Lug with pocket and/or relief

Abstract

A joining part with a wing comprises a through bore defining a fastening direction perpendicular to the wing. The wing comprises at least one non-through pocket configured to reduce the stress gradient in a peripheral zone of the through bore and/or at least one relief configured to reduce the stress gradient in a peripheral zone of the through bore, the non-through pocket forming a cavity in the thickness of the wing and comprising a curved side at a distance from the peripheral edge of the through bore. The joining part may be part of a lug, such as, for an aircraft fitting.

Claims

1. A joining part comprising: a wing having a thickness and extending substantially in an X-Y plane comprising: a single through bore defining a fastening direction perpendicular to said X-Y plane of the wing, and, separated from the through bore: at least one cavity configured to reduce a stress gradient in a peripheral zone of said through bore and having a thickness less than the thickness of the wing, said at least one cavity comprising a curved side at a distance from a peripheral edge of the through bore, and at least one relief configured to reduce a stress gradient in a peripheral zone of said through bore and having a thickness greater than the thickness of the wing, wherein a shortest distance between said at least one relief and said through bore is less than a shortest distance between said through bore and a peripheral edge of the wing.

2. The joining part according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cavity comprises a base extending in a plane substantially parallel to the X-Y plane of the wing.

3. The joining part according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said at one least cavity or said at least one relief has a side extending parallel to a longitudinal edge of said wing.

4. The joining part according to claim 1, wherein said at least one relief has a rib part extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of said wing and an end part forming an angle of between 0 and 90? with said rib part.

5. The joining part according to claim 1, wherein said at least one relief comprises at least two reliefs, each relief configured to reduce a stress gradient in a peripheral zone of said through bore and having a thickness greater than the thickness of the wing, wherein a shortest distance between each relief and said through bore is less than a shortest distance between said through bore and a peripheral edge of the wing.

6. The joining part according to claim 1 wherein each relief is symmetrical relative to a longitudinal median axis of said wing.

7. A lug of an aircraft fitting comprising a joining part comprising: a wing having a thickness extending substantially in an X-Y plane comprising: a single through bore defining a fastening direction perpendicular to said X-Y plane of the wing, and, separated from the through bore: at least one cavity configured to reduce a stress gradient in a peripheral zone of said through bore and having a thickness less than the thickness of the wing, said at least one cavity comprising a curved side at a distance from a peripheral edge of the through bore, and, at least one relief configured to reduce a stress gradient in a peripheral zone of said through bore and having a thickness greater than the thickness of the wing, wherein a shortest distance between said at least one relief and said through bore is less than a shortest distance between said through bore and a peripheral edge of the wing.

8. The lug according to claim 7 wherein said at least one relief comprises at least two reliefs.

9. The lug according to claim 8, wherein each relief is symmetrical relative to a longitudinal median axis of said wing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further particular features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description.

(2) In the appended drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting examples:

(3) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the distribution of stresses in a joining part;

(4) FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a joining part according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III in FIG. 2; and

(6) FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a joining part comprising a lug according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) With reference to FIG. 1, a summary will first be given of the distribution of stresses in a joining part with a wing comprising a through bore.

(8) In the remainder of the description, the term comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the singular article does not exclude the plural.

(9) As clearly illustrated in FIG. 1, the joining part 10 comprises a wing 11 comprising a through bore 12.

(10) This type of joining part is used for joining different structural elements together, requiring a single joining point, achieved by means of a single fastening (not shown) on the axis of the through bore 12.

(11) Owing to the presence of the through bore 12 in the joining part 10, the fastening direction Z is defined perpendicularly to the wing 11, which extends in a plane X, Y.

(12) This type of joining part can be found in various types of joints used, in particular, in aeronautics.

(13) The joining parts, attaching various structures of an aircraft and also called fittings, comprise a lug with one or more wings that are each provided with a through bore in order to interact with a fastening.

(14) It is thus estimated that, in an aircraft, more than a thousand lugs, corresponding to elementary joining points, are used at various points of the structure.

(15) Consequently, the improvement of their performance levels and service life, and also any, albeit minimal, gain in weight, are of significance.

(16) It is possible to identify various types of lug commonly used in aircraft: first, lugs formed as an isolated part, or lugs secured by one of their distant ends to their support.

(17) This type of lug can be found, in particular, at the end of long connecting rods or, alternatively, in a shackle.

(18) Other types of lug are secured by insertion into ribbed panels or involve one or more edge flanges that may be affixed to structural parts using assembly screws.

(19) The illustrative diagram of FIG. 1 applies to any type of lug where a through bore 12 is present in a wing 11 and where the joining function is provided by means of a single fastening (screw, rod, bolt).

(20) A stress concentration is observed, during use, in the peripheral zone of the through bore 12.

(21) A concentration peak is observed at the peripheral edge 12a of the through bore 12.

(22) A curve thus illustrates, as a function of the distance r from the center c of the through bore 12, the value of the tangential stress ?.sub.?? observed in the wing 11 and, more particularly, in the peripheral zone around the through bore 12.

(23) In FIG. 1, the curve in fine lines illustrates, by way of example, a tangential stress gradient observed in the peripheral zone of the through bore 12 as a function of the distance r from the center c of the through bore 12a.

(24) Thus, the maximum tangential stress ?.sub.max is located at the edge 12a of the through bore 12, i.e., at a distance D/2 from the center c of the through bore 12, where D is the diameter of the through bore 12.

(25) The value of the tangential stress ?.sub.?? varies greatly between the peripheral edge 12a of the through bore 12 and a peripheral edge 11a of the wing 11 of the joining part 10.

(26) Owing to this significant level of stress, cracks may appear at the peripheral edge 12a of the through bore 12, and they are likely to propagate in the wing 11 in the direction of a radius of the through bore 12.

(27) A description will now be given with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 of a first embodiment of a joining part 10 that makes it possible to reduce the crack appearance and propagation times.

(28) The wing 11 comprises at least one non-through pocket 21 or at least one relief 22 configured to reduce the stress gradient, and thus the value of the maximum tangential stress ?.sub.max in the peripheral zone of the through bore 12.

(29) In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, and in a non-limiting manner, the wing 11 comprises a non-through pocket 21 and two reliefs 22.

(30) The non-through pocket 21 and the reliefs 22 are configured to reduce the stress gradient, as illustrated on the curve of FIG. 1 (in dark lines).

(31) A stress gradient is thus observed that has a tangential stress peak ?.sub.max that is less than the tangential stress peak ?.sub.max observed in the absence of a pocket and/or of a relief. Furthermore, the value of the tangential stress ?.sub.?? is more homogeneous in the peripheral zone of the through bore 12.

(32) This reduction in the stress gradient thus results in an extension of the service life before the appearance of cracks or splits at the peripheral edge 12a of the through bore 12 and a reduction in the speed of propagation of the cracks in the peripheral zone of the through bore 12.

(33) The positioning of the non-through pocket 21 and of the reliefs 22, and also their dimensions, are configured to obtain a reduction in the stress gradient and thus in the value of the maximum tangential stress ?.sub.max.

(34) Thus, the dimensions of the joining part 10 take account not only of the width W of the wing 11, the diameter D of the bore 12 and the thickness T of the wing 11, but also the thickness T1 at the non-through pocket 21, which is less than the thickness T of the wing 11, and the thickness T2 of the reliefs 22, which is greater than the thickness T of the wing 11. The choice of these parameters makes it possible to modify the mechanical behavior of the joining part 10 and thus to reduce the value of the stresses in the peripheral zone of the through bore 12, which corresponds to the most loaded zone of the joining part 10 during use.

(35) More precisely in FIG. 2, in this first embodiment the through bore 12 is arranged in an end portion 11b of the wing 11.

(36) The through bore 12 is centered on the intersection c of a longitudinal median axis X of the wing 11 and of a transverse axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal median axis X.

(37) The center c of the through bore 12 merges with the fastening direction Z perpendicular to the wing 11, corresponding to the direction of a fastening (not shown).

(38) The non-through pocket 21 and the reliefs 22 are located only in a portion of the wing 11 that extends on the same side of the transverse axis Y, opposite a free end 11c of the wing 11.

(39) The non-through pocket 21 extends on either side of the longitudinal median axis X.

(40) The non-through pocket 21 thus forms a cavity in the surface of the wing 11, with a base 21 extending in a plane substantially parallel to the plane X, Y of the wing 11 of the joining part 10.

(41) It will be noted that a non-through pocket 21 may also be arranged on each face of the wing 11, preferably symmetrically relative to the plane X, Y of the wing 11 of the joining part 10.

(42) As clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, the non-through pocket 21 thus forms a cavity in the thickness T of the wing 11 such that the thickness T1 at the non-through pocket 21 is less than the thickness T of the wing 11.

(43) In other words, the non-through pocket 21 corresponds to a non-through thinner zone in the wing 11.

(44) The reliefs 22 are, in this embodiment, arranged on either side of the non-through pocket 21, between the non-through pocket 21 and a longitudinal edge 11d of the wing 11.

(45) As clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, the reliefs 22 are in this case constituted respectively by a rib of which the thickness T2 is greater than the thickness T of the wing 11.

(46) Furthermore, the non-through pocket 21 and the reliefs 22 each have a side that extends parallel to the longitudinal edge 11d of the wing 11.

(47) More precisely, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the non-through pocket 21 comprises two longitudinal sides 21a extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal median axis X. The two longitudinal sides 21a of the non-through pocket 21 are parallel respectively to two longitudinal edges 11d of the wing 11.

(48) In this embodiment, the distance between each longitudinal side 21a of the non-through pocket 21 and the longitudinal edge 11d of the wing 11 is substantially identical.

(49) Furthermore, the two reliefs 22 each have a rib part 22a of which the sides extend parallel to the longitudinal edges 11d of the wing 11 and, in this case, parallel to the longitudinal median axis X of the wing 11.

(50) Here, each rib part 22a is rectilinear and has a width P in the transverse direction Y of the wing 11.

(51) In this embodiment, the distance between each rib part 22a and the longitudinal edge 11d of the wing 11 is substantially identical.

(52) Each relief 22 has, furthermore, in this case, and in a non-limiting manner, an end part 22b forming a non-zero angle relative to the rib part 22a and oriented toward the through bore 12 in the wing 11.

(53) The orientation of the end part 22b of each relief 22 corresponds to an orientation in the direction of the principal maximum stress around the through bore 12. The reliefs 22 thus play a stiffening role, improving the mechanical strength of the wing 11.

(54) More generally, the end part 22b may form an angle of between 0 and 90? with the rib part 22a, such that the relief 22 may be rectilinear or have an inclined end part 22b.

(55) Moreover, the non-through pocket 21 comprises a curved side 21b extending, in this case, over a portion of an arc of a circle concentric with the through bore 12.

(56) The curved side 21b of the non-through pocket 21 extends over an angular sector of at least 30? and, more generally, a sector that may be between 30? and 180?.

(57) In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the angular sector of the curved side 21b of the non-through pocket 21 extends, by way of example, substantially over 120?.

(58) It will be noted that the angular sector varies as a function of the ratio W/D, where W corresponds to the width of the wing 11 and D to the diameter of the through bore 12.

(59) Generally, when the dimensions of the joining part 10 described above are chosen, the transverse section is kept substantially constant in the wing 11, irrespective of the transverse plane considered.

(60) Thus, at the transverse axis Y, passing through the center c of the through bore 12, the section S of the wing 11 is equal to:
S=(W?D)?T

(61) The section of the wing 11 taken in other transverse planes parallel to the transverse axis Y remains substantially constant at this value of section S.

(62) Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the dimensions of the reliefs 22, the non-through pocket 21, including the various thicknesses T1, T2, T of the wing 11, are chosen so as to meet the criterion of maintenance of the value of the section S.

(63) In addition to these parameters, the dimensions of the joining part 10 also take account of the distance L separating the curved side 21b of the through bore 12 and the distance between each longitudinal side 21a of the non-through pocket 21 and the corresponding longitudinal edge 11d of the wing 11.

(64) It will also be noted that, preferably, the positioning of the non-through pocket 21 and of the reliefs 22 is symmetrical relative to the longitudinal median axis X of the wing 11.

(65) Moreover, the non-through pocket 21 and the reliefs 22 are, in this case, symmetrical relative to the longitudinal median axis X of the wing 11.

(66) Furthermore, the peripheral zone around the through bore 12 that is affected by the load introduced at the fastening axis extends in a portion of the wing 11 located at a maximum distance from the center c of the through bore 12 equal to 1.57?W, where W is the width of the wing 11 (see the definition of the size of the peripheral zone subject to stresses by THEOCARIS, in The stress distribution in strip loaded in tension by means of a central pin, J. Applied Mech. 85-90-1940).

(67) It is thus advantageous to provide one or more non-through pockets 21 and one or more reliefs 22 in a zone of the wing 11 that does not extend beyond this maximum distance of 1.57?W.

(68) The design of a joining part 10 of this type will take account of all the parameters described above.

(69) It will likewise take account of the value of the shortest distance L between the non-through pocket 21 and the through bore 12, which in this case corresponds to the distance L between the curved side 21b of the non-through pocket 21 and the peripheral edge 12a of the through bore 12.

(70) Moreover, the dimensions of the joining part 10 will take account of the width P of the rib part 22a of the reliefs 22 and the shortest distance M between the reliefs 22 and the through bore 12.

(71) In particular, the shortest distances L, M as defined above may be dimensioned as a function of the shortest distance B existing between the through bore 12 and the peripheral edge 11a of the wing 11.

(72) It will be noted that, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the free end 11c of the wing 11 has a semi-circular form around the through bore 12: the center of the free end 11c may advantageously be offset (upward, in the example illustrated in FIG. 2) relative to the center c of the through bore 12, the effect of this slight offset being to reduce the stress peak ?.sub.max.

(73) Here, the shortest distance B that exists between the through bore 12 and the peripheral edge 11a of the wing corresponds to the value of the width of the linking part (W?D)/2 on the transverse axis y.

(74) The shortest distance M between the reliefs 22 and the through bore 12 is advantageously less than the shortest distance B between the through bore 12 and the peripheral edge 11a of the wing 11 and greater than one quarter of the shortest distance B between the through bore 12 and the peripheral edge 11a of the wing 11.

(75) Similarly, the shortest distance L between the non-through pocket 21 and the through bore 12 is advantageously greater than or equal to one third of the radius D/2 of the through bore 12.

(76) Moreover, the distance between the longitudinal edges 11d of the wing 11 and the longitudinal sides 21a of the non-through pocket 21 and the distance between the longitudinal edges 11d of the wing 11 and the rib part 22a of the reliefs 22 may likewise be variable.

(77) What is more, the provision of non-through pockets 21 in the joining part 10 makes it possible to reduce the weight of said joining part, which offers a significant advantage within the context of an aeronautical application, where several hundreds or thousands of lugs are used.

(78) In particular, it will be noted that the addition of reliefs 22 as envisaged in the embodiment in FIG. 2 makes it possible further to reduce the thickness T1 of the wing 11 at the non-through pocket 21 because the presence of the reliefs 22 has a greater effect on the reduction of the value of the maximum tangential stress ?.sub.max than the presence of the non-through pocket 21. In a case such as this, the weight of the joining part 10 may be further reduced.

(79) All the parameters described above are thus taken into account in terms of the dimensions of the joining part 10 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(80) By way of example, a joining part of this type may be a lug of an aircraft fitting, which may represent up to 80% of the cases of lugs used in an aircraft.

(81) FIG. 4, furthermore, illustrates a second embodiment of a joining part 10.

(82) This joining part 10 is similar to the example described above with reference to FIG. 2 since it likewise involves a wing 11 comprising a through bore 12 defining a fastening direction perpendicular to the wing 11.

(83) Features in FIG. 4 and FIG. 2 that are similar thus bear the same numerical references and have no need to be described again in detail at this point.

(84) The joining part 10 in this case further comprises a fastening flange 40 allowing mounting of the joining part 10, for example by bolting (indicated in schematic form by axes (or screws) 41), to a structure such as an aircraft door.

(85) In this embodiment, the wing 11 comprises a non-through pocket 21 configured to reduce the stress gradient in the peripheral zone of the through bore 12.

(86) To that end, it will be noted that, as in the embodiment in FIG. 2, the non-through pocket 21 is located solely on a portion of the wing 11 that extends on the same side of the transverse axis Y, opposite a free end 11c of the wing 11.

(87) The non-through pocket 21 furthermore extends on either side of the longitudinal median axis X of the wing 11.

(88) It comprises two sides 21a each parallel to a longitudinal edge 11d of the wing 11.

(89) The non-through pocket 21 also comprises a curved side 21b extending opposite the through bore 12.

(90) In this case, the radius of the curved side 21b of the non-through pocket 21 is greater than the radius D/2 of the through bore 12, increased by the shortest distance L between the non-through pocket 21 and the through bore 12.

(91) Thus, in this embodiment, the curved side 21b of the non-through pocket 21 does not extend over a portion of an arc of a circle concentric with the through bore 12.

(92) Naturally, the examples described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 are given only for purely illustrative purposes.

(93) Thus, the number of non-through pockets 21 and of reliefs 22 may be different.

(94) Furthermore, the wing 11 of the joining part 10 may have only one or several reliefs 22.

(95) Generally, the joining part 10 is produced from metal and, for example, from steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy or, alternatively, nickel alloy.

(96) The joining parts may, moreover, be produced by machining, but also using different fabrication techniques, including molding, stamping, additive layer manufacturing or, furthermore, by linear friction welding.

(97) Advantageously, it is possible to use different materials when fabricating the wing 11 of the joining part 10 and, for example, different materials for fabricating the reliefs 22.

(98) It will further be noted in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 that the positioning of non-through pockets 21 and/or of reliefs may take account also of the presence of the fastening flange 40 and of the fastening stresses of the joining part 10 at the fastening flange 40.

(99) Of course, numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments described above without departing from the context of the invention.

(100) While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a or one do not exclude a plural number, and the term or means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.