Serrated Fitting
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorKenneth D. Cominsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A serrated fitting and method for installing fixed length roller tray segments spanning an aircraft fuselage integration zone. The serrated fitting includes a first surface for attachment to a fixed length roller tray segment. The serrated fitting also includes a serrated surface for engagement with a serrated plate attached to a floor beam of an aircraft. A fastener connects the serrated surface to the serrated plate and the floor beam through a pre-drilled hole in the floor beam. The pre-drilled hole is larger than the diameter of the fastener to accommodate accumulated tolerance between joined fuselage sections at a fuselage integration zone.
Claims20
A serrated fitting configured for installation of a fixed length roller tray segment of an aircraft, wherein the serrated fitting comprises:
- a first surface for connection to the fixed length roller tray segment, wherein the first surface includes an overhang sized for a fastener configured to connect the first surface to the fixed length roller tray segment;
- and
- a serrated surface opposite the first surface, the serrated surface configured for engagement with a serrated plate, the serrated plate attached to a floor beam pre-installed in the aircraft, wherein a second fastener connects the serrated surface to the serrated plate and the floor beam through a pre-drilled hole in the floor beam, the pre-drilled hole having a dimension axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the fixed length roller tray segment and where the dimension is greater than a diameter of the second fastener.
A fixed length roller tray installation system that comprises:
- a fixed length roller tray segment of an aircraft connected to a serrated fitting that comprises a first surface and a serrated surface, wherein the first surface includes an overhang sized for a fastener configured to connect the first surface to the fixed length roller tray segment;
- and
- a serrated plate connected to a floor beam of the aircraft, wherein the serrated surface of the serrated fitting engaged with the serrated plate, wherein the serrated fitting is connected to the serrated plate and the floor beam of the aircraft with a second fastener through a pre-drilled hole in the floor beam.
A method for installing fixed length roller tray segments spanning an aircraft fuselage integration zone, the method comprising:
- installing a first set of floor beams in a first aircraft fuselage section;
- installing a second set of floor beams in a second aircraft fuselage section, wherein at least one of the first set of floor beams or the second set of floor beams comprises a pre-drilled hole;
- joining the first aircraft fuselage section to the second aircraft fuselage section at a fuselage integration zone;
- connecting a serrated fitting to a fixed length roller tray segment of the fixed length roller tray segments, the serrated fitting comprising a first surface including an overhang sized for securing a fastener connecting the first surface to the fixed length roller tray segment;
- connecting a serrated plate to the first set of floor beams or the second set of floor beams having the pre-drilled hole, the serrated plate surrounding the pre-drilled hole;
- engaging a serrated surface of the serrated fitting with the serrated plate;
- and
- fastening the serrated fitting to the first set of floor beams or the second set of floor beams with a second fastener through the pre-drilled hole, wherein the pre-drilled hole has a dimension axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the fixed length roller tray segment and wherein the dimension is greater than a diameter of the second fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.