Pneumatic fastening for fastening a surface paneling to an aircraft surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9937995-B1
Application number	US-201615246275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 24, 2016
Priority date	Aug 24, 2016
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A pneumatic fastening mechanism is provided for fastening an aircraft surface panel to an aircraft panel support member. The panel includes a plurality of receptacles extending from the panel lower surface. The panel support member includes a corresponding plurality of panel engagement mechanisms, disposed on the support member lower surface, and translatable through the support member to engage the receptacles. The panel engagement mechanisms are extendable from a first position, wherein the panel abuts and is engaged to the panel support member, to second position wherein the panel is elevated above the panel support member upper surface where the panel may be unlocked and separated from the panel engagement mechanism. The panel engagement mechanism is operative to elevate and release the panel in response to changes in fluid pressure communicated to the panel engagement mechanisms.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic fastening system for fastening an aircraft surface panel to an aircraft support surface comprising:
an aircraft panel defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of receptacles extending from the panel lower surface;
an aircraft panel support member extending substantially parallel to the panel, the panel support member defining an upper support panel surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of panel engagement mechanisms disposed on the support member lower surface, the panel engagement mechanisms being translatable through the support member to engage the panel receptacles; and
a pressure source in fluid communication with the plurality of the panel engagement mechanisms;
the panel engagement mechanisms being translatable from a first configuration where the panel engagement mechanisms are in locking engagement with the panel receptacles, to a second configuration wherein the panel is elevated above the panel support surface and the panel support member engagement mechanisms and the panel receptacles are separable; and
wherein the panel engagement mechanisms are translatable between the first and second configurations in response to changes in fluid pressure communicated to the support member engagement mechanisms.

2. The mechanism as recited in claim 1 , wherein the panel engagement mechanisms further comprise a spring member disposed intermediate the panel engagement mechanisms and the panel support member, the spring member, being operative to urge the panel to a first position, abutting the panel support surface when pressure applied to the panel engagement mechanisms is below a first pressure level.

3. The mechanism as recited in claim 1 , wherein the panel translates to a second position above the panel support surface, when the pressure communicated to the panel engagement mechanisms is equal to or greater than the first pressure level.

4. The mechanism as recited in claim 3 wherein the panel engagement mechanisms translate to the second configuration when the pressure communicated to the panel engagement mechanisms is equal to or greater than a second pressure level, the second pressure level being equal to or greater than the first pressure level.

5. The mechanism as recited in claim 1 , wherein the panel engagement mechanisms include a plunger mechanism which is translatable into and out of a corresponding panel receptacle receiving channel.

6. The mechanism as recited in claim 5 , wherein the receptacle receiving channels define an engagement surface and the plunger mechanisms are translatable into and out of locking engagement with the corresponding receptacle receiving channel engagement surface in response to the changes of fluid pressure communicated to the panel engagement mechanisms.

7. The mechanism as recited in claim 6 , wherein the plunger mechanisms are translatable to elevate the panel to a position above the panel support surface when fluid pressure communicated to the panel engagement mechanism is equal to or greater than a first pressure level.

8. The mechanism as recited in claim 7 , wherein the plunger mechanisms are translatable to release the panel receptacle from locking engagement with the corresponding plunger mechanism when pressure communicated to the panel support panel engagement mechanism is equal to or greater than a second pressure level.

9. The mechanism as recited in claim 8 , wherein the panel engagement mechanisms are operative to translate the plunger mechanisms into locking engagement with the panel receptacles when fluid pressure communicated to the panel engagement mechanisms falls below the second pressure level.

10. The mechanism as recited in claim 9 , wherein the second pressure level is equal to the first pressure level.

11. The mechanism as recited in claim 8 , wherein the plunger mechanisms include a ball-locking mechanism translatable to engage and disengage the corresponding receptacle receiving channel engagement surface.

12. The mechanism as recited in claim 11 , wherein the ball locking mechanisms are translatable to engage and disengage the corresponding receptacle receiving channel engagement surface in response to changes in the fluid pressure level communicated to the panel engagement mechanisms.

13. The mechanism as recited in claim 4 , wherein locking engagement of the panel and the panel engagement mechanism, and abutting contact between the panel and the panel support surface is maintained in the absence of fluid pressure applied to the panel engagement mechanism.

14. The mechanism as recited in claim 1 , wherein the panel is translatable into and out of abutting engagement with the panel support surface independent of any user contact with the panel.

15. The mechanism as recited in claim 1 , wherein the panel engagement mechanisms are serially connected to the pressure source.

16. The mechanism as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pressure source is a positive pressure source.

17. A process for engaging an aircraft panel to a support member comprising:
applying pressure at a first pressure level to a plurality of panel engagement mechanisms disposed on the panel support member, such that a panel engagement mechanism first portions extend from the panel support member;
applying fluid pressure at a second level to the panel engagement mechanism, such that the panel engagement mechanism extended first portions translate to an unlocked configuration;
locating the panel on the panel engagement mechanism extended first portions such that receptacles formed on the panel are in abutting contact with the panel engagement mechanism first portions;
lowering the fluid pressure level applied to the panel engagement mechanisms to a level between the first level and the second level such that the panel engagement mechanism extended first portions translate to a locked configuration, locking the panel engagement mechanism extended first portions to the panel; and
lowering the fluid pressure applied to the panel engagement mechanism below the first level, such that the panel engagement mechanism first portions retract substantially within the panel engagement mechanisms and the panel translates to substantially abut against the panel support member.

18. The process as recited in claim 17 , further comprising the step of subsequently terminating the application of fluid pressure to the panel engagement mechanisms, whereby the panel remains locked to the panel engagement mechanism first portions and the panel substantially abuts the panel support member.

19. A process for disengaging an aircraft panel from an abutting panel support member comprising:
applying a fluid pressure at a first pressure level to a plurality of panel engagement mechanisms disposed on the panel support member, such that first portions of the panel engagement mechanisms extend from the panel support member and a panel engaged to the panel mechanisms first portions translates to a position spaced from the panel support member and the panel engagement mechanism first portions translate to an unlocked configuration, unlocking the panel from the first portion; and
disengaging the unlocked panel from the panel engagement mechanism first portions.

20. The process as recited in claim 19 , further comprising the step of reducing the fluid pressure applied to the panel engagement mechanisms to a level below the first pressure level, such that the panel engagement mechanism first portions retract to a position substantially within the panel engagement me

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Combs Cory M
• Smith Charles
• Rufino John
• Noertker Kevin A
• Cifu Greg A

Classifications

• B64F5/0009

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C1/12 Primary

  Construction or attachment of skin panels · CPC title

• B64C1/1446 Primary

  Inspection hatches (for engine cowls B64D29/08) · CPC title