Patent Application
20140064827
The invention relates to an assembly for locking an aircraft interior structure, such as a stowage, to an internal mounting frame, such as a seat track, in an aircraft cabin.
Such an assembly is known. Various methods and assemblies are known for securely locking an aircraft interior structure, such as a stowage, to an internal mounting frame of an aircraft cabin, such as a seat track. A known method is to first position a stowage with respect to a seat track with so-called shim plates, and then to fix the position of the stowage relative to the seat track. Fore mentioned positioning comprises the adjustment of the stowage with respect to the seat track in a Z-direction, i.e. a direction perpendicular to the floor in which the seat track is provided, and in X- and Y-directions, wherein the X-direction is parallel to the seat track and the Y-direction is perpendicular to the X and Z-directions. During positioning, shim plates are inserted between the stowage and the seat track in order to position the stowage with respect to the seat track.
However, a disadvantage of the known way of locking the aircraft structure to the internal mounting frame, is that during positioning, which is usually done manually by an aircraft mechanic, shim plates may get lost. The aircraft mechanic may e.g. accidentally drop a shim plate during installation, as a consequence of which the lost shim plate may enter a part of the aircraft cabin or another part of the aircraft where the shim plate may cause damage due to it being thrown around by subsequent aircraft movements during operation of the aircraft. Also, as it is not known beforehand how many shim plates or what size of shim plates are necessary, a plurality of shim plates needs to be available, of which only a portion may be used. Furthermore, the shim plates that have been inserted successfully between the aircraft interior structure and the internal mounting frame may loosen during the life span of the aircraft.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved locking assembly that allows three-dimensional positioning and fixation of the aircraft interior structure with respect to the internal mounting frame, without the need of shim plates.
This object is achieved by providing a locking assembly for locking an aircraft interior structure, such as a stowage, to an internal mounting frame, such as a seat track, in an aircraft cabin, comprising:
a sliding element (1) which is suitable for insertion in the internal mounting frame (2), the sliding element (1) being slidable in the internal mounting frame in an Xs-direction, and being lockable to the internal mounting frame, a height adjustment assembly, comprising a lower and an upper height adjustment part (4, 5), the lower height adjustment part (4) being arranged on the sliding element (1) and being provided with a saw-toothed main tooth pattern (M), the upper height adjustment part (5) being provided with a similar main tooth pattern (M), wherein at least one of the height adjustment parts (4, 5) is provided with a sub-tooth pattern (S) superimposed on the main tooth pattern (M), the tooth patterns of both height adjustment parts engaging each other to allow adjustment of height in a Z-direction by moving the tooth patterns with respect to each other, a fitting (6) attachable to the aircraft interior structure by means of a locking bolt (11), having a recess wherein the locking bolt (11) can be received, wherein the fitting (6) can be moved with respect to the upper height adjustment part (5) in a plane defined by Xr- and Yr-directions, the plane being perpendicular to the Z-direction,
a fixation element (9) suitable for being arranged around the locking bolt (11) for fixing the position of the fitting (6) in the Xr-direction with respect to the upper height adjustment part (5),
wherein the locking bolt (11) is received in the upper height adjustment part (5) for locking the fixation element (9), the fitting (6), and the height adjustment parts (4, 5) to the sliding element (1).
The sliding element allows adjustment of the aircraft interior structure in an Xs-direction, i.e. parallel to the internal mounting frame, the sliding element being lockable to the internal mounting frame by any appropriate means. The height adjustment assembly allows convenient adjustment in Z-direction, i.e. the direction pointing away from the internal mounting frame, due to the height adjustment assembly parts being movable, for instance being rotatable, with respect to each other via the tooth patterns. The fitting allows the position of the aircraft interior structure to be adjusted in a plane perpendicular to the Z-axis, i.e. in Xr- and Yr-directions. The fitting may be formed as a plate member. The locking bolt finally locks the locking assembly, thereby fixing the position of the aircraft interior structure with respect to the internal mounting frame. In this way, three-dimensional positioning of the aircraft interior structure with respect to the internal mounting frame is achieved, while the use of shim plates is no longer necessary. According to a further aspect there is provided a method for arranging a locking assembly according to any one of the claims 1-13 to an internal mounting frame (2) in an aircraft cabin, comprising the steps of:
arranging the upper height adjustment part (5) on the lower height adjustment part (4) with the tooth patterns (M, S) of both height adjustment parts (4, 5) engaging each other,
moving the upper and lower height adjustment parts (4, 5) with respect to each other to adjust the height of the upper height adjustment part (5) with respect to the sliding element (1) in the Z-direction,
arranging the recess of the fitting (6) on the upper height adjustment part (5),
adjusting the position of the fitting (6) in a plane defined by an Xr-direction and a Yr-direction, the plane being perpendicular to the Z-direction, arranging a fixation element (9) on the fitting (6) for fixing the position of the fitting (6) with respect to the upper height adjustment part (5) in the Xr-direction,
arranging a locking bolt (11) in the upper height adjustment part (5) in the Z-direction, and
locking the locking bolt (11) to the sliding element (1) such that the fixation element (9), the fitting (6), and the height adjustment parts (4, 5) are locked to the sliding element (1).
Positioning and locking the sliding element may comprise sliding the sliding element towards its desired position in the internal mounting frame in an Xs-direction and locking the sliding element in the internal mounting frame by using appropriate locking means.
An embodiment of a locking assembly according to the invention will by way of non-limiting example be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
a shows a perspective view of the height adjustment assembly used in the locking assembly in a first state,
b shows the height adjustment assembly of
a shows a detailed view of the mounting of the lower adjustment bushing on the seat track block,
b shows the lower adjustment bushing being mounted on the seat track block 1 shown in
On top of the seat track block 1 a cylindrical portion 18, projecting in a Z-direction away from the floor, is shown, whereon a height adjustment assembly 4, 5 comprising two height adjustment parts 4, 5 (embodied by crown wheels) is to be positioned. The inside of the cylindrical portion 18 is hollow and is provided with a screw thread. The lower height adjustment part 4, hereafter to be denoted as “lower adjustment bushing” 4, is provided with a saw-toothed main tooth pattern, consisting of four main teeth in this example, and a saw-toothed sub-tooth pattern superimposed on the main tooth pattern. The sub-tooth pattern is superimposed on one side of the main teeth. The teeth of the sub-tooth pattern are smaller than the teeth of the main tooth pattern. An upper adjustment part 5, hereafter: “upper adjustment bushing” 5, is placed on top of the lower adjustment bushing 4.
The upper adjustment bushing 5 is provided with a similar main tooth pattern as the lower adjustment bushing 4, matching the tooth pattern of the lower adjustment bushing 4. As shown, the upper adjustment bushing 5 also comprises a saw-toothed sub-toothed pattern.
Both tooth patterns engage each other, the tooth pattern of the upper adjustment bushing 5 being supported by the tooth pattern of the lower adjustment bushing 4. The tooth patterns allow the bushing parts 4, 5 to be rotated with over each other, causing the upper bushing 5 to be height-adjustable in Z-direction with respect to the lower adjustment bushing 4 and the seat track block 1. Preferably, the height difference between adjacent teeth of the sub-tooth pattern is approximately 1 mm, allowing the height of the upper adjustment bushing 5 to be adapted in steps of 1 mm
It is conceivable that only one of the lower and upper adjustment bushings 4, 5 has a sub-toothed pattern.
The upper adjustment bushing 5 is provided with a projection in the form of a cylindrical part 19, projecting away from the floor in Z-direction, on top of it. The upper adjustment bushing 5 comprises a carrier surface 19.1 surrounding the projection to carry a fitting as will be explained in more detail below.
A bottom panel insert 3, attached to the to-be-fitted stowage, is subsequently arranged on top of the upper adjustment bushing 5. In a space provided on the top side of that panel insert 3 a fitting in the form of a serrated plate 6 is received which is provided with a longitudinal recess 20 that receives the cylindrical part 19 of the upper bushing 5 and allows that recess 20 to slide around the part 19, much like a spline-and-groove configuration, the fitting resting on the carrier surface 19.1. The longitudinal direction of the recess 20 defines an Xr-direction, whereas an Yr-direction is defined being perpendicular to both the Xr and Z-directions. The serrated plate 6 is provided with filler blocks 7 arranged on two of its sides. The filler blocks 7 are provided with holes wherein screws 8 are to be arranged for securely mounting the serrated plate 6 to the bottom panel insert 3, such that the serrated plate 6 and the bottom insert 3 can be adjusted simultaneously. The dimensions of the recess 20 are so chosen as to allow sliding of the projecting part 19 in the longitudinal direction of the recess 20 (i.e. in Xr direction), but also, to a lesser extent, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the recess 20, i.e. in Yr-direction. Preferably, the adjustment range in Xr direction is 10-20 mm, more preferably 12-16 mm, most preferably around 14 mm The adjustment range in the Xr-direction is preferably at least equal to the distance between the widenings 17 in the seat track 2. In Yr-direction, the adjustment range is preferably 1-2 mm, more preferably 1.5 mm
After adjustment in the Xr-direction, the position of the serrated plate 6 in that direction can be fixated by means of a serrated washer 9 arranged on top of the serrated plate 6. The serrations of the serrated washer 9 thereto engage the serrations of the serrated plate 6. The serrations of both the serrated plate 6 and the serrated washer 9 preferably run parallel to the Yr-direction. The serrated washer 9 has an elongated central opening, the function of which is explained below.
Another washer 10 is then arranged on top of the serrated washer 9. Subsequently, a locking bolt 11 is inserted into the hole of the washer 10, the hole of the serrated washer 9, the recess 20 and the bushings 4, 5 to finally engage the screw thread of the cylindrical portion 18 of the seat track block 1, after which the bolt is tightened. Consequently, the stowage is firmly locked to the seat track 2.
a shows a perspective view of the adjustment bushings 4, 5 as used in the locking assembly 12 in a first state. The lower adjustment bushing 4 and the upper adjustment bushing 5 are shown both comprising a main tooth pattern M, indicated by dashed lines, and sub-tooth patterns S superimposed on the main tooth patterns M.
b shows the height adjustment assembly 4, 5 of
a shows a detailed view of the mounting of the lower adjustment bushing 4 on the seat track block 1. In this view, the construction of the underside of the lower adjustment bushing 4 can be more easily seen. The underside of the lower adjustment bushing 4 is provided with two fixation arches 22 which prevent the lower adjustment bushing 4 from rotating with respect to the seat track block 1 when these arches 22 are aligned with the seat track block 1. Furthermore, the underside is provided with an additional cut-away groove 23 to bring about that the arches 22 can be positioned so low as to allow positioning of the arches near the sides of the seat track block 1 to prevent rotation of the lower adjustment bushing 4. When the fixation arches 22 are rotated essentially in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the seat track block 1, ending up to be supported on the seat track block 1, they can be used to lock the lower adjustment bushing 4 and the seat track block 1 in the seat track.
b shows the lower adjustment bushing 4 being mounted on the seat track block 1 shown in
Alternative embodiments can be conceived. The embodiment described above may for instance also be embodied with an upper adjustment bushing 5 without the projection in the form of a cylindrical part 19, projecting away from the floor in Z-direction, on top of it. According to such an embodiment, the locking bolt 11 is directly received in the recess of fitting 6. A different embodiment without part 19 will be described below with reference to
Based on the above there is thus provided a locking assembly for locking an aircraft interior structure 13, such as a stowage, to an internal mounting frame 2, such as a seat track, in an aircraft cabin, comprising:
a sliding element 1 which is suitable for insertion in the internal mounting frame 2, the sliding element 1 being slidable in the internal mounting frame in an Xs-direction, and being lockable to the internal mounting frame,
a height adjustment assembly, comprising a lower and an upper height adjustment part 4, 5, the lower height adjustment part 4 being arranged on the sliding element 1 and being provided with a saw-toothed main tooth pattern M, the upper height adjustment part 5 being provided with a similar main tooth pattern M, wherein at least one of the height adjustment parts 4, 5 is provided with a sub-tooth pattern S superimposed on the main tooth pattern M, the tooth patterns of both height adjustment parts engaging each other to allow adjustment of height in a Z-direction by moving the tooth patterns with respect to each other, wherein the upper height adjustment part 5 has a projection 19 projecting away from the sliding element 1 in Z-direction,
a fitting 6 attachable to the aircraft interior structure, having a recess wherein the projection 19 of the upper height adjustment part 5 is received, wherein the fitting 6 can be moved with respect to the projection 19 in a plane defined by Xr- and Yr-directions, the plane being perpendicular to the Z-direction,
a fixation element 9 arranged around the projection 19 for fixing the position of the fitting 6 in the Xr-direction with respect to the upper height adjustment part 5,
a locking bolt 11 received in the upper height adjustment part 5 for locking the fixation element 9, the fitting 6, and the height adjustment parts 4, 5 to the sliding element 1.
Thus, the invention has been described by reference to the embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms well known to those of skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, this were examples only and is not limiting upon the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009393 | Aug 2012 | NL | national |
