Clamp assembly and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9259812-B1
Application number	US-201313927525-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2013
Priority date	Jun 26, 2013
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

In one aspect, a bushing for use in a pin assembly that includes a swinging housing and a stationary housing is provided. The bushing includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion extending between the first and second end portions and including a plurality of flexible fingers, each of said flexible fingers includes a retention feature configured to engage one of the swinging housing and the stationary housing in a snap-fit configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bushing for use in a pin assembly that includes a swinging housing and a stationary housing, said bushing comprising:
a first end portion;
a second end portion; and
a central portion extending between said first and second end portions and comprising a plurality of flexible fingers, each of said flexible fingers comprises a retention feature configured to engage one of the swinging housing and the stationary housing in a snap-fit configuration.

2. A bushing in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said central portion is offset with respect to said first and second end portions.

3. A bushing in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said central portion defines an inner channel that is oriented to receive a circumferential lip of a pin.

4. A bushing in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each finger comprises a top surface, and wherein said retention feature comprises:
a tapered side wall that is oriented obliquely relative to said top surface;
a vertical side wall that is oriented orthogonally to said top surface; and
a top wall extending between said tapered and vertical side walls.

5. A bushing in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each of said flexible fingers further comprises a chamfer configured to facilitate removing said bushing from one of the swinging housing and the stationary housing.

6. A bushing in accordance with claim 5 , wherein each of said flexible fingers further comprises:
a top surface; and
an end surface that is oriented orthogonal to said top surface, wherein said chamfer comprises a wall extending obliquely between said top and end surfaces.

7. A pin assembly comprising:
a stationary housing defining a first recess;
a swinging housing rotatably coupled to said stationary housing and defining a second recess;
a first bushing positioned within said first recess and coupled to said stationary housing in a snap-fit engagement; and
a second bushing positioned within said second recess and coupled to said swinging housing in a snap-fit engagement.

8. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising a pin positioned between said first and second bushings.

9. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 8 , wherein each of said first and second bushings defines an inner channel configured to receive a circumferential lip of said pin.

10. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 7 , wherein at least one of said first and second bushings is a split bushing that comprises:
a first bushing piece; and
a second bushing piece separated from said first bushing piece by a gap.

11. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 7 , wherein at least one of said first and second bushings comprises:
a first end portion;
a second end portion; and
a central portion extending between said first and second end portions and comprising a plurality of flexible fingers, each of said flexible fingers comprises a retention feature.

12. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein at least one of said stationary housing and said swinging housing defines a retention hollow configured to receive said retention feature.

13. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said central portion is offset with respect to said first and second end portions.

14. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein each of said flexible fingers comprises a top surface, and wherein said retention feature comprises:
a tapered side wall that is oriented obliquely relative to said top surface;
a vertical side wall that is oriented orthogonal to said top surface; and
a top wall extending between said tapered and vertical side walls.

15. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein each of said flexible fingers further comprises a chamfer configured to facilitate removing said at least one of said first and second bushings from said swinging housing or said stationary housing.

16. A pin assembly in accordance with claim 15 , wherein each finger comprises:
a top surface; and
an end surface that is oriented orthogonal to said top surface, and wherein said chamfer comprises a wall extending obliquely between said top and end surfaces.

17. A method for assembling a pin clamp, said method comprising:
rotatably coupling a stationary housing to a swinging housing, wherein the stationary housing defines a first recess and the swinging housing defines a second recess;
coupling a first bushing to the stationary housing in a snap-fit engagement such that the first bushing is positioned within the first recess; and
coupling a second bushing to the swinging housing in a snap-fit engagement such that the second bushing is positioned within the second recess.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising clamping a pin in between the first and second bushings.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein coupling a first bushing to the stationary housing comprises engaging a retention hollow formed in the stationary housing with a retention feature formed on the first bushing.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising detaching the first bushing from the stationary housing by applying pressure to a chamfer formed on the first bushing.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Blanton Ross Mitchell

Classifications

• B64D27/00 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of power plants in aircraft; Aircraft characterised by the type or position of power plants · CPC title

• B23P19/04 Primary

  for assembling or disassembling parts · CPC title

• F16B7/04

  Clamping or clipping connections (friction-grip releasable fastenings in general F16B2/00) · CPC title

• F16B2/10

  using pivoting jaws · CPC title

• F16C17/02

  for radial load only · CPC title