# US 12,759,256 B2 · Tubular insert for a sandwich panel, method for placing such a tubular insert in a through-orifice of a sandwich panel and sandwich panel having at least one such tubular insert > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,256 B2 - Document ID: US12759256B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/585,348 - Filed: 2024-02-23 - Published: 2024-08-29 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-02-27 - Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH - Applicants: Airbus Operations SAS - Inventors: Gérard Millet; Vincent Delpy; Simon Foucart-Gaudy; Marc-Antoine Brocard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759256B2 ## CPC - B32B 3/08: characterised by added members at particular parts {(layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18)} - B32B 3/12: characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure - B32B 3/266: {characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12} - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract A tubular insert designed to be positioned in a through-orifice of a sandwich panel. This tubular insert comprises a tubular body and at least one tab that has a first end connected to the tubular body and a second end at a distance from the first end, the tab being able to move between a deployed position in which the second end is moved away from the tubular body and a retracted position in which the second end is positioned at the tubular body, the latter having, for each tab, a cutout delimiting the tab and an opening when the tab is in the deployed position. Also a sandwich panel having at least one such insert and a method for placing such an insert. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tubular insert comprising: a tubular body that has an axis of revolution, inner and outer cylindrical faces that are coaxial with each other and with the axis of revolution, and first and second annular terminal faces connecting the inner and outer cylindrical faces, at least one tab that has a first end connected to the tubular body and a second end at a distance from the first end, the first and second ends being substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the tubular body, the at least one tab configured to move between a deployed position in which the second end is moved away from the tubular body and a retracted position in which the second end is positioned at the tubular body, wherein the tubular body comprises, for each tab, a cutout delimiting the tab and an opening when the corresponding tab is in the deployed position, wherein, in the deployed position, each of the at least one tab forms an angle with a tangent to the outer cylindrical face passing through the first end of the at least one tab. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tubular insert according to claim 1, wherein the angle of between 2° and 70°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tubular insert according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert comprises a plurality of tabs distributed around the tubular body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tubular insert according to claim 1, wherein each tab is made of an elastic material, wherein the deployed position of the tab corresponds to a rest position, the retracted position corresponding to an elastic deformation of the tab. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tubular insert according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second terminal faces comprises at least one indentation configured to make the tubular insert pivot on itself. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tubular insert according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert has a sleeve with a solid wall, which is fitted into the tubular body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A sandwich panel comprising: first and second outer walls, at least one cellular structure interposed between the first and second outer walls, and the tubular insert according to claim 1 positioned in a through-orifice of the sandwich panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sandwich panel according to claim 7, wherein the through-orifice comprises first and second segments at the first and second outer walls, and wherein the tubular insert has a transverse section greater than that of the first and second segments of the through-orifice when each tab is in the deployed position and a transverse section smaller than the section of the first and second segments of the through-orifice when each tab is in the retracted position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sandwich panel according to claim 8, wherein the tubular body has an outer diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the first and second segments of the through-orifice. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The sandwich panel according to claim 7, wherein the sandwich panel comprises a thickness, and wherein the tubular body has a height substantially equal to the thickness of the sandwich panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The sandwich panel according to claim 7, wherein the cellular structure has a thickness, and wherein each tab comprises upper and lower edges that are substantially parallel to each other, connecting the first and second ends, the upper and lower edges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cellular structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sandwich panel according to claim 11, wherein the first and second outer walls respectively have first and second thicknesses, wherein the upper edge of each tab is separated from the first terminal face by a distance substantially equal to the first thickness of the first outer wall, and wherein the lower edge is separated from the second terminal face by a distance substantially equal to the second thickness of the second outer wall. ### Claim 13 A sandwich panel comprising: first and second outer walls, at least one cellular structure interposed between the first and second outer walls, and a tubular insert positioned in a through-orifice of the sandwich panel, the tubular insert comprising: a tubular body that has an axis of revolution, inner and outer cylindrical faces that are coaxial with each other and with the axis of revolution, and first and second annular terminal faces connecting the inner and outer cylindrical faces, at least one tab that has a first end connected to the tubular body and a second end at a distance from the first end, the first and second ends being substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of the tubular body, the at least one tab configured to move between a deployed position in which the second end is moved away from the tubular body and a retracted position in which the second end is positioned at the tubular body, wherein the tubular body comprises, for each tab, a cutout delimiting the tab and an opening when the corresponding tab is in the deployed position, wherein the at least one cellular structure has a thickness, and wherein each tab comprises upper and lower edges that are substantially parallel to each other, connecting the first and second ends, the upper and lower edges being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the at least one cellular structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for placing the tubular insert according to claim 1 in a through-orifice of a sandwich panel having first and second outer walls and at least one cellular structure interposed between the first and second outer walls, the method comprising: inserting the tubular insert into the through-orifice, each tab being in the retracted position, until each tab is positioned between the first and second outer walls and returns to the deployed position, pivoting the tubular insert on itself so as to create, around the tubular body of the tubular insert, an annular housing between the first and second outer walls, injecting a mastic into the annular housing so as to secure the tubular insert and the sandwich panel.