Device for fixing and electrical contacting a facing element of an aircraft on a support structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9548575-B2
Application number	US-201514925745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A device for fixing and electrical contacting of a facing element of an aircraft on a support structure, which is attached to an aircraft structure including a fixing device for detachable fixation of the facing element on the support structure and a contacting device for providing multiple electrical contacts between facing element leads and connecting leads on the support structure, wherein the fixing device can be placed into positive engagement by a transitory relative movement between the facing element and the support structure, and the contacting device includes at least two first contacts on the facing element and the same number of second contacts on the support structure cooperating therewith, which can be respectively brought into contact with one another electrically during the transitory relative movement, wherein the first contacts are connected with the facing element leads and the second contacts are connected with the connecting leads on the support structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for fixing and electrical contacting of a facing element of an aircraft to a support structure, the support structure attached to an aircraft structure, the device comprising a fixing device to detachably fix the facing element on the support structure and a contacting device to provide multiple electrical contacts between facing element leads and connecting leads on the support structure, wherein the fixing device is enabled to be placed into positive engagement by a transitory relative movement between the facing element and the support structure, and the contacting device comprises at least two first contacts on the facing element and the same number of second contacts on the support structure cooperating therewith, each of which is enabled to be brought to contact one another electrically during the transitory relative movement, wherein the first contacts are connected with the facing element leads on the facing element and the second contacts are connected with the connecting leads on the support structure.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the facing element is a facing panel.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein
the support structure comprises a supporting plate with an undercut vertical groove, and an insertable fixing element with a head that is enabled to be brought into the undercut area is attached on the facing element,
the contacting device comprises multiple elastically protruding first contacts disposed on the head, and
the contacting device comprises second contacts disposed in a back face of the undercut vertical groove interacting with the first contacts.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the second contacts are shaped in a form of strips.

5. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the second contacts are disposed in longitudinal grooves, the longitudinal grooves formed in the back face of the undercut vertical groove.

6. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the first contacts are shaped in a form of bows.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the first contacts are connected with contact pins, the contact pins extend into innards of the facing element and are detachably connected there with the facing element leads.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein
the contacting device on the support structure comprises at least one non-conductive sloping element, on which multiple adjacently disposed second contacts are attached, the second contacts are connected with the connecting leads on the support structure,
the sloping element is enabled to be moved against a retractive force transverse to translatory motion,
the first contacts are disposed on the facing element, the first contacts are enabled to be brought into contact with the second contacts during the transitory motion.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the sloping element comprises a return spring to produce a retractive force, the retractive force pushes the sloping element in direction of the support structure.

10. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the first contacts are disposed on a projection, the projection comprises an inclined surface aligned parallel to a contact surface of the sloping element.

11. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the sloping element comprises a shaft, from a free end of which contact pins connected with the first contacts project, wherein one end of the shaft and the contact pins are enabled to be connected detachably with a connector, the connector is connected with the facing element leads.

12. The device according to claim 8 , wherein 2-10 second contacts are disposed on the sloping element and the same number of first contacts are disposed on the facing element.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein
the contacting device comprises a number of first contacts on the facing element extending in a direction of translation, the first contacts designed elastically deformable in a shape of a bow as bow-shaped contacts,
on the support structure the same number of second contacts is disposed extending in the direction of translation, the second contacts disposed in guide ducts.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the bow-shaped first contacts are fixed respectively on one end on the facing element and on the other end bear respectively on the facing element.

15. The device according to claim 13 , wherein one bow-shaped first contact and one second contact are disposed respectively on the two sides of the fixing device.

16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the facing element is a side panel.

Assignees

• Airbus Defence & Space Gmbh

Inventors

• Wulfhorst Leonardo
• Ischdonat Nils
• Rollfink Patrick

Classifications

• H01R13/73 Primary

  Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall · CPC title

• H01R2201/26

  for vehicles · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B64D2221/00

  Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft · CPC title

• B64C1/066

  Interior liners · CPC title