Aircraft monument integrated attachment device

Abstract

An attachment device for an aircraft monument is disclosed having a pair of spaced apart parallel plates having vertical sides and a rounded upper surface defining an arch. A panel attaches the spaced apart parallel plates along an inner radius, and a pair of lugs including a vertical channel is disposed below the plates for receiving fasteners to connect the attachment device to a rail or planar surface.

Claims

1. An aircraft monument wall assembly, comprising: first and second composite panels; a core material filling a space between the first and second composite panels; an attachment device integrated into the first and second composite panels, comprising: a pair of spaced apart inverted U-shaped parallel plates sandwiched between the first and second composite panels, respectively, each plate having an outer surface facing the monument wall, a radially outer edge along the U-shaped profile, a radially inner edge along the U-shaped profile, and a bottom edge; a member connecting the respective radially inner edges of the pair of spaced apart inverted U-shaped parallel plates, forming an open channel radially outward of the member and between the plates; a base connecting the respective radially inner edges of the pair of spaced apart inverted U-shaped parallel plates, the base including a lug and fastener hole, where the fastener hole is disposed directly beneath one of the spaced apart inverted U-shaped parallel plates; and wherein the first and second composite panels, core material, and attachment device are fabricated as a single unit.

2. The aircraft monument wall of claim 1, wherein the attachment device is made of a non-metallic material.

3. The aircraft monument wall of claim 1, wherein the attachment device is made of titanium.

4. The aircraft monument wall of claim 1, wherein the spaced apart inverted U-shaped parallel plates are in contact with the core material inside the monument wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an elevated, perspective view of the attachment device of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is the attachment device of FIG. 1 installed in an aircraft monument; and

(3) FIG. 3 is an elevated, perspective view of an alternate embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a monument attachment device according to the present invention. The attachment device 10 comprises two horseshoe shaped plates 20 having an outer radius along the perimeter and an inner radius along the inner edge. The two plates 20 are joined together along the inner radius by a rigid panel 30, such that there is an arcuate gap between the two plates 20, and between the rigid panel 30 and the outer radius of the two plates 20. The connection of the two plates to the rigid panel 30, such as by welding or as a one piece casting or molding, for example, is sufficient to transfer loads from the panel 30 to the plates 20.

(5) At the base of the attachment device 10 is a block 40 including a pair of lugs 45 formed in the block 40 to secure to the fitting to an attachment point on the aircraft. Each lug 45 includes a through hole 50 for receiving a fastener that fixes the block 40 and attachment device 10 to a transversely oriented rail 62 mounted on the floor or ceiling of the aircraft. Above the lug 45, a hollowed cylindrical recess 72 may be formed in the block to provide clearance to insert a fastener, such that a neck 64 is created in the block 40 along an upper surface. The block 40 also includes a pair of holes 66 that can be used to secure the plates 20 to the block 40. The bottom edge 70 of the plates 20 coincides with a bottom edge of the block 40 such that the attachment device lays flush with a floor of the aircraft.

(6) In FIG. 2, the attachment device 10 is integrally mounted into an aircraft monument 100 such as a stowage compartment, galley wall, or the like. A pair of composite panels 110 form the wall of the monument 100, and sandwiched between the walls 110 is a composite panel core material 120 that forms the interior of the wall structure. At the base of the wall 100, between the panels 110, is the floor fitting 10 integrated into the wall structure and used to mount the wall 100 to the rail 62 along the floor of the aircraft. The rail 62 includes a series of circular slots or recesses 66 that receive the mounting rods or fasteners. The cooperation of the attachment device 10 and the rail 62 allow the monument 100 to be positioned along the rail easily and also allows the monument to be moved without damage to the floor or the monument. The window of the attachment device 10 provides a space above the cylindrical lugs 40 that can be used to insert and remove the fastener, and the arch shape of the fitting contributes to the overall strength of the fitting.

(7) In a preferred embodiment, the attachment device 10 is integrated in the wall structure of the monument 100 during the primary build phase, eliminating the need for a secondary operation and greatly improving the component strength and the ability of the structure to handle both static and dynamic loads. This is particularly important in a vehicle such as an aircraft, which is subject to dynamic loads on a consistent basis. The lug 40 creates a small offset that allow the monument structure to have a greater proportion of standardized parts while reducing the weight of the component as well as the footprint of the monument. In a non-metallic form, such as a composite or hardened plastic, the fitting 10 can be mass produced, very light, and resistant to corrosion. However, this does not preclude the post panel manufacturing process (e.g., pressed panels) cold bonding of either the single or twin bolt floor fitting.

(8) While the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 are particularly suited for aligning the monument transversely to the rail 62, the embodiment of FIG. 3 can be used to align the monument parallel to the rail 62. The attachment device 200 has a D shaped outer member 210 comprising two parallel plates 215 extending from a rim 220. The rim 220 is affixed to a beam 230 having a pair of holes arranged vertically through the beam. The beam 230 is mounted on a platform 240 having an elongated body 245 with circular ends 250. Fasteners 260 pass through the platform 240 at the circular ends 250 to mount the attachment device 200 to the rail 62. Another pair of fasteners 270 can be used to secure the attachment device 200 to the platform 240, and can also be used to secure the platform 240 to the rail 62. The attachment device 200 can be embedded or integrally formed into a monument 100 such that the monument can be attached to the rail 62 in a parallel configuration as shown in FIG. 3.

(9) An important consideration of the present invention is the ability to transfer both static and dynamic loads from the attachment device 10, 200 evenly into both skins of the structural panels 110. When dynamic or static loading is created at the juncture between the fitting and the floor, the stress emanates from the areas adjacent the fastener and is directed outward toward the panels where it moves through the panels in roughly equal amounts. This distributed loading helps to keep the panel and the fitting at manageable stress levels and prolong the life of the fitting and the panel in the presences of static and dynamic loading. Where additional localized stiffening is required, extra plies of UD (uni-directional) fiber 140 can be added to the fitting to increase the strength of the attachment device 10. Alternatively, or in addition to, carbon fiber doublers may be used to spread stress loads to a larger area of the structural panel skin.

(10) The present invention presents several benefits and improvements over existing monument fittings. One is that beverage cart bay offsets that are necessary to avoid the existing fitting projections can be eliminated. Another is that compartment door widths and other component sizes can be standardized. The overall width or centerline of the galley or monument is reduced. In the case of chilled cart (or trolley) compartments, cold bridging through the floor fittings are virtually eliminated. The fitting itself can be the subject of mass production techniques as the component is standardized, such as injection molding, compression molding, and the like. Additionally, long term problems caused by corrosion of the metallic attachment are virtually eliminated since the fitting is largely shielded by the wall panels.

(11) Although the foregoing descriptions and accompanying drawings are intended to set forth the inventor's best mode, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departure from the benefits and characteristics described and depicted. the embodiments described therefore are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Although the present invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of the present invention.