Connecting arrangement and also a method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9562559-B2
Application number	US-201314376801-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2013
Priority date	Feb 10, 2012
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A connecting arrangement for joining at least two components to form a structural assembly, near a wing of an aircraft, wherein at least one component is formed from a fiber composite plastic and at least one further component is formed from either a metal or a fiber composite plastic. A bushing is secured in a hole through the components. The bushing includes a first end with a collar which faces towards a lower face of the structural assembly and a second end. A zone of an upper face of the structural assembly radially surrounds the second end and includes a depression. A connecting element is installed in the bushing. This provides a smooth, aerodynamically beneficial configuration of the upper face, which can be coated, and which ensures a reliable electrical contact between the connecting element and a conductive surface of the first component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connecting arrangement for joining together at least two components to form a structural assembly, comprising:
at least one component formed from a fibre composite plastic and at least one further component formed from at least one of a metal and a fibre composite plastic, the at least one further component having a first face, and the at least one component having a second face,
a bushing secured in a through hole through the components,
a first end of the bushing provided with a collar, which faces towards the first face of the further component of the structural assembly, and a second end of the bushing having a depression,
a zone in the structural assembly in the shape of a circular ring surrounding the second end of the bushing and having a depression, and
a connecting element installed in the bushing;
wherein a head of the connecting element sits in the depression ins at least some regions in a form fit, and terminates essentially flush with the second face of the structural assembly.

2. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one component formed from the fibre composite plastic is provided in at least some regions with an electrically conductive surface entity.

3. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 2 , wherein an electrical connection exists between the at least two components.

4. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bushing and the connecting element are formed from a corrosion-resistant metal.

5. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the bushing and the connecting element are formed from one of a titanium alloy and a stainless steel alloy.

6. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the fibre composite plastic is formed from one of a thermosetting and a thermoplastic plastic material reinforced with carbon fibres, and the metal is a lightweight metal alloy, selected from one of an aluminium alloy and a titanium alloy.

7. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a functional element is applied onto one of the collar of the bushing and an intermediate packing arranged between the collar and the first surface of the component.

8. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the functional element comprises a sealing cap.

9. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the sealing cap is snapped onto one of the collar of the bushing and the intermediate packing.

10. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the intermediate packing comprises a cup-shaped washer.

11. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 8 , wherein a sealing agent is introduced underneath the sealing cap in at least some regions to provide sealing that is impermeable to fluids.

12. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the sealing agent comprises an elastic sealant.

13. The connecting arrangement in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the connecting arrangement comprises a locking ring connector with a locking ring pin and a locking ring, wherein the locking ring is attached onto a retaining section of the locking ring pin and the locking ring faces towards the collar of the bushing.

14. A method for joining together at least two components by means of a connecting arrangement for joining together at least two components to form a structural assembly, the connecting arrangement comprising:
at least one component formed from a fibre composite plastic and at least one further component formed from at least one of a metal and a fibre composite plastic, the at least one further component having a first face, and the at least one component having a second face,
a bushing secured in a through hole through the components,
a first end of the bushing provided with a collar and a second end of the bushing, and
the method comprising the following steps:
introducing a through hole into the at least two components,
securing the bushing in the through hole, wherein the collar on the first end of the bushing is turned towards the first face of the further component of the structural assembly,
manufacturing a depression on a second end of the bushing and in a zone of the structural assembly in the shape of a circular ring surrounding the second end of the bushing, and
installing a connecting element in the bushing to form a structural assembly,
wherein a head of the connecting element sits in the depression in at least some regions in a form fit, and terminates essentially flush with the second face of the structural assembly.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein a functional element is attached onto one of the collar of the bushing and an intermediate packing arranged between the collar and the lower face of the component.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the functional element comprises a sealing cap which is snapped onto one of the collar and the intermediate packing.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the intermediate packing comprises a cup-shaped washer.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16 , including the step of introducing a sealing agent underneath the sealing cap in at least some regions to provide sealing that is impermeable to fluids.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the sealing agent comprises an elastic sealant.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Schomaker Ralf
• Knickrehm Bjoern

Classifications

• F16B5/02

  by means of fastening members using screw-thread ({F16B5/0004 takes precedence}; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49909

  Securing cup or tube between axially extending concentric annuli · CPC title

• F16B43/001 Primary

  for sealing or insulation · CPC title

• Y10T29/49885

  with coating before or during assembling · CPC title

• F16B5/00

  Joining sheets or plates {, e.g. panels,} to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them ({F16B17/00 takes precedence;} by sticking together F16B11/00; dowel connections F16B13/00; pins, including deformable elements F16B19/00; covering of walls E04F13/00; fastening signs, plates, panels or boards to a supporting structure, fastening readily-detachable elements, e.g. letters to signs, plates, panels, or boards, G09F7/00) · CPC title