms a locally thickened fastening portion defining at least a portion of the exterior and interior surfaces, wherein a thickness of the inlet nose cowl between the exterior surface and the interior surface is greater at the fastening portion than at an area surrounding the fastening portion and an area of the interior surface on the locally thickened fastening portion is substantially parallel to an area of the exterior surface on the locally thickened fastening portion, and wherein a bulkhead is fastened to the substantially parallel area of the interior surface on the locally thickened fastening portion with mechanical fasteners, wherein the mechanical fasteners do not penetrate the exterior surface.