Adjustable-height inserts and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9862166-B2
Application number	US-201615062927-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2016
Priority date	Mar 7, 2016
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A two-part adjustable-height insert may be installed in a bore of a sandwich panel, such that the adjustable-height insert may be configured to transfer a load to the sandwich panel. The adjustable-height insert may include a first insert part and a second insert part that may be selectively operatively positioned with respect to each other. The adjustable-height insert may be configured such that an interference fit between the first insert part and the second insert part may be engaged by moving a second flange of the second insert part towards a first flange of the first insert part, which may thereby reduce the overall height of the adjustable-height insert to a selected height. Presently disclosed adjustable-height inserts may be configured for flush installation in a sandwich panel. Methods of installing such adjustable-height inserts and adjusting the height of the same are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable-height insert, comprising:
a first insert part comprising:
a first flange having a first upper surface and a first lower surface;
a first neck extending from the first upper surface of the first flange; and
a first hole extending at least through the first neck and defined at least partially by a first inner surface of the first neck, wherein the first neck comprises a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface; and

a second insert part comprising:
a second flange having a second upper surface and a second lower surface;
a second neck extending from the second lower surface of the second flange;
a second hole extending through the second neck and the second flange, wherein the second hole is partially defined by a second inner surface of the second neck; and
a plurality of radially-extending projections extending from the second flange, adjacent the second upper surface of the second flange, wherein the plurality of radially-extending projections are spaced apart about a peripheral edge of the second flange, and wherein at least some of the plurality of radially-extending projections extend along less than half of a height of the second flange,

wherein the second insert part is configured to be selectively operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part such that the second inner surface of the second neck engages the first outer surface of the first neck with an interference fit, wherein the adjustable-height insert is configured to have a selectively adjustable overall height such that moving the second insert part with respect to the first insert part such that the second flange is moved towards the first flange reduces the overall height of the adjustable-height insert, wherein the overall height of the adjustable-height insert is defined as the perpendicular distance between the second upper surface of the second flange and the first lower surface of the first flange, and wherein the first hole and the second hole are at least substantially concentric when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part.

2. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable-height insert is configured to be installed within a bore of a sandwich panel, and wherein the adjustable-height insert further comprises an anti-rotation feature configured to resist rotation of the adjustable-height insert with respect to the sandwich panel once the adjustable-height insert is installed in the bore of the sandwich panel and a potting compound is injected into the bore.

3. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 2 , wherein the anti-rotation feature comprises a textured surface and wherein the textured surface forms at least a portion of the second neck of the second insert part.

4. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 , wherein the first hole extends through the first flange.

5. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 , wherein each respective radially-extending projection of the plurality of radially-extending projections has a respective maximum width and a respective height, and wherein at least some of the plurality of radially-extending projections have a respective maximum width that is greater than the respective height of the respective radially-extending projection.

6. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable-height insert is configured to be installed in a bore of a sandwich panel, the sandwich panel comprising a first skin, a second skin opposite the first skin, and a core therebetween, and wherein the adjustable-height insert is configured such that the plurality of radially-extending projections engage one of the first skin and the second skin of the sandwich panel when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part and the adjustable-height insert is installed in the bore of the sandwich panel.

7. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 6 , wherein the adjustable-height insert is configured such that the second upper surface of the second flange is at least substantially flush with one of the first skin and the second skin of the sandwich panel when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part and the adjustable-height insert is installed in the bore of the sandwich panel.

8. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of radially-extending projections are configured to prevent the second upper surface of the second flange from being positioned sub-flush with respect to one of the first skin and the second skin of the sandwich panel when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part and the adjustable-height insert is installed in the bore of the sandwich panel.

9. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 , wherein the second flange is tapered such that a first diameter of the second flange adjacent the second upper surface is greater than a second diameter of the second flange adjacent the second lower surface.

10. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 9 , wherein the first diameter of the second flange, adjacent the second upper surface, is slightly smaller than a bore diameter of a bore in a sandwich panel in which the adjustable-height insert is configured to be installed.

11. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 , wherein each radially-extending projection of the plurality of radially-extending projections comprises a top projecting surface and an angled surface, wherein the top projecting surface is at least substantially parallel to the second upper surface of the second flange, wherein the top projecting surface forms a projection angle with the angled surface, and wherein the projection angle is acute.

12. The adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable-height insert is configured such that the overall height of the adjustable-height insert is adjustable once the first insert part and the second insert part are at least partially inserted into a bore of a sandwich panel.

13. A sandwich panel, comprising:
a first skin having a first inner surface and a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface;
a second skin opposite the first skin, the second skin having a second inner surface and a second outer surface opposite the second inner surface, and the first outer surface and the second outer surface facing away from one another;
a core sandwiched between the first inner surface of the first skin and the second inner surface of the second skin;
at least one bore formed in at least one of the first skin and the second skin, and extending into the core; and
at least one adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 , each adjustable-height insert of the at least one adjustable-height inserts being installed in a respective bore of the sandwich panel.

14. A method of installing an adjustable-height insert into a bore formed in a sandwich panel, the method comprising:
installing an adjustable-height insert into the bore, wherein the adjustable-height insert comprises:
a first insert part comprising:
a first flange having a first upper surface and a first lower surface;
a first neck extending from the first upper surface of the first flange; and
a first hole extending at least through the first neck and defined at least partially by a first inner surface of the first neck, wherein the first neck comprises a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface; and

a second insert part comprising:
a second flange having

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Lopez Karina
• Keetle Lee James

Classifications

• F16B5/01 Primary

  by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels · CPC title

• B64C1/00

  Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like · CPC title

• B64C1/12 Primary

  Construction or attachment of skin panels · CPC title

• B32B3/266 Primary

  characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12 · CPC title

• B32B2605/18

  Aircraft · CPC title