Panel member, aircraft main wing, and method for forming panel member

Abstract

There is provided a panel member capable of restraining an increase in weight of a wing panel while restraining wasteful work in the manufacturing process, an aircraft main wing, and a method for forming the panel member. A wing panel 10 is formed with ridges 20 each having a dimension larger than the machining tolerance in the boundary portions between areas A 1, A 2, . . . Therefore, the worker who handles the wing panel 10 can visually confirm the step portions of the areas A 1 , A 2, . . . easily. Thereby, if a flaw or the like is found in the areas A 1 , A 2, . . . , corrective actions can be properly taken on the actually existing flaw without mistaking the flaw for the step portion of the areas A 1, A 2 , . . . .

1 . A panel member forming the outer surface of an aircraft, wherein
 a portion of the panel member in which the thickness thereof changes gradually is divided into a plurality of areas each having a certain thickness;   the thicknesses of the adjacent areas are different from each other; and   in a boundary portion between the adjacent areas, there is formed a ridge having a height larger than the dimensional difference in thickness between the areas on both sides of the boundary portion.   
     
     
         2 . The panel member according to  claim 1 , wherein the ridge is formed so as to have a height larger than the machining tolerance of the panel member. 
     
     
         3 . The panel member according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the panel member is formed by being machined out of a metallic base material. 
     
     
         4 . An aircraft main wing wherein the outer surface of the wing is formed by the panel member according to any one of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A method for forming the panel member according to  claim 1 , in which the panel member is machined out of a metallic base material, wherein
 a portion in which the thickness changes gradually is divided into a plurality of areas;   each of the areas is formed so as to have a certain thickness; and   in a boundary portion between the adjacent areas, there is formed a ridge having the height larger than the dimensional difference in thickness between the areas on both sides of the boundary portion.