FR2676258A1 - Assembly member for components - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly member for components engaging in opposing holes made in the components and including: - a body (5) provided with a bearing face (SA) coming against the outer face (2B) of one of the external components of the said assembly; - a rod (6) connected to the body and emerging from its bearing face in order to engage in the holes in the said components; - an expandable elongate element (7) associated with the said body and surrounding the said rod, the elongate element passing through the said holes in the components and ending in a fastening beak (spur) (7E); and - a control mechanism (8) for generating a longitudinal relative displacement between the said elongate element (7) and the said body (5). Advantageously, the said rod (6) emerges from the bearing face (SA) of the said body (5) over a distance at most equal to the thickness of the said components (2, 3), the said fastening beak (7E) exhibits a rounded lateral profile (7F) and the displacement of the said elongate element (7), moving back along the rod (6) under the action of the said mechanism (8), is such that the element passes from a first position to a second position for which the said fastening beak (7E) moves transversely and progressively away in order to enter the hole (3A) formed in the other external component (3) and in order to be pressed via its rounded profile against the wall (3C) of the said hole.

Description

The present invention relates to an assembly member for parts, such as in particular plates, sheets or the like.

It is known that, before carrying out the final fixing of plates, for example by riveting, one generally proceeds to a temporary assembly of the plates by means of members passing through facing holes made in the plates and holding them in position. This assembly process is particularly used, although not exclusively, in the aeronautical field, in particular during joining operations between the wings and the fuselage of an aircraft.

Such an assembly member generally comprises - a body provided with a support face intended to come into contact with the external face of one of the external parts of said assembly - a rod linked to the body and emerging from its support face to engage in the holes facing the parts - an elongated expandable element associated with the body and surrounding said rod, the elongated element passing through the holes facing the parts and being provided at its free end with at least one hooking spout; and - a control mechanism intended to generate a relative movement between said expandable elongate element and the body.

Thus, under the action of the control mechanism, the elongated expandable element moves back along the rod, progressively moving apart until the flat rear face of the hooking spout presses against the external face of the other. external part, at the edge of the corresponding hole thereof.

The parts are then firmly pressed against each other between the bearing face of the body and the rear face of the hooking spout of said elongated expandable element.

Although these assembly members are widely used and give satisfaction as to the maintenance in position of the parts to be clamped, they can in certain cases have drawbacks.

Indeed, as the hooking spouts of the elongated element and the free end of the rod protrude from the external face of the external rear part, it is not possible to bring other elements or parts against this rear face because discomfort from the beaks and stem.

This is particularly the case during joining operations between the fuselage and the wing of aircraft, where it is necessary to attach intermediate parts between certain parts of the wing and of the fuselage intended to be assembled.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and relates to an assembly member which makes it possible to temporarily maintain the parts in position against one another, leaving the external face of the rear external part of said assembly free and guaranteeing a appropriate clamping of said parts.

To this end, the assembly member for Piece 5, such as in particular plates, sheets or the like, intended to engage in facing holes made in the pieces and of the type comprising - a body provided with a face d support likely to come into contact with the external face of one of the external parts of said assembly, - a rod linked to the body and emerging from its support face to engage in the holes opposite said parts - an elongated expandable element associated with said body and surrounding said rod, the elongated element passing through said holes opposite the parts and ending, at its free end, by at least one hooking spout; and - a control mechanism for generating a relative longitudinal displacement between said elongated expandable element and the bearing face of said body, is remarkable, according to the invention, in that said rod opens out from the bearing face of said body on a distance at most equal to the thickness of said assembly of parts, in that said hooking spout, projecting transversely from said elongated element, has an approximately rounded lateral profile, and in that the displacement of said elongated expansible element, when moves back along the rod under the action of said control mechanism, is such that the element passes from a first position, for which said hooking spout is distant from the external face of the other external part7 to one second position, for which said hooking beak gradually deviates transversely to enter the hole formed in the other external part and to come to be applied by its arron profile di against the wall of said hole.

Thus, the force exerted by the attachment spout, then in contact with the wall of the hole in the rear part of the assembly, entering it against the other parts, the external front part of which is in abutment against the face support of the body of the organ. The parts are therefore firmly pressed against each other between the bearing face of the body and the hooking spout acting respectively on the front and rear external parts of said assembly. Thanks to the invention, it is therefore noted that the outer face of the rear part of said assembly is devoid of the hooking spout and the free end of the rod since the latter are located in the hole in the rear external part. Consequently, other elements can be affixed to this face.

Preferably, the distance of the emerging part of the rod from the bearing face of said body is such that the end face of the rod is located in the hole of the other external part of said assembly, opposite to that against which applies said bearing face of the body.

Thus, it is certain that the hooking beak, when the elongated element is expanded, is close to the end face of the rod by exerting a high force on the wall of the hole in said rear part.

Advantageously, the free end of said expandable elongated element, provided with said hooking spout, is curved towards the axis of the rod when said elongated element is in its first position, for spreading transversely and gradually during its displacement along of the rod under the action of said control mechanism. The hooking spout thus diverges as best as possible when the elongated element recedes along the rod which acts as a spacer.

In a preferred embodiment, said elongated expandable element consists of an operating head capable of cooperating with said control mechanism and extending by at least two opposite elastic blades, provided at their free ends with hooking lugs respectively , opposite to each other and likely to be applied against the wall of the corresponding hole, when said elastic blades of the elongated member move away from one another by sliding on the rod.

In addition, the outer periphery of each attachment spout is substantially semi-circular. In this way, when the elastic blades move back along the rod away from one another, the edges of said spouts are applied to opposite circular portions of a cross section of said wall of the corresponding hole, thus exerting a force almost uniformly distributed over the wall of the hole, the result of which is an axial force of opposite direction to that exerted by the bearing face of the body against the external face of the part before said assembly.

More particularly, said body has a hollow cylindrical shape, terminated at one end by said bearing face, and inside said body is mounted coaxially said rod, said elongated expandable element concentrically surrounding the rod.

Furthermore7 said rod may have a bulge at its free end intended to engage in said holes facing the parts. Thanks to this bulge, the spacing of the elastic blades of the elongated element is favored and the force exerted by the hooking nozzles on the internal wall of the corresponding hole is accentuated.

According to another characteristic of said member, adjustment means are provided between said body and said rod for adjusting the exit distance from the rod as a function of the thickness of said assembly of parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment means comprise a sleeve, provided with an axial passage, freely traversed by said elongated element, and at one end of which said rod is fixedly attached, said sleeve having at its external periphery a thread cooperating with a thread provided in said body, and a tightening nut mounted on the thread of the sleeve and pressing against the other face of said body, opposite its bearing face.

Thus, depending on the total thickness of the parts to be assembled, the distance separating the end face of the rod from said bearing face of the body is easily adjusted by screwing the sleeve onto the body, so that , when the rod is inserted into the holes of the parts, its end face does not emerge from the external face of the rear part,
In addition, the rod can be held in the socket, coaxially with the latter, by a connection of the tenon-mortise type either force-fitted or crimped.

Furthermore, said control mechanism may comprise a hollow cylindrical core provided with a threaded axial passage with which is capable of cooperating said elongated element, so that the rotation of said incoming core the longitudinal displacement of said elongated element and the expansion of it when it moves back along the stem. More particularly, said core is then engaged, by one of its ends, in a corresponding recess provided in the socket and opposite to the rod, while its other end has a control head. One can engage an automatic screwing / unscrewing device in the control head of the core to ensure the mounting or dismounting of said members.

Also, the operating head of said elongated element is in abutment against a shoulder provided in the passage of said sleeve while emerging from said passage, so as to be grasped by said control mechanism.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures7 identical references designate similar elements.

Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of said assembly member according to the invention, which is introduced into the holes opposite the parts to be assembled and whose elongate expandable member occupies its first position.

Figure 2 is an end view along arrow F of Figure 1 of the hooking spouts of said elongated member.

Figure 3 is a section along line III-III of Figure 1 showing the connection between the sleeve and the rod of said assembly member.

Figure 4 shows, in axial section7 said member in the second position of the elongate member for which the parts are pressed against one another.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the free end of the rod.

The assembly member 1, shown in FIG. 1, is intended to temporarily hold parts, such as for example two plates 2 and 3, one against the other, by engaging in a passage 4 formed by facing holes 2A and 3A made respectively in the front 2 and rear 3 parts.

Referring to FIG. 1, the assembly member 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 5 terminated, at one of its ends, by a transverse support face 5A in which is provided a bore 5B coaxial with the geometric axis
XX of said organ. This bearing face 5A is applied against the outer face 2B of the plate 2. In addition, the member 1 is provided with a rod 6, arranged coaxially with the axis XX and linked to the body 5 as will be seen later. The rod 6 opens out from the bearing face 5A of the body by crossing the bore 5B, the emerging end 6A of the rod then engaging in the passage 4 of the plates to be assembled 2 and 3. We note in FIG. 1, that the face 6B of the emerging end 6A of said rod 6 is located at a distance D from the bearing face 5A of the body, less than the thickness E of the plates to be assembled. More specifically, the face 6B is located in the hole 3A of the rear plate 3.

Furthermore, an elongate expandable element 7 is associated, in a sliding manner, with the body 5 and it is intended to pass through the passage 4 made in the plates 7 in order to allow, with the bearing face 5A of the body, the bringing together and the maintenance in position of the plates 2 and 3 against each other. For this, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the elongated expandable member 7 concentrically surrounds the cylindrical rod 6 and passes through the bore 5B of the body, as well as the passage 4 of the parts.

Structurally, the element 7 can consist of two opposite elastic blades 7A and 7B each having a semicircular external periphery, which extend an operating head 7C with which is capable of cooperating a control mechanism 8 of said member. The free ends 7D of the blades, emerging from the outer face 3B of the plate 3, are respectively provided with identical hooking nozzles 7E, opposite one with respect to the other. Each spout 7E projects transversely from its corresponding elastic blade and advantageously has an approximately rounded lateral profile 7F. As shown in Figure 2, the periphery of each nozzle is semi-circular.

In FIG. 1, representing the elongated element in its first position7, it can be seen that the two elastic blades 7A and 7B bend at their free ends 7D towards each other, in the direction of the axis XX, so that the hooking spouts 7E touch each other.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the assembly member 1 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 10 provided with an axial passage 10A in which is housed, in a sliding manner, the elongated expandable element 7. More particularly, a thread 10B is formed at the periphery of the sleeve 10 and it cooperates with a thread 5C provided in the hollow body 5. Also, the rod 6 is associated with the sleeve 10. For this, as shown more in FIG. 3, the face d end 10C of the sleeve, engaged in the body 5, comprises, in this case, two diametrically opposite grooves 10D in which engage two corresponding tongues 6C provided at the end 6D of the rod, opposite to that engaging 6A in passage 4 of the plates. The rod 6 is therefore engaged in the sleeve 10 by this connection of the tenon-mortise type. The rod 6 can then be made integral with the sleeve by crimping, the grooves pressing the tongues, or by force fitting the tongues in the grooves .

This socket 10, to which the rod 6 is fixed, advantageously defines means for adjusting the outlet of the rod 6 relative to the bearing face 5A of the body 5. In fact, the screwing of the sleeve in the body makes it possible to easily adjust the distance D, corresponding to the outlet of the rod relative to the bearing face 5A as a function of the thickness of the parts to be assembled, so that the end face 6B of the rod is located in the hole of the rear external plate to be assembled. Also, to maintain this distance D, a nut 11 is mounted on the thread 10B of the socket 10 and locks the socket in position relative to the body, coming for this purpose into abutment against the end face 5D, in the form of a crown, of said body, opposite the bearing face 5A.

The control mechanism 8 is intended to generate the longitudinal or axial movement of the elongated expandable element 7 relative to the body 5. This movement must be such that, when the elongate element 7 moves back along the rod 6 under the action of the mechanism 8, the element 7 passes from a first position (FIG. 1) for which the spouts 7E touch each other while being distant from the external face 3B of the plate 3, towards a second position (FIG. 4), for which the hooking spouts 7E of the elastic blades, move apart progressively and transversely, enter the hole 3A of the plate 3 and come to be applied by their rounded profile 7F against the wall 3C of said hole 3A.

Also 7 the mechanism 8 comprises a cylindrical core 8A provided with an axial passage 8B which has an internal thread 8C.

The latter is capable of cooperating with a thread 7G provided at the periphery of the operating head 7C of said elongated element.

More particularly, the core 8A is engaged, by one of its ends 8D, in a corresponding enlarged recess 10E provided in the sleeve and extending the axial passage 10A. This end 8D is held in the recess 10E by means of an elastic ring 12 secured to the wall of said recess. The core can move slightly axially in the recess 1OE of the sleeve, between the bottom of the latter and the elastic ring 12, so that the thread 8C of the core can engage in the thread 7G of the head 7C of the elongate element 7, which operating head 7C opens out slightly into the recess 10E of the sleeve for this, being in abutment against a shoulder 10F provided in the axial passage 10A of the sleeve 10.

A hexagonal control head 8E terminates the other end of the core 8A, opposite that which engages in the socket.

Advantageously, an automatic screwing device 14, partially shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, is capable of cooperating with the head 8E of the control mechanism 8 of said member.

The establishment of the member 1 to maintain in position the plates 2 and 3 against each other is carried out as follows.

First of all, the elongated element 7 is of course chosen dimensionally to adapt to the assembly to be produced, and the rod 6 is adjusted, by means of the sleeve 10 and the nut 11, so that its end face 6B engages in the hole 3A of the rear plate while being at an appropriate distance D from the bearing face 5A of the body 5.

The member 1 is introduced into the passage 4 of the plates as shown in FIG. 1, until the bearing face 5A is in contact with the external face 2B of the plate 2.

The screwing device 14, such as a screwdriver, is engaged in the head 8E of the control mechanism 8 which is then driven in rotation. Under the action of the axial thrust exerted by the operator on the screwdriver, the internal thread 8C of the core 8A engages the thread 7G of the operating head 7C of said elongated element 7.

It is therefore understood that the rotation of the core 8A of the control mechanism 8 causes the elongate element 7 to move backwards which slides in the passage of the sleeve 10. The recoil of the elongate element 7 causes, during its passage over the rod 6, the transverse spacing of the blades 7A and 7B, then that of the hooking nozzles 7E. The displacement stroke of the hooking nozzles, and therefore of the elongated element, is determined so that they enter the hole 3A of the plate, while gradually moving away from each other as the measurement of the recoil of the elongated element 7, to then be applied against the wall 3C of the hole 3A of the rear plate 3 by their rounded profiles 7F. Consequently, the plate 3 is driven by the action of the spouts attachment and is applied against the front plate 2, which is in abutment against the bearing face 5A of the body 5.

The screwdriver is then stopped, then disengaged from the control core, parts 2 and 3 then being firmly pressed against each other by the simultaneous and reciprocal action of the bearing face of the body and the hooking nozzles elastic blades of said elongated member. Thanks to the semi-circular transverse periphery of each spout, the action of the spouts is effected over a large portion of the internal wall 3C of said hole 3A, which thus guarantees effective maintenance.

To promote the spacing of the elastic blades 7A and 7B during the retraction of the elongated element on the rod, one can provide at the end 6A thereof a bulge 6E as shown in Figure 5. This arrangement allows, by moreover, to increase the force exerted by the hooking nozzles 7E against the wall 3C of the hole 3A of the rear plate.

The disassembly of the assembly member of said plates does not raise any difficulties, the elastic blades spontaneously return to their initial position, shown in FIG. 1, during the unscrewing operation of the control core entraining a longitudinal advance movement of said elongated element 7.

Thus, 7 after having mounted the members for temporarily assembling plates, it is possible to apply other parts or elements against the external face of the rear plate without being hindered by the presence of the hooking spouts and of the free end of the rod, since these are housed in the passage of said assembly of parts produced.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the end 6D of the rod 6 may be in the form of a threaded head, which then screws directly into a corresponding hole in the body 5 and from which extends the elongated part of the rod, preferably of rectangular section. The threaded head is then provided on either side with notches, to allow the establishment of the elongated expandable element 7 and then to receive two corresponding pins, formed at the end of the socket 10 and capable of causing, during the rotation of said socket, the adjustment of the distance D by causing the threaded head of the rod 6 to be screwed into the body 5. Thus, in this embodiment, the connection between the rod 6 and the body 5 is then direct, the rod and the bushing remaining independent. On the other hand, in another embodiment, the rod and the bush could constitute only one piece.

Claims (13)

1 - Assembly member for parts, such as in particular sheet plates or the like, intended to engage in facing holes made in parts and of the type comprising - a body (5) provided with a bearing face (5A) capable of coming into contact with the external face (2B) of one of the external parts of said assembly - a rod (6) linked to the body and emerging from its bearing face to engage in the holes opposite said said parts - an elongated expandable element (7) associated with said body and surrounding said rod, the elongate element passing through said holes opposite the parts and ending, at its free end, with at least one hooking spout (7E); and - a control mechanism (8) for generating a relative longitudinal displacement between said elongated expandable element (7) and the bearing face of said body (5), characterized in that said rod (6) opens out from the face of support (5A) of said body (5) over a distance at most equal to the thickness of said assembly of parts (2,3), in that said hooking beak (7E), projecting transversely from said elongated element, has a approximately rounded lateral profile (7F), and in that the displacement of said expandable elongated element (7), when it recedes along the rod (6) under the action of said control mechanism (8), is such that l element passes from a first position, for which said hooking spout (7E) is distant from the external face of the other external part (3), to a second position, for which said hooking spout (7E) gradually moves transversely to enter the hole (3A) in the other external part e (3) and to be applied by its rounded profile against the wall (3C) of said hole. 2 - Body according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance from the through part (6A) of the rod (6) relative to the bearing face (5A) of said body (5) is such that the face of end (6B) of the rod is located in the hole (3A) of the other external part (3) of said assembly, opposite to that against which said bearing face of the body is applied. 3 - member according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the free end (7D) of said expandable elongate element (7), provided with said hooking spout, is curved towards the axis of the rod (6 ) when said elongated element is in its first position, to move transversely and gradually during its passage along the rod under the action of said control mechanism. 4 - Body according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said elongated expandable element (7) consists of an operating head (7C) capable of cooperating with said control mechanism (8) and extending d '' at least two opposite elastic blades (7A, 7B), provided at their free ends (7D) with hooking nozzles (7E) respectively, opposite one with respect to the other and capable of being applied against the wall of the corresponding hole, when said elastic blades of the elongated element move away from one another by sliding on the rod. 5 - Body according to claim 4, characterized in that the outer periphery of each attachment spout (7E) is semi-circular. 6 - Body according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said body (5) has a hollow cylindrical shape, terminated at one end by said bearing face (5A), and inside said body is coaxially mounted said rod (6), said elongated expandable member (7) concentrically surrounding the rod. 7 - Body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said rod (6) has a bulge (6E) at its free end (6A) intended to engage in said holes opposite the parts. 8 - Body according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that adjustment means (10,11) are provided between said body (5) and said rod (6) to adjust the distance of exit from the rod depending on the thickness of said assembly of parts. 9 - Body according to claim 8, characterized in that said adjusting means comprise a socket (10), provided with an axial passage (10A) freely traversed by said elongated element (7) and at one end of which is fixedly attached said rod, said sleeve having at its outer periphery a thread (10B) cooperating with a thread (5C) provided in said body (5), and a clamping nut (11) mounted on the thread of the sleeve (10) and s 'applying against the other face (5D) of said body, opposite to its bearing face. 10 - Body according to claim 9, characterized in that the rod (6) is held in the sleeve (10) by a connection (6C, 10D) of the tenon-mortise type. 11 - Body according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said control mechanism (8) comprises a hollow cylindrical core (8A) provided with an axial passage (8B) threaded with which is capable of cooperating said elongate member (7), so that rotation of said core causes said elongate member to move longitudinally and expand as it recedes along the stem. 12 - Body according to claims 9 and 11, characterized in that said core (8A) is engaged by one of its ends (8D) in a corresponding recess (10E) provided in the socket and opposite the rod, while its other end (8E) has a control head. 13 - Body according to claims 4 and 9, characterized in that the operating head (7C) of said elongated element is in abutment against a shoulder (10F) provided in the passage of said socket (10), emerging from said passage, so as to be gripped by said control mechanism (8).