Abstract:
The invention relates to a device comprising a base plate and a support for adjusting the height of an assembly, in particular of a galley module in an aircraft, without using tools. 
     According to the invention, two opposing wedge bodies are arranged such that they can be displaced horizontally between the base plate and the support, the oppositely directed manual displacement of the two wedge bodies, when the lock levers have been raised, causes in the “adjusting position” a raising or lowering of the support for the height adjustment. The assembly is connected to the support, for example by a conventional screw connection through the attachment hole in the support. 
     The device according to the invention allows a user to perform a simple and rapid height adjustment of an assembly arranged thereon, thereby greatly reducing the assembly effort required for prefabricated assemblies or modules in aircraft.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of PCT/EP2008/061070 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/004,827, filed Nov. 30, 2007 and German Patent Application No. 10 2007 057 617.1, filed Nov. 30, 2007, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device comprising a base plate and a support for adjusting the height of an assembly, in particular of a galley module in an aircraft, without the use of tools. 
     Modern passenger aircraft have galleys which are provided in prefabricated form by external outfitters and suppliers. During installation, tolerance compensation generally has to be made between the galley holder and the galley module as a result of unavoidable manufacturing tolerances. The same problem usually arises for other prefabricated modules or assemblies which are to be installed in the fuselage airframe structure. 
     The necessary tolerance compensation, in particular the height compensation is presently performed using so-called “shim plates”, i.e. planar spacers or washers of the same or respectively different thickness. This procedural method is complicated, because many “shim plates” of a different material thickness have to be inserted between the galley holder and the galley and, if necessary, also have to be combined together to adjust the correct desired height. After inserting and positioning one or more “shim plates”, the fastening screws of the galley are tightened such that the galley settles in the final correct position. A check is then made to ascertain whether the height adjustment corresponds to the preset values. If this is not the case, the procedure then has to be repeated using another “shim plate” or a combination of “shim plates”, and the fastening screws of the galley have to be undone again. Furthermore, this method requires the provision of a comprehensive stock of different compensating discs in the installation region, and for reasons of aircraft safety, the greatest care must also be taken that no parts get lost in the structure during assembly. Finally, assembly without tools using “shim plates” and a continuously variable height adjustment is not possible. 
     Alternatively, it is possible to perform the height compensation by screwing in vertical tapped bushings. In this case, although a continuously variable height adjustment is possible, but specific tools are required for the adjustment. In order to compensate for a relatively great height difference, it may be necessary to perform a very great number of turns of the tapped bushing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide a device for adjusting the height of assemblies in aircraft, which device allows a rapid and substantially continuously variable height adjustment of the assembly, without the use of tools, when said assembly is installed in the fuselage airframe structure of an aircraft without losable parts. 
     This object is achieved by a device which has the features of claim  1 . 
     Due to the fact that two opposed wedge bodies for height adjustment are arranged such that they are guided displaceably between the base plate and the support and that the wedge bodies can be secured against displacements parallel to a longitudinal axis, a rapid and particularly tool-less or manual height adjustability is provided which can be performed by just one handgrip of the user. Furthermore, the oppositely moving wedge bodies produce an advantageous transmission ratio so that relatively small horizontal movements are transformed into vertical movements which are almost proportional thereto, while on the other hand no excessive actuating forces have to be applied for the height adjustment. 
     The respectively adjusted horizontal position of the wedge bodies is secured by securing means, thereby ruling out uncontrolled displacements and thus a change in height of the device. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment, at least regions of an upper side of the substantially rectangular base plate have base plate teeth. 
     This measure prevents an uncontrolled displacement of the wedge bodies. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device, at least regions of an upper side of the base plate have a tongue, in particular a dovetailed tongue which can be introduced into grooves, in particular dovetailed grooves, respectively arranged in the region of lower sides of the wedge bodies, such that each wedge body is guided displaceably parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base plate. 
     The guidance of the wedge bodies on the base plate by an in particular dovetailed tongue and groove connection provides a low mechanical clearance simultaneously with a high loadability in the vertical direction, still with an easy horizontal displaceability. Furthermore, the wedge bodies cannot be raised from the base plate. Finally, it is possible to work the base plate and both wedge bodies integrally out of a single block of material, for example by conventional cutting methods. 
     A development provides that a lock lever which can be pivoted manually transversely to the longitudinal axis is accommodated in each wedge body, in which case at least regions of each lock lever have lock lever teeth in the region of a lower side. 
     The meshing of lock lever teeth and base plate teeth when the lock lever is pressed downwards prevents an uncontrolled horizontal displacement of the wedge bodies and thus a change in the height adjustment without actively raising the lock lever. In addition, the teeth of the base plate and of the lock elements allow an almost continuously variable or very finely graduated height adjustability of the device. During installation of an assembly, to adjust the height the lock levers are raised and the wedge bodies are moved backwards and forwards in opposite directions to one another until the height is adjusted. When the two lock levers are subsequently pressed down, the wedge bodies are secured in their respective position by the meshing of the base plate teeth and of the lock lever teeth. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device, the lock levers are each pretensioned by a spring. 
     Consequently, the lower-side teeth of the lock levers in the unraised, i.e. downwardly pressed state are pressed firmly into the base plate teeth by the effect of the spring force, such that an undesirable adjustment of the wedge body positions is extensively ruled out even under the effect of external forces. It is possible to increase the power of resistance of the locking effect with respect to the effect of external forces by enlarging the respectively meshing teeth (base plate teeth and lock lever teeth). Examples of springs which can be used include helical springs, flat coil springs, leaf springs, helical springs with two sides of the spring arranged in a v-shape, or the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantageous embodiments of the device are set out in the further claims. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device with all the basic individual components, 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the mounted device, and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective internal view of part of the device. 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, the same constructive elements each have the same reference numeral. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the device for adjusting the height of assemblies. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     A device  1  according to the invention for adjusting the height of assemblies comprises, inter alia, a substantially rectangular base plate  2 , two wedge bodies  3 ,  4  and a support  5 . An upper side  6  of the base plate  2  is provided, for example with a preferably dovetailed tongue  7  which runs parallel to a longitudinal axis  8 . Each of the two wedge bodies  3 ,  4  has in the region of a lower side  9 ,  10  a preferably dovetailed groove  11 ,  12  which is configured such that it corresponds to the tongue  7 . The wedge bodies  3 ,  4  are each guided displaceably on the tongue  7  of the base plate  2  parallel to the longitudinal axis  8  due to the dovetailed grooves  11 ,  12 . It is impossible to lift the thus guided wedge bodies  3 ,  4  parallel to a vertical axis  13  and thus a secure and smooth-running guidance of the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  on the base plate  2  is ensured. Introduced into both upper sides  14 ,  15  of the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  is a respective, also preferably dovetailed groove  16 ,  17 . According to the invention, the grooves  16 ,  17  are configured to be inclined in each case by an angle of between 10° and 40° in relation to the longitudinal axis  8 , the grooves  16 ,  17  in both wedge bodies  3 ,  4  being respectively inclined in opposite directions, i.e. the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  are configured to be mutually mirror-symmetrical. 
     A lower side  18  of the support  5  also has two preferably dovetailed tongues  19 ,  20  which are configured corresponding to the dovetailed grooves  16 ,  17  in the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  and can be introduced positively into said grooves  16 ,  17  at least in regions. The tongues  19 ,  20  which run at an inclination angle in a range of from 10° and 40° are inclined in opposite directions such that the tongues  19 ,  20  meet in the region of a centre line  21  of the support  5 . The geometric shape of the support  5  approximately corresponds to that of an inverted v-shaped roof. The inclination angles of the tongues  19 ,  20  of the support  5  correspond in each case to inclination angles of the grooves  16 ,  17  in the wedge bodies  3 ,  4 . By simultaneously moving both wedge bodies  3 ,  4  in the direction of or against the orientation of the arrows  22 , in conjunction with the inclined grooves  16 ,  17  or the tongues  19 ,  20  the opposed horizontal movement of the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  is transformed into a vertical movement of the support  5  in the direction of the arrow  23  to adjust the height of an assembly (not shown) attached to the support  5 , for example a galley module or the like. The base plate  2  is connected, for example to a floor frame (not shown) of a fuselage airframe structure of an aircraft or to a galley support. 
     As an alternative to guiding the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  between the base plate  2  and the support  5  by a dovetail guidance, it is possible to use any suitable alternative linear guidance, for example a longitudinal guidance using rods and slide bushes guided thereon, linear ball bearings or the like. However, the dovetail guidance which is merely shown by way of example has the important advantage that it can be realised with a minimum of parts, since both the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  and the base plate  2  and the support  5  can be cut integrally out of a solid material, for example a suitably-sized block of a readily CNC-workable aluminium alloy. 
     In order to secure the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  against uncontrolled displacements parallel to the longitudinal axis  8 , at least regions of the base plate  2  have base plate teeth  24 . The base plate teeth  24  extend over the entire length expanse of the base plate  2  on both sides of the longitudinal axis  8 , only one region being left clear for an attachment hole  25  in the base plate  2 . Furthermore, two lock levers  26 ,  27  are present which can be pivoted upwards and downwards and are provided with lock lever teeth  30 ,  31  in the region of a lower side  28 ,  29 . The lock lever teeth  30 ,  31  are brought into engagement with the base plate teeth  24  when the lock levers  26 ,  27  are pressed downwards in the direction of the arrows  32  by a user. The two lock levers  26 ,  27  are accommodated or mounted pivotally by the pins  33 ,  34  in the recesses  35 ,  36  inside the wedge bodies  3 ,  4 . To ensure that the lock lever teeth  30 ,  31  are always engaged in a “securing position” with the base plate teeth  24  for securing the wedge bodies  3 ,  4 , the two lock levers  26 ,  27  are preferably pretensioned in each case by a (pressure) cylinder spring  37 ,  38  or a (pressure) helical spring. Alternatively, with a suitable constructive connection of the lock levers  26 ,  27  in the wedge bodies  3 ,  4 , it is possible to use flat coil springs, leaf springs, helical springs with two sides of the spring arranged in a v-shape, in each case in a compression or traction configuration. A substantially square cross-sectional surface, which is not described in more detail, of the recesses  35 ,  36  is dimensioned such that the lock levers  26 ,  27  can be pivoted upwards, against the direction of the arrow  32 , by a user until the lock lever teeth  30 ,  31  no longer mesh with the base plate teeth  24 , but have been lifted out of said base plate teeth  24 . In this so-called “adjusting position”, the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  can be moved manually, without using a tool, parallel to the longitudinal axis  8  to adjust the height of the support  5 . When the two wedge bodies  3 ,  4  are moved outwards, the support  5  is lowered, whereas when the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  are moved inwards, the support  5  is raised parallel to the vertical axis  13 . 
     When the support  5  has reached the intended height, the user simply releases the lock levers  26 ,  27 . Consequently, the lock levers  26 ,  27  automatically pivot back into their “securing position” in the direction of arrows  32  by the effect of the cylindrical springs  37 ,  38 , in which position the two sets of lock lever teeth  30 ,  31  mesh positively at least in regions with the base plate teeth  24  and any horizontal displacements of the two wedge bodies  3 ,  4  are ruled out. 
     Both the base plate teeth  24  and the lock lever teeth  30 ,  31  are formed by a sufficiently fine, preferably prismatic tooth system with a large number of small teeth which, in the relevant height compensation region of the device  1 , allow a practically almost continuously variable height adjustment with a simultaneous secure locking of the wedge bodies  3 ,  4 . The teeth of the base plate teeth  24  and of the lock lever teeth  30 ,  31  which have not been provided with a reference numeral have in each case an approximately triangular cross-sectional geometry with a height Of for example up to 1 mm and a width of the base side of up to 2 mm (cross-sectional geometry in the form of an equilateral triangle), the longitudinal axes of the teeth in each case running transversely to the longitudinal axis  8 . Other geometric configurations of the tooth geometry are also possible. 
     Finally, in the lowered state of the lock levers  26 ,  27 , two stoppers  39 ,  40  as an additional securing means are pressed into the recesses  35 ,  36  with a light pressing closure above the two lock levers  26 ,  27 , thereby making it impossible for the lock levers  26 ,  27  to pivot upwards and thus preventing any uncontrolled height adjustment of the device  1 . Furthermore, the stoppers  39 ,  40  ensure protection against the penetration of moisture and particles of grime into the device  1  and thus ensure that the device  1  can be easily operated at any time. 
     The lock levers  26 ,  27  are mounted pivotally on two pins  33 ,  34 , which are each mounted in a hole inside the wedge bodies  3 ,  4 . Of the two holes, only one hole  41  in the first front wedge body  3  has a reference numeral representing the concealed hole in the second rear wedge body  4 . In the region of their trailing ends, the lock levers  26 ,  27  each have a continuous hole  42 ,  43  for the guidance through of the pins  33 ,  34 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device in the assembled state. 
     The wedge bodies  3 ,  4  of the device  1  with their lower-side dovetailed grooves  11 ,  12  are guided on the tongue  7  with the teeth  24  of the base plate  2 , while the support  5  with its two lower-side tongues  19 ,  20  is accommodated displaceably in the upper-side grooves  16 ,  17  in the two wedge bodies  3 ,  4 . In the view of  FIG. 2 , the lock levers  26 ,  27  are in the “securing position” in which the stoppers  39 ,  40  have been pressed or inserted into the recesses  35 ,  36  and there is no possibility of a horizontal displacement of the wedge bodies  3 ,  4 . Due to the easy press fit between the stoppers  39 ,  40  and the recesses  35 ,  36 , the stoppers  39 ,  40  are themselves secured against falling out. The stoppers  39 ,  40  can also be captively connected, for example to the base plate  2  or the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  by securing tapes (not shown). Introduced into the support  5  is at least one preferably centrally arranged central attachment hole  44  which serves to connect the assembly (not shown) or function modules which are to be attached, for example in the form of a galley module or the like, the height adjustment of which is to be varied in a continuously variable manner by the device  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective (partially internal) view of the left-side wedge body  3  of the device in the assembled state, to which the inner structure of the wedge body  4  corresponds which is constructed in a mirror-inverted manner to wedge body  3 . On the base plate  2 , the left-side wedge body  3  is accommodated in a known manner in the dovetailed guide means such that it can be displaced horizontally. 
     The lock lever  26  is pressed downwards under the effect of the cylindrical spring  37  and is held in this position (“securing position”) such that the base plate teeth  24  mesh with the lock lever teeth  30  and there is no possibility of horizontal displacements of the wedge body  3 . Thus, an uncontrolled, automatic raising or lowering of the support  5  is impossible. 
     To adjust the height of the support  5 , a user removes the stoppers  39 ,  40 , raises both lock levers  26 ,  27  manually without tools until the “adjusting position” is reached, introduces the stoppers  39 ,  40  under the lock levers  26 ,  27  into the recesses  35 ,  36 , as a result of which they are held without further support in the raised position, and moves the wedge bodies  3 ,  4  in opposite directions on the base plate  2  until the correct height adjustment of the device  1  has been found. Due to the lock levers  26 ,  27  which are held in the raised position by the stoppers  39 ,  40 , the user keeps both hands free for the height adjustment during assembly. When the intended height adjustment has been found, the two lock levers  26 ,  27  automatically return into the “securing position” after the user has removed, by pulling out, the stoppers  39 ,  40  from the recesses  35 ,  36 . Finally, by pressing the stoppers  39 ,  40  above the lock levers  26 ,  27  into the recesses  35 ,  36 , lock levers  26 ,  27  can be fixed in the “securing position”. In addition, the stoppers  39 ,  40  prevent the development of rattling noises in the event of oscillations or vibrations. 
     Both ends of the cylindrical springs  37  are accommodated in respectively opposite holes  45 ,  46  of a small depth which are respectively introduced into a central region of an upper side  47  of the lock lever  26  and in the region of a cover surface  48  of the recess  35  in the wedge body  3  and are thus secured against sliding laterally. The lock lever  26  is mounted pivotally inside the first wedge body  3  by the pin  33 . Any upwards movement of the lock lever  26  is blocked by the stopper  39  inserted into the recess  35  in the “securing position” illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The fixing in position of the cylindrical spring  38  in the lock lever  27  and in the recess  36  (and the mounting thereof in the right-hand wedge body  4 , not shown in  FIG. 3 ) is carried out analogously (cf. in particular  FIG. 1 ). 
     Due to the device  1  according to the invention, it is no longer necessary for the height adjustment procedure to release the (screw) connection between the support  5  and an assembly (not shown) which is attached thereon, for example a galley module, during the adjusting procedure and to then screw it down again. The same applies to the attachment of the base plate  2  to a substructure (not shown), for example to a galley support arranged on a floor frame of a fuselage airframe structure, so that by using the device  1 , it is possible to considerably reduce the assembly effort. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 device 
               
               
                 2 
                 base plate 
               
               
                 3 
                 wedge body (first) 
               
               
                 4 
                 wedge body (second) 
               
               
                 5 
                 support 
               
               
                 6 
                 upper side (base plate) 
               
               
                 7 
                 tongue (base plate) 
               
               
                 8 
                 longitudinal axis 
               
               
                 9 
                 lower side (first wedge body) 
               
               
                 10 
                 lower side (second wedge body) 
               
               
                 11 
                 groove (lower side of first wedge body) 
               
               
                 12 
                 groove (lower side of second wedge body) 
               
               
                 13 
                 vertical axis 
               
               
                 14 
                 upper side (first wedge body) 
               
               
                 15 
                 upper side (second wedge body) 
               
               
                 16 
                 groove (upper side of first wedge body) 
               
               
                 17 
                 groove (upper side of second wedge body) 
               
               
                 18 
                 lower side (support) 
               
             
          
           
               
                  19 
                  spring 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                  {close oversize brace}  
                 support 
               
               
                  20 
                  spring 
               
             
          
           
               
                 21 
                 centre line (crown line of support) 
               
               
                 22 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 23 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 24 
                 base plate teeth 
               
               
                 25 
                 attachment hole (base plate) 
               
               
                 26 
                 lock lever (first wedge body) 
               
               
                 27 
                 lock lever (second wedge body) 
               
               
                 28 
                 lower side (lock lever) 
               
               
                 29 
                 lower side (lock lever) 
               
               
                 30 
                 lock lever teeth 
               
               
                 31 
                 lock lever teeth 
               
               
                 32 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 33 
                 pin 
               
               
                 34 
                 pin 
               
               
                 35 
                 recess (first wedge body) 
               
               
                 36 
                 recess (second wedge body) 
               
               
                 37 
                 cylindrical spring 
               
               
                 38 
                 cylindrical spring 
               
               
                 39 
                 stopper 
               
               
                 40 
                 stopper 
               
               
                 41 
                 hole (first wedge body) 
               
             
          
           
               
                  42 
                  hole 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                  {close oversize brace}  
                 lock lever 
               
               
                  43 
                  hole 
               
             
          
           
               
                 44 
                 attachment hole (support) 
               
               
                 45 
                 hole (position fixing for cylindrical spring) 
               
               
                 46 
                 hole (position fixing for cylindrical spring) 
               
               
                 47 
                 upper side (first lock lever) 
               
               
                 48 
                 cover surface (first recess)