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(12) United States PatentGriess et al.

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1US007735779B2

(10) Patent No.:(45) Date of Patent: US 7,735,779 B2J u n . 1 5 , 2 0 1 0

(54) OPTIMIZED FUSELAGE STRUCTURE(75) Inventors: Kenneth H. Griess, Kent, WA (US);

Gary E Georgeson, Federal Way, WA(US)(73) Assignee: The Boeing Company, Irvine, CA (US)

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of thispatent is extended or adjusted under 35U.S.C. 154(b) by 853 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 11/555,829

( *) Notice:

(22) Filed: Nov. 2, 2006(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2008/0105785 Al May 8, 2008(51) Int. Cl.

B64C 1/00 (2006.01)(52) U.S. Cl. 244/119; 244/120(58) Field of Classification Search . ... ... ... 244/117 R,

244/119,120,125,106; D12/319; 52/630,52/790.1; 428/116-120,304.4See application file for complete search history.

References Cited56)U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,511,456 A * 5/1970 Fehring et al. . .. .. .. ... 244/102 R4,593,870 A 6/1986 Cronkhite et al.4,674,712 A 6/1987 Whitener et al.6,834,833 B2 1212004 Sankrithi6,959,894 B2 1112005 Hayashi200210153454 Al 1012002 Seidel

2M240

;:200202

216

228~226

2005/0061916 Al2007/0108347 Al

3/2005 Sankrithi5/2007 Sankrithi et a l.

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTSWOWO

5/19975/2007

1997154922007057411

OTHER PUBLICATIONSUK Intellectual Property Office, Combined Search and ExaminationReport under Sections 17 and 18(3), for United Kingdom PatentApplication No. GB0721312.7, dated Feb. 13,2008."Aeronautics Lifting Fuselage: The Lifting Fuselage Body." Merid-ian International Research. http://www.meridian-int-res.comiAero-nautics/Burnelli.htm.Fuselage. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuselage.Ilcewicz, L.B. "Advanced Technology CompositeFuselage-Program Overview." NASA Contractor Report 4734, Apr.1997.Longeron. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Longeron.* cited by examinerPrimary Examiner-Michael R MansenAssistant Examiner-Joshua J Michener(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles L. Moore; Moore &Van Allen, PLLC(57) ABSTRACTA fuselage structure including an upper fuselage portiondefined by a first cross-section including at least three differ-ent radii of curvature. The fuselage structure may also includea lower fuselage port ion defined by a second cross-sectionincluding at least three different radii of curvature, whereinthe first cross-section is different from the second cross-section.

37 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets

700f

http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuselage.http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Longeron.http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Longeron.http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuselage.

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