FASTENING DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLY AND QUICK RELEASE BETWEEN OBJECTS

Abstract

A fastening device for assembly and quick release between objects includes a retaining device for an attachment element with a dockable portion. There is a plurality of separable parts held close together around the attachment element by at least one disengagable preloading mechanism. The preloading mechanism includes a link wound around the separable parts in order to hold them closed on the attachment element, which has the appearance of a ribbon wound in a spiral and has spring properties. The ribbon has a non-constant thickness, i.e. the thickness decreases from the inside towards the outside of the spiral. The thickness decreases with the angle of the spiral. It is manufactured as such, in its final form, by a manufacturing process employing either the removal of material by machining, or by aggregation of material.

Claims

1. A fastening device used to assemble objects together, then to release them quickly, formed of a retaining means (P; 3) configured to retain, before releasing, a hooking element (R), said retaining means (P; 3) consisting of the bringing together, about a securing portion of said hooking element (R), of several separable parts (E; 30) elastically restored into their distance from each other and kept close together about said hooking element (R) through a releasable pre-stressing means (L; 2), which pre-stressing means (L; 2) consists of an element forming a link, wound about said separable parts (E; 30) so as to keep them closed on said hooking element (R), and at least one end of which is fastened to a mechanism (T; 4) for maintaining the tension exerted on this link, which also comprises means permitting to release this tension on request, and wherein said link (L; 2) has the appearance of a spirally wound ribbon and includes features of a spring, wherein said ribbon (2) has a non-constant thickness, namely wherein this thickness decreases from the inside to the outside of the spiral, this thickness decreasing with the angle of the spiral.

2. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein it is manufactured as it is, in its final shape, by a manufacturing process implementing either the removal of material by machining, or the aggregation of material.

3. The fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the machining process is a wire spark erosion process.

4. The fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the manufacturing process by aggregation of material is a 3D metal printing process.

5. The fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the manufacturing process by aggregation of material is completed with an operation of molding, then solidification.

6. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the inner end of the ribbon is made integral with one of the separable elements, to this end said end is comprised of a bulge inserted in a cavity provided for in said separable element, having a complementary and retaining shape.

7. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the outer end of the ribbon is shaped as a hook permitting the fastening of a means capable of maintaining the tension.

8. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the outer end of the ribbon comprising a means permitting to guarantee the locking of the closed position, which is comprised of an element radially protruding from said ribbon, associated with a hollow portion having a complementary shape capable of being anchored to said element during the tensioning.

9. The fastening device according to claim 8, wherein the ribbon comprises, on a portion capable of comprising several windings, a plurality of elements radially protruding from said ribbon, and a plurality of hollow portions having a complementary shape, the spacing pitches being chosen so that in a stressed position of the clamp, each of said protruding elements is inserted in one of said hollow portions.

10. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the outer end of the ribbon comprises a means permitting to guarantee the locking of the closed position, which is comprised of a rivet mounted at said outer end, and having a protuberance capable of cooperating with a hole drilled in the outer winding of said ribbon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a fastening device of the prior art and more specifically according to document WO 2009/138625.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a pre-stressing means of a fastening device according to the invention.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the same fastening device, in use.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of several fastening devices according to the invention being implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] When referring to FIG. 2, we can see a releasable pre-stressing means 1 according to the invention, which is in the form of a spirally wound ribbon 2, having the peculiarity of having a non-constant thickness, i.e. it decreases from the inner end 20 to the outer end 21.

[0041] This feature is related to the method of manufacturing this ribbon, namely, according to the invention, by removal of material by machining, or by aggregation of material by 3D printing or molding.

[0042] Preferably, but non-restrictively, the decrease is constant.

[0043] When referring now to FIG. 3, we can see the releasable pre-stressing means 1 associated with a clamp 3, of the type of the one P of FIG. 1 and described in document WO 2009/138625. Of this clamp 3, only three separable elements 30 are visible, which are intended to surround and retain a schematically shown fastening element R in order to form a fastening device.

[0044] These separable elements 30 are furthermore elastically restored into their distance from each other, the releasable pre-stressing means 1 being capable of forcing them to come closer to each other.

[0045] The inner end 20 and one of the separable elements 30 are shaped so as to be made integral with each other.

[0046] According to the embodiment being shown, the inner end 20 has a bulge 22, while the separable element 30 includes a cavity 31 having a complementary retentive shape, in which the bulge 22 is inserted and retained.

[0047] In this case, the bulge 22 has the form of a cylinder, with an axis parallel to that of the winding of the ribbon 2.

[0048] The outer end 21 is shaped as a hook 23, permitting the fastening of a locking means 4.

[0049] Advantageously, the releasable pre-stressing means 1 according to the invention further includes a means permitting to perform a locking in the ortho-radial direction in order to lock the opening of the clamp 3 and also a locking in the axial direction permitting to control the locked position during shocks and vibrations, which can cause parasitic sliding of the windings with respect to each other in the axial direction. The locking then occurs by obstacle, which prevents any sliding, even during stresses due to thermal cycles.

[0050] This means consists of two elements having complementary shapes, a first element 24 protruding from the periphery of the ribbon 2, and a second element 25, arranged at the base of the hook 23, forming a hollow indentation complementary to the shape of the first element 24 and intended, after closing, to anchor onto the latter.

[0051] Advantageously and preferably, the element 24 is in the form of a protruding bar arranged transversely on the ribbon 2, and the sides 26 and 27 of which are beveled, so as not to oppose the release and not to hinder the expansion when unlocking.

[0052] According to a variant, not shown, the ribbon 2 includes several elements 24 arranged and spaced apart longitudinally, eventually over several windings, as well as several elements 25 each capable of cooperating with an element 24, in a tightened position about the pumice 3.

[0053] When referring to FIG. 4, we can see the use of three clamps 3, each equipped with a releasable pre-stressing means 1 according to the invention.

[0054] The three clamps 3 are all in the closed position, the releasable pre-stressing means 1 being locked through links 40, which pass over a trigger pin 5, which angularly returns the links 40 to means 41 for fastening and maintaining the links in tension. 40.

[0055] It should be understood that the withdrawal of the trigger pin 5 causes the simultaneous release of the tension of all the links 40, and the expansion of the releasable pre-stressing means 1 and the opening of the clamps 3.