This application claims the benefit of the German patent application No. 10 2013 222 444.3 filed on Nov. 5, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by way of reference.
The invention relates to an attachment device for attaching at least one element to a component section, in particular lines such as cables, pipes, hoses and the like, and to a method for attaching such elements by means of such an attachment device.
Modern vehicles such as aircraft and spacecraft comprise a multitude of lines such as cables for the transmission of electricity, data or signals, air conditioning pipes, freshwater pipes, wastewater pipes and the like. Attachment of the lines frequently takes place on the primary structure by means of corresponding attachment devices. A known attachment device for attaching cables comprises a retaining section for encompassing the cable and a flange section that comprises a hole for accommodating a screw. In the installed state the screw interacts with a plate nut arranged on an insert that, by way of rivets, is non-rotationally attached to the rear of the component section. Usually a washer is arranged underneath the front screw head or between the screw head and the flange section. Thus at least four elements are required to attach the cable to the component section, namely a screw, a plate nut, an insert for retaining the plate nut, and a washer.
Alternative attachment devices provide for cutting or turning a flange section into the respective component section. Further known attachment devices are, for example, shown in DE 10 2006 053 966 A1 and DE 10 2009 022 175 A1.
It is an object of the invention to create an attachment device that allows simple and quick installation and that is of lightweight construction. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to create a method that allows simple and quick installation.
An attachment device according to the invention for attaching at least one element, in particular lines such as cables, pipes, hoses and the like, to a component section comprises a retaining section for encompassing, at least in some sections, the at least one element, and comprises a flange section for resting against the component section. The flange section comprises a hole. According to the invention, the attachment device comprises a hollow engagement body that can be inserted into the hole or that forms the hole, wherein the engagement body comprises spring sections that relative to the longitudinal axis of the engagement body comprise engagement projections, arranged on the outside, for positive-locking engagement with the component section. Furthermore, according to the invention, the attachment device comprises a securing pin that can be inserted into the engagement body for securing its engagement position.
Because of its spring sections, the engagement body comprises radial elasticity that makes possible the installation and that in the installed state is blocked by the securing pin so that the engagement body is positionally secured. When compared to the known attachment device described above, at most two components are required for fastening the element to a component section rather than at least four elements; namely the engagement body and the securing pin. If the engagement body is designed so as to be an integral part of the flange section, only one component is required for fastening the element, namely the securing pin. As a result of the reduced number of components, the assembly is simplified and shortened, and in addition the weight of the attachment device according to the invention is reduced. Furthermore, the installation is simplified and shortened in that the attachment device according to the invention is based on having positive fit so that in addition there is no need to use expensive and heavy riveting machines. Consequently, the weight of the attachment device can be further reduced in that said device comprises a plastic material or a corresponding composition of plastic materials. Furthermore, any materials incompatibilities with the component section, for example contact corrosion, can thus be prevented. Moreover, the elastic properties of the spring sections can be set by a corresponding selection of the plastic material.
Preferably, the spring sections are evenly distributed over the circumference of the engagement body. This prevents any canting of the engagement body during installation. The engagement body is self-aligning during installation.
In an exemplary embodiment the engagement body comprises at least two spring sections of equal size, which spring sections preferably in each case are spaced apart or separated from the adjacent spring sections by way of an axial slot, thus forming an axially-slotted spring washer. For example, if the engagement body comprises four spring sections, very low installation force can be achieved because none of the spring sections extends over an angle greater than 90° relative to the circumference of the engagement body. Of course, some other division, for example into three or five spring sections, can also take place.
In order to prevent any radial movement of the engagement body in the installed state, said engagement body can comprise an external contour that approximately corresponds to an internal contour of the hole in the flange section and/or to a component hole through which the engagement body can be guided at least in some sections.
In order to compensate, for example, for thickness tolerances of the flange section and/or of the component section in the region of its hole, it is advantageous if the attachment device comprises at least one spring element for axially preloading the engagement body. The spring element can be integrated in the engagement body or can be designed as an individual element. Furthermore, by means of preloading, the flange section and the component section are permanently pressed against each other so that any loosening of the contact between the flange section and the component section is effectively counteracted.
In order to prevent radial deformation or compression of the engagement body in the installed state it is advantageous if a body section of the securing pin can be made to contact, over the entire circumference or almost over the entire circumference, the spring sections. In the installed state the spring sections of the engagement body rest radially against the body section of the securing pin and can thus not be compressed or radially moved inwards.
In order to prevent the securing pin from falling out of the engagement body in the inserted state, the securing pin can comprise at least one locking section that is arranged radially on the outside relative to its longitudinal axis, and the engagement body can comprise at least one corresponding retention section that is arranged radially on the inside. Preferably, the locking section forms a partial region of the body section that in the installed state is encompassed by the spring sections. In this manner the insertion of the securing pin into the engagement body can be simplified because the spring sections, because of their radial elasticity, can yield radially outwards during the insertion of the securing pin. In an exemplary embodiment the locking section is a spherical ring shoulder so that both simplified installation and non-destructive de-installation of the securing pin is possible.
In order to prevent rotation of the attachment device in the installed state relative to the component section, the attachment device can comprise a, in particular plate-shaped or disc-shaped, packing element for arrangement between the component section and the flange section, with the friction coefficients of said packing element exceeding a respective friction coefficient of the flange section and of the component section. By means of the packing element, during installation of the attachment device a friction ratio between the flange section and the component section is automatically set, which friction ratio prevents any rotation of the flange section relative to the component section. It is thus possible to do without any additional attachment means such as rivets or end stops as anti-rotation devices, which has a positive effect on the installation time and on the weight of the attachment device. As far as its material or its materials composition and its friction ratios are concerned, the packing element can be matched to the flange section and to the component section so that there is no need for the flange section and/or the component section themselves to be separately surface-treated, for example roughened. In particular with interaction with the spring head, in such a manner a very reliable and individual anti-rotation device can be set.
As an alternative or in addition to the packing element, as an anti-rotation device or for the transmission of torsional forces, the engagement body and at least the component hole that accommodates the engagement body in some sections can be of a corresponding non-circular design.
In a method according to the invention for attaching at least one element, in particular lines such as cables, pipes, hoses and the like, to a component section, in particular by means of an attachment device according to the invention, an attachment device comprising a hole is aligned so as to be flush with a hole in the component section, and a hollow engagement body with engagement projections is inserted into the holes. As an alternative, on the side of the attachment device, a hollow engagement body with engagement projections is inserted into a hole of the component section. After insertion of the engagement body the latter is locked to the component in both variants. Subsequently a securing pin is inserted into the engagement body in order to secure its engaged position.
The method according to the invention allows simple and quick installation of the attachment device, because on the one hand few components need to be handled, and on the other hand the attachment device exclusively acts on the basis of positive fit so that there is no need to provide expensive screwing, riveting or bonding work. The securing pin prevents radial compression of the installed engagement body so that reliable attachment is achieved. In particular, the positive-locking connection furthermore makes possible one-sided installation of the attachment device because locking takes place automatically. There is no need to provide rear access to the engagement projections. Installation of the attachment device can quasi take place in a blind manner.
Preferably a flange section, which comprises a hole, of the attachment device is non-rotationally held to the component section by means of friction. In this way it is not necessary to provide anti-rotation devices such as additional attachment devices and/or limit stops that would otherwise be necessary.
If the component hole comprises radially-inward-pointing sections, the engagement projections of the engagement body can also be designed as engagement depressions or as an engagement groove. The term “engagement projections” thus also includes engagement depressions.
Below, preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in more detail with reference to greatly simplified diagrams as follows:
In the present diagram the component 4 comprises, for example, an omega-shaped or an A-shaped profile with two side walls 8, 10 that extend parallel to each other, which side walls 8, 10 are interconnected by way of a planar head wall 12 that extends orthogonally to said side walls 8, 10 and in each case comprise an outwards-pointing base section 14, 16 for attachment to the structure 6. In order to fasten the attachment device 1, the head wall 12 comprises a hole or component hole 17 through which a hollow engagement body 28 of the attachment device 1 can be fed in some sections. For the purpose of accommodating attachment means such as rivets, each base section 14, 16 comprises corresponding holes 18, 20. For weight reduction, one face 22 of the base body 4 is beveled in such a manner that the head wall 12 is shortened relative to the base sections 14, 16.
The attachment device 1 preferably comprises a plastic material or a composition of plastic materials. In this manner, on the one hand any problems relating to corrosion of the component 4 are prevented irrespective of its material, and on the other hand reduced weight of the attachment device 1 is achieved. The attachment device 1 comprises a retaining section 24 for encompassing the element 2 at least in some sections, a flange section 26 for arrangement on the component 4 or on its head wall 12, the above-mentioned hollow engagement body 28 for locking the attachment device 1 to the component 4, and a securing pin 30 for securing the engagement body 28 in its engaged position.
The flange section 26 comprises a plate-shaped design and comprises a hole or flange hole 32 for inserting the engagement body 28. In the engaged state the flange hole 32 is oriented so as to be flush with the component hole 17. Preferably, the internal diameter of the component hole 17 and of the flange hole 32 is identical.
In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in
The head limit stop 36 extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the engagement body 28 and in the installed state of the attachment device 1, the lower surface 42 of said head limit stop 36 rests flat against the top surface 44 of the flange section 26.
The spring sections 38, 40 act in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the engagement body 28, and in each case for the purpose of locking to the base body 4 comprise a radially-outwards-pointing engagement projection 46 with an engagement surface 48 which in the present diagram extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the engagement body. For the sake of clarity only the left-hand spring section 38 in
For locking to the securing pin 30, each of the spring sections 38, 40 has a radially-inwards-projecting retention section 54, which in interaction with its adjacent retention sections 54 results in a securing ring. The securing ring 30 has a ring surface 56 that faces the installation direction, and an opposed ring surface 58 which faces the de-installation direction, which ring surfaces are interrupted by the axial slots 52, and which ring surfaces in this exemplary embodiment are approximately identically positioned in relation to their respective directions.
For ease of installation, or for ease of inserting the engagement body 28 into the holes 17, 32, the base of the engagement body 28 comprises a conical taper in the direction of installation. In order to form the conical taper, each of the spring sections 38, 40 comprises correspondingly designed inclined planes 60 on the external circumference.
In the present diagram the securing pin 30 comprises a full cross section with a shaft 62 that extends between a radially enlarged head 64 and a locking section 66 on the base.
The shaft 62 essentially comprises a cylindrical external diameter that corresponds to the internal diameter of the engagement body shaft 34 and of the spring washer formed by the spring sections 38, 40 so that the shaft 62 of the securing pin 30 is encompassed on its entire circumference by the spring washer, and thus with the securing pin 30 inserted the engagement body 28, is fixed in the radial direction in the holes 17, 32 because the radial elasticity of the spring sections 38, 40 is blocked.
In the present diagram the head 64 is designed as a plate head and extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the securing pin 30. Said head 64 comprises an annular lower surface 68 by means of which the securing pin 30 in the installed state rests flat against an annular upper surface 70 of the head limit stop 36 on the side of the engagement body.
In the exemplary embodiment presently shown, the locking section 66 for securing the securing pin 30 in the engagement body 28 in axial direction is designed as a circumferential groove which in the locked state the securing ring or the retention sections 54 engage with positive fit. The circumferential groove thus comprises groove walls (not shown with reference characters) that correspond to the ring surfaces 56, 58 of the securing ring.
For easier installation of the securing pin 30, the shaft 62 comprises a free end section 72, which in the direction of installation is positioned in front of the locking section 66, which end section 72 comprises a reduced cross section when compared to the cross section of the shaft 62, with the end section 72 being beveled in the direction of installation.
In order to prevent, in the installed state, a reduction in the cross section by a head 64 of a securing pin 30, which head projects into an accommodation space 74 for the respective element of the retaining section 24, on the side of the accommodation space 74, the flange hole 32 has been radially enlarged relative to its longitudinal axis in such a manner that a depression 76 is formed for countersinking the head 64. For circumferentially closing the accommodation space 74 the retaining section 24 comprises, for example, two closure sections 77, 79 that extend radially outwards, which closure sections 77, 79 in each case comprise a breakthrough 81, 83 for the feed-through of a closure means, for example a cable tie.
As shown in
In each case the body sections 80 make a transition to an engagement projection 46 and to a retention section 54. According to the first exemplary embodiment the engagement projections 46 comprise an engagement surface 48, which extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the engagement body, for resting against a bottom surface 50, shown in
As shown in
In order to prevent rotation of the retaining section 24 relative to the component 4 with minimum installation force, as shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
In a method according to the invention for attaching an element 2 to a component 4 by means of the attachment device 1, according to the first and third exemplary embodiments according to
In an attachment device 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment according to
If the packing element 92 is arranged between the component 4 and the flange section 26, as shown in
Disclosed is an attachment device for attaching at least one element, in particular lines such as cables, pipes, hoses and the like, to a component section comprising a retaining section for encompassing, at least in some sections, at least one such element, and comprising a flange section for resting against the component section, wherein spring sections of a hollow engagement body, which spring sections act in the radial direction, are blocked as a result of the insertion of a securing pin into the interior of the engagement body and can thus no longer be moved radially inwards towards each other, and a method for installing such an attachment device.
As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2013 222 444.3 | Nov 2013 | DE | national |