Expanded fastener for a honeycomb structure and method of assembly
OwnerBobby Waits Jr., Victor Pineirosinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expanding panel fastener assembly for affixing a honeycomb panel structure to a support structure is disclosing having an insert member that attaches to a hole drilled within the honeycomb panel. A flexible sleeve and retainer assembly includes a molded flexible sleeve, an expander member and a retainer member. A sleeve spacer can further be attached to the flexible sleeve to assist in retaining it within the insert member. By providing a fastener for engagement with the retainer member, the expander member can further prevent withdrawal of the retainer member and can further assist in expanding the flexible sleeve to provide a sealing configuration with any support structure.
Claims15
An elastomeric sleeve and retainer assembly for insertion through a hole in a panel for receiving a fastener to secure the fastener to the panel, comprising;
- a retainer member;
- an elastomeric sleeve attached to the retainer member;
- and
- an expander member attached to the elastomeric sleeve whereby when a fastener engages the retainer member to draw it toward an interior surface of the panel the expander member expands to prevent withdrawal of the retainer member through the hole.
An expanding panel fastener assembly for affixing a honeycomb panel structure to a support structure comprising:
- an insert member of a configuration to attach to a honeycomb panel through a hole in the honeycomb panel;
- a flexible sleeve and retainer assembly of a configuration to extend through the insert member and support structure and to have a portion retained by the insert member including a flexible sleeve, an expander member and a nut member;
- and
- a fastener member of a configuration to extend through the flexible sleeve and support structure and to operatively engage the nut member,
- whereby tightening of the fastener member relative to the nut member expands the expander member to prevent withdrawal of the nut member and expands the flexible sleeve to provide a sealing configuration with the support structure.
A method of fastening an aircraft panel structure to a support structure in an aircraft comprising the steps of:
- providing an opening in a panel structure;
- fastening an insert member in the panel opening;
- fixedly inserting a flexible sleeve and retainer assembly through the insert member, the flexible sleeve and retainer assembly including a flexible sleeve, an expander member and a retainer member;
- aligning the panel and flexible sleeve and retainer assembly with a support structure having a complimentary opening for receiving the flexible sleeve and retainer assembly;
- and
- inserting a fastener member through the flexible sleeve and the support structure opening to operatively engage the retainer member and to expand the expander member whereby the panel structure is attached to the support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.