Clamping and holding device for wall modules

Abstract

A holding device for a wall module 10 of the cabin lining in an aircraft includes two different clamping devices. The first clamping device 30 has a clamping body 33 having a first clamping jaw 31, which is fixed relative to the clamping body, and a second clamping jaw 32, which is movable relative to the clamping body 33, which in turn is operatively connected or can be temporarily connected to an actuating lever 35. In the closed state, the clamping jaws 31, 32 form a receiving space 36 for the wall module 10. An interlocking device 37 fixes the position of the clamping jaws 31, 32 relative to one another in the closed state.

Claims

1. A clamping device for a plate-shaped, essentially flat wall module, comprising: a clamping body; a first clamping jaw which is fixed relative to the clamping body; a second clamping jaw which is movable relative to the clamping body and includes an actuating lever that is either permanently operatively connected to open and close the movable clamping jaw, or is temporarily connected so that the clamping device is held in an open state; and in a closed state, the clamping jaws form a receiving space for a wall module; and an interlocking device in the receiving space, the interlocking device fixes a position of the clamping jaws to one another in the closed state; wherein the interlocking device comprises a clamping, latching, snapping or locking device and a latch, a mandrel or pawl, each being positioned on one of the clamping jaws such that they interlock with one another in the closed state.

2. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping jaws have damping elements on surfaces thereof facing the receiving space.

3. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking device further comprises a release mechanism.

4. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the movable clamping jaw is rotatably mounted on the clamping body for movement about a pivot axis.

5. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the movable clamping jaw has fastening points on an outer side thereof pointing away from the receiving space.

6. A holding device comprising: at least one first clamping device for a plate-shaped, essentially flat wall module, the at least one first clamping device including: a clamping body; a first clamping jaw which is fixed relative to the clamping body; a second clamping jaw which is movable relative to the clamping body and includes an actuating lever that is either permanently operatively connected to open and close the movable clamping jaw, or is temporarily connected so that the clamping device is held in an open state; and in a closed state, the clamping jaws form a receiving space for a wall module; and an interlocking device in the receiving space, the interlocking device fixes a position of the clamping jaws to one another in the closed state; and at least one second clamping device, the second clamping device includes two fixed clamping jaws.

7. The holding device according to claim 6, wherein the second clamping device has a fork-shaped cross-sectional profile defined by the two clamping jaws with a groove formed therebetween, and a holding bar.

8. An arrangement comprising: a plate-shaped, essentially flat to curved wall module of a cabin interior lining of an aircraft cabin and a holding device according to claim 6, the wall module includes a rear side configured to face an inside of an aircraft fuselage inner wall and a front side configured to face a cabin interior and a lower edge of the wall module is adapted to point to a cabin floor and an upper edge is adapted to point to a cabin ceiling.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first clamping device comprises at least two of the first clamping devices that are connected to one another by a connection element such that the clamping devices are actuatable together.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the connection element constitutes or receives a cover strip which has lighting elements or information elements selected from at least one of displays, signets, illuminated information, or warning signs.

11. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the second clamping device is configured such that in an assembled state of the arrangement, in the aircraft fuselage, one of the clamping jaws points to the inner wall and the other of the clamping jaws points to the cabin interior, and the lower edge of the wall element or the lower edge of a holder element attached to the rear side is held clamped between the two clamping jaws after assembly.

12. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the lower edge of the wall module or the holder element comprises elastic elements which protrude both from the front side and the rear side and in an assembled state, elastically absorb part of the clamping force in contact with the clamping jaws.

13. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the second clamping device is configured as a profile element and the groove is formed elongated between the clamping jaws, and the profile is designed in one piece or in segments that are adapted for fastening in an aircraft fuselage.

14. The arrangement according to claim 8, further comprising a stop element that is attachable in the groove between the clamping jaws, said stop element delimits a movement of the wall module along a longitudinal extent of the second clamping device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a single wall module 10 fastened in a clamping manner to the inner structure of a fuselage section,

(2) FIG. 2A shows a first clamping device 30 in a side plan view,

(3) FIGS. 2B to 2E show a variant of the first clamping device 30,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a first clamping device 30, with the movable clamping jaw 32 and the actuating lever 35 being omitted,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a movable clamping jaw 32, which is embodied integrally with the connection element 45,

(6) FIG. 5A shows a second clamping device 20 in a lateral section,

(7) FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of a second clamping device 20, similar to FIG. 5A, and

(8) FIGS. 5C and 5D show alternative embodiments of the second clamping device 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The following description of the figures relates to the advantageous embodiments in the figures. Further, equivalent embodiments result from the point of view of the general description above or through the wording of the claims. The drawings are therefore not to be understood as limiting.

(10) FIG. 1 shows an installed wall module 10 on the inner wall 11 of an aircraft fuselage. This is indicated with frames 18, stringers 19 and parts of the paneling. The front side 12 of the wall module 10 points to the interior of the cabin and already has a surface with openings for windows 16. The lower edge 13 of the wall module 10 is held in a clamping manner in the second clamping device 20, which is attached near the cabin floor 14. The upper edge 15 is held by the first clamping device(s) 30, 30′. The connection element 45 between the clamping devices 30, 30′ is designed such that it acts as a cover strip or flap element. FIG. 2A shows a side view of a clamping device 30 attached to a frame 18, wherein the physical connection is made via the clamping body 33. A stringer 19 is indicated. The fixed clamping jaw 31 is shown as a component integrally attached to the clamping body 33. The second, movable clamping jaw 32 is shown here in the “closed” position. In the figure, the wall module 10 is omitted, the receiving space 36 is therefore empty. As can be seen, the damping elements 43, 44 protrude into the receiving space 36. They would clamp the wall module 10 between them elastically. The movable clamping jaw 32 is shown here as one component, also possibly in one piece, with the actuating lever 35. The pivot axis 34 is arranged on a hoist arm, the axle carrier 54. This also creates space for the interlocking device 37 between the clamping jaws 31 and 32. The outer side of the movable clamping jaw 32 is designated with 38, which can be designed as part of the connection element 45 and can have hold points or fastening points for functional elements.

(11) FIGS. 2B to 2E show a functionally similar clamping device 30 with a different operating principle of the actuating lever 35. The component designation is basically the same as in FIG. 2A. The clamping jaw 32 is shown as a flat component in the manner of a cover strip. A bolt 48, which is part of a hold-open device, is attached at its end remote from the clamping jaw region. The actuating lever does not open and close the clamping jaw directly, but operates in the “open” state. FIG. 2B shows the “closed” state without a wall module 10 between the clamps 31, 32 enclosed by damping elements 44, 45.

(12) FIG. 2C shows the “open” state, held by the bolt 48 latching into the pickup 49 of the actuating lever 35. In the embodiment shown, the pickup 49 is attached to one end of the actuating lever 35, the upper arm 50. The lower half is marked as a lower arm 51 and is used as a trigger in the embodiment shown.

(13) FIG. 2D shows the arrangement of the actuating lever in this embodiment somewhat more precisely. The pivot bearing between upper arm 50 and lower arm 51 is also visible. FIG. 2E is a perspective view without movable clamping jaw 32. The lower arm 51 of the actuating lever 35 protrudes into the receiving space 36 and would be pushed back by a wall module leaning against the fixed clamping jaw 31. As a result, the pickup 49 would release the bolt 48 and the clamping jaw 32, which is movable about the bearing 34 (axis of rotation) or cover strip, can move from the “open” to “closed” state.

(14) FIG. 3 shows a clamping device 30 similar to FIG. 2A without the movable clamping jaw 32. The clamping body is fastened on the one hand to the frame 18 and on the other hand merges into the axle carrier 54 (with the receptacle 39 for the pivot axis) and the fixed clamping jaw 31. The clamping jaw surface 41 defines a (rear) boundary surface of the receiving space 36 shown above and receives the rear damping element 43. The locking device 40 is also arranged in the space between the jaws as part of the interlocking device 37. The receptacle for a (interlocking device) mandrel 46 (see FIG. 4) is shown here. A release mechanism 47 allows the locking device 40 to be unlocked.

(15) FIG. 4 shows the view of a movable jaw 32 as an integral part of a connection element 45/cover, designed as a plate-shaped flap component. The position of the pivot axis 34 and actuating lever 35 show that the viewing direction is directed towards the inside of the clamping device 30. The front damping element 44 is the technical counterpart to the damping element 43 from FIG. 3. The (interlocking device) mandrel 46 is provided for receiving in the locking device 40 and supplements this for the interlocking device 37.

(16) FIGS. 5A and 5B show, once in section and in perspective view, how a wall element 10 is held on its lower edge 13 in the second clamping device 20. The embodiment shown here shows, viewed from the floor element 24, a raised rear (unloaded) clamping jaw 21. This serves to facilitate assembly and disassembly because a sliding surface for the rear side 17 of the wall module 10 is created during installation or removal. The front clamping jaw 22 is connected to the rear clamping jaw via the holding bar 23, the groove 25 created between them is clear in both figures. Clamping thus takes place for the front side 12 on the front clamping jaw 22 and for the rear side 17 through the rear clamping jaw 21. Possible elastic damping elements are not shown in FIG. 5A or 5B at the lower edge 13.

(17) FIGS. 5C and 5D show an alternative, concealed clamp fastening. It is not the lower edge 13 of the wall module itself, but the lower edge 13′ of a holder element 26 that is clamped between the clamping jaws 21 and 22. The holder 26 is fastened to the rear side of the wall module 10 (optionally with damping elements) and diverts the dead weight of the wall module into the clamping device 20. As shown in FIG. 5D, the lower edge can also be designed with a positive fit so that it fills the space between the clamping jaws 21, 22 and the groove 25.

(18) The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential for realizing the invention both individually and in any, but technically meaningful or advantageous combination. A nonexplicit representation of a combination of features does not mean that such a combination is not useful or not possible.