Clamp device for use with a decompression panel in an aircraft assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10071795-B2
Application number	US-201414228492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2014
Priority date	Oct 25, 2013
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A clamp device includes a clamp portion defining a threaded opening therein. The clamp portion is configured to contact a first side of a beam. The clamp device also includes a threaded fastener configured for insertion into the threaded opening via a hole defined within the decompression panel. The clamp device causes the decompression panel to contact a second side of the beam when the threaded fastener is tightened within the threaded opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp device for use with a decompression panel, said clamp device comprising:
a clamp portion comprising:
a fastening portion comprising a first end, a second end, and an opening defined therethrough, wherein said fastening portion is continuous in a first horizontal direction between said first end and said second end along the opening, wherein said fastening portion is configured to couple directly to the decompression panel, and wherein said fastening portion comprises a first width in a second horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction; and
a clamp head configured to be coupled to a first side of a beam, wherein said clamp head is positioned between and spaced from said first end and said second end, wherein said clamp head comprises a first portion having a second width in the second horizontal direction that is wider than said first width and a second portion having a third width equal to the first width, said second portion extending from said first portion toward said second end, wherein said clamp head extends only a partial circumferential distance about said fastening portion, wherein said clamp portion comprises a unitary, single-piece component; and

a threaded fastener configured for insertion into the opening via a hole defined within the decompression panel, wherein said clamp device causes the decompression panel to couple with a second side of the beam when said threaded fastener is rotated within the opening.

2. The clamp device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the opening at said first end is smaller than a second diameter of the opening at said second end.

3. The clamp device in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a threaded insert configured for insertion into the opening at said second end, wherein the threaded fastener is configured to be inserted into said first end and to engage said threaded insert.

4. The clamp device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:
at least one spacing member configured to contact the beam, wherein said at least one spacing member is separable from said clamp portion and is formed from a resilient material.

5. The clamp device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said at least one spacing member comprises:
a first spacing member configured to contact said clamp head and the beam, and wherein said first spacing member is configured to be positioned under said fastening portion; and
a second spacing member configured to contact the decompression panel and the beam, and wherein said second spacing member is configured to be positioned on an opposing side of the beam from said first spacing member.

6. The clamp device in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said clamp head is configured to receive and secure said at least one spacing member against said first side of the beam.

7. The clamp device in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said clamp head includes at least one molded sidewall configured to align and retain said at least one spacing member against said first side of the beam.

8. The clamp device in accordance with claim 1 wherein an entirety of said first end of said fastening portion is positioned vertically above and laterally offset from said clamp head.

9. The clamp device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said clamp head is offset from an entirety of said fastening portion such that said fastener does not extend into said clamp head.

10. An aircraft comprising:
a beam comprising a first side and an opposing second side;
a decompression panel coupled to said beam; and
a clamp device coupled to said beam and to said decompression panel, said clamp device comprising
a clamp portion comprising:
a fastening portion comprising a first end including a first end face, a second end including a second end face, and an opening extending from said first end to said second end in a first horizontal direction, wherein said fastening portion is continuous in the first horizontal direction between said first end and said second end along the opening, wherein said first end face is configured to couple to the decompression panel and said second end face is oriented parallel to said first end face, and wherein said fastening portion comprises a first width in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction; and
a clamp head configured to be coupled to said first side of said beam, wherein said clamp head comprises a second width that is wider than said first width in the second horizontal direction and extends only a partial circumferential distance about said fastening portion, wherein said clamp head is positioned between and spaced from said first end and said second end, wherein said clamp portion comprises a unitary, single-piece component; and

a threaded fastener configured for insertion into the opening via a hole defined within said decompression panel, wherein said clamp device causes said decompression panel to couple with said second side of the beam when said threaded fastener is rotated within the opening.

11. The aircraft in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said decompression panel comprises a plurality of holes defined therein, said threaded fastener configured to be inserted through a first of said plurality of holes into said clamp portion.

12. The aircraft in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said decompression panel includes a guide feature configured to receive an entirety of a top surface of said fastening portion to prevent said clamp portion from any rotation, wherein said guide feature and said top surface are correspondingly-shaped.

13. The aircraft in accordance with claim 10 , wherein a diameter of the opening at said first end is smaller than a second diameter of the opening at said second end.

14. The aircraft in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said clamp device further comprises a threaded insert configured for insertion into the opening at said second end, wherein said threaded fastener is configured to be inserted into said first end and to engage said threaded insert.

15. The aircraft in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said clamp device further comprises:
a first spacing member contacting said clamp head and said beam, wherein said first spacing member is configured to be positioned under said fastening portion; and
a second spacing member contacting said decompression panel and said beam, wherein said second spacing member is configured to be positioned on an opposing side of said beam from said first spacing member, wherein said first and second spacing members are separate components and are formed from a resilient material.

16. The aircraft in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said clamp head is configured to receive and secure a spacing member against said first side of said beam, wherein said clamp head includes at least one molded sidewall configured to align and retain said spacing member against said first side of said beam.

17. The aircraft in accordance with claim 10 wherein said decompression panel comprises a body portion comprising a top end and a bottom end and an array of openings formed in said body portion, wherein said array of openings progressively decrease in size along a height of said body portion from said bottom end towards said top end.

18. A method of fastening a decompression panel to a beam having a first side and a second side, said method comprising:
providing a decompression panel for mounting to the beam;
positioning a clamp portion proximate the decompression panel, wherein the clamp portion includes a f

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Perkins Thomas
• Olliges Michael J
• Loken Allan A
• Arm Hannah Rebecca
• Glaze Tatum Jeremy Ryan

Classifications

• Y10T403/7067

  Threaded actuator · CPC title

• B64D11/02

  Toilet fittings · CPC title

• F16B5/0685

  Joining sheets or plates to strips or bars (F16B5/0692 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64C1/18 Primary

  Floors · CPC title

• B64C2001/009

  comprising decompression panels or valves for pressure equalisation in fuselages or floors · CPC title