Self-indexing nut plate
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorLowell Scott James
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft comprises a plurality of spanner bars. Each spanner bar has a pattern of mounting holes separated by lands. A plurality of nut plates engage the spanner bars. Each nut plate includes a body having a mounting surface against one of the spanner bars; and first and second posts extending from the mounting surface and through respective holes in the corresponding spanner bar. Each post has an undercut portion that abuts against one of the lands. Each nut plate further includes a locking member occupying a space between one of the posts and the lands to prevent the nut plate from disengaging the corresponding spanner bar.
Claims10
An apparatus comprising:
- a support member having a surface with an alternating pattern of a first land, a first hole, a second land, a second hole, a third land, and a third hole;
- at least one nut plate engaging the support member, the nut plate including:
- a body;
- a mounting surface affixed to the body;
- a first mounting post extending from the mounting surface and having a first undercut portion, the first mounting post extending into the first hole with the first undercut portion filled with the first land;
- a second mounting post extending from the mounting surface and having a second undercut portion, the second mounting post extending into the third hole with the second undercut portion filled with the third land;
- and
- a generally L-shaped spring lever comprising a first end cantilevered from the body, a second, free end, a retractable locking member extending generally downwardly from the free end of the spring lever, and a release grip ledge adjacent to and extending generally transversely with respect to thelocking member,
- wherein the spring lever is movable through the gap between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- and
- wherein the locking member occupies at least a portion of the third hole to prevent the nut plate from disengaging the support member when the spring lever is in the locked position.
A nut plate configured to engage a thin gauge member having a pattern of equidistant holes and lands there between, the nut plate comprising:
- a body;
- a mounting surface affixed to the body;
- a bore that extends from the mounting surface in a first direction, the bore having an internally threaded portion;
- first and second posts extending from the mounting surface in a second direction opposite the first direction, each post having a solid elliptical cross section and terminating in an enlarged cap;
- a generally L-shaped spring lever comprising a first end cantilevered from the body, a second, free end, a retractable locking member extending generally downwardly from the free end of the spring lever, and a release grip ledge adjacent to and extending generally transversely with respect to the locking member,
- wherein the spring lever is movable through the gap between a locked position and an unlocked position;
- wherein the locking member occupying a space between one of the posts and lands to prevent the nut plate from disengaging the support member when the spring lever is in the locked position;
- and
- wherein the posts are located on opposite sides of the bore, and the bore is offset from the posts so it is aligned with an opening in the thin gauge member when the nut plate engages the thin gauge member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.