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US 9,850,927 B2Granted
Fastener installation in composite panels with fastener insert
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJames S. Bradley, Michael S. Lewis, Brad J. Reeves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods provide for the installation of fasteners in a composite panel with a fastener insert. A fastener insert for a composite panel includes a body and a at least three arms extending from the body. The body has a top face and a central hub extending rearward from the top face. The top face has an outer dimension between opposing edges. The arms extend from the central hub on a rear side of the body. In a retracted configuration, the arms are folded inward toward the central hub so that the arms do not extend beyond the outer dimension of the top face. In an extended configuration, the arms extend outward from the central hub beyond the outer dimension of the top face.
Claims15
A fastener insert for a composite panel, comprising:
- a body comprising a top face and a central hub extending rearward from a central portion of the top face, the top face having an outer dimension between opposing edges and the central hub comprising a receiving mechanism configured to receive a fastener through the top face of the body;
- and
- a plurality of arms extending from the central hub on a rear side of the body, the plurality of arms being configured to move, in response to an external force, to a retracted configuration, in which the plurality of arms are folded inward toward the central hub such that the plurality of arms do not extend beyond the outer dimension of the top face, and to move, when the external force is removed, to an extended configuration, in which the plurality of arms are extended outward from the central hub beyond the outer dimension of the top face, wherein each arm is biased toward the extended configuration, wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises a retraction mechanism configured to allow the arm to fold inward to the retracted configuration, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a notch positioned at a pivot point on one side of the arm such that, when the external force is applied to an outer portion of the arm, the arm folds toward the central hub around the notch at the pivot point, and wherein a material of the arm biases the arm to the extended configuration, such that the arm returns to the extended configuration upon removal of the external force.
A method for a fastener within a composite panel, the method comprising:
- applying an external force to a plurality of arms of a fastener insert in an inward direction around an axis extending from front to rear through a central hub of the fastener insert to move the arms from an extended configuration, toward which the arms are biased, to a retracted configuration, while installing the fastener insert into an aperture in the composite panel, wherein applying the external force to the plurality of arms of the fastener insert in the inward direction around the axis comprises rotating each arm around a retraction mechanism of the arm configured to allow the arm to fold inward to the retracted configuration, and wherein rotating each arm around the retraction mechanism of the arm comprises rotating the fastener insert while advancing the fastener insert within an installation tool such that the plurality of arms contact an upper portion of the installation tool having a converging diameter and rotate inward in response to rotation and the converging diameter of the upper portion;
- positioning the fastener insert within the aperture until a top face of the fastener insert is substantially flush with a top sheet of the composite panel;
- releasing the external force to extend the plurality of arms of the fastener insert from the retracted configuration, in which the plurality of arms do not extend beyond an outer dimension of the top face, to the extended configuration, in which the plurality of arms are extended outward from the central hub beyond the outer dimension of the top face;
- and
- installing the fastener through the top face of the fastener insert and into the central hub of the fastener insert.
2 more elements
A fastener insert system for a composite panel, the system comprising:
- a fastener insert, comprising
- a body comprising a top face and a central hub extending rearward from a central portion of the top face, the top face having an outer dimension between opposing edges and the central hub comprising a receiving mechanism configured to receive a fastener through the top face of the body, and
- a plurality of arms extending from the central hub on a rear side of the body and comprising a retracted configuration in which the plurality of arms are folded inward toward the central hub such that the plurality of arms do not extend beyond the outer dimension of the top face, and an extended configuration in which the plurality of arms are extended outward from the central hub beyond the outer dimension of the top face;
- and
- an installation tool comprising an upper portion having a converging diameter and a lower portion having a diameter complimentary to a diameter of the top face of the fastener insert such that the lower portion guides the fastener insert into a fastener insert aperture of the composite panel while maintaining the plurality of arms in the retracted configuration.
2 more elements
A method for a fastener within a composite panel, the method comprising:
- folding a plurality of arms of a fastener insert inward around an axis extending from front to rear through a central hub of the fastener insert while installing the fastener insert into an aperture in the composite panel;
- rotating each arm of a plurality of arms of a fastener insert inward around a retraction mechanism of the arm configured to allow the arm to fold inward to a retracted configuration while installing the fastener insert into an aperture in the composite panel;
- positioning the fastener insert within the aperture until a top face of the fastener insert is substantially flush with a top sheet of the composite panel;
- extending the plurality of arms of the fastener insert from the retracted configuration, in which the plurality of arms do not extend beyond an outer dimension of the top face, to an extended configuration, in which the plurality of arms are extended outward from the central hub beyond the outer dimension of the top face;
- and
- installing the fastener through the top face of the fastener insert and into the central hub of the fastener insert;
- wherein rotating each arm of a plurality of arms of a fastener insert inward around a retraction mechanism of the arm comprises pressing the fastener insert within an installation tool such that the plurality of arms contact an upper portion of the installation tool having a converging diameter and rotate inward in response to pressure against the upper portion having the converging diameter.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.