Connecting device

A connecting device (10) is provided for releasably connecting a fitting piece, such as an interior lining, to a supporting structure, such as a fuselage. The connecting device (10) includes a plug-in holding mechanism (50) including a bushing piece (52) and a connecting pin (75) that can be releasably locked therein. A bent connecting arm (60), to which the connecting pin is fastened, is releasably fastened to a structural holder (40) mounted on the supporting structure. In one position, the connecting arm (60) is plugged into the structural holder (40) and is releasably locked therein. In a second position (125), in which the connecting arm (60) is rotated 180° about the longitudinal axis thereof, an electrical contact device (90) is additionally inserted between the connecting arm (60) and the bushing piece (52). Hence, the same structural holder (40) and the same connecting arm (60) allow the fitting piece and the supporting structure to be connected to one another with or without connecting a contact device (90) therebetween.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a device for the detachable connection of an interior-equipment piece, such as interior paneling, to a support structure, such as an aircraft fuselage, comprising a plug-in holding mechanism made from a socket part and a connection pin that can be latched detachably in the socket, and a structure bracket and a bent connection arm for fastening the plug-in holding mechanism between the interior-equipment piece and the support structure, wherein the connection arm has a first and a second end part, one of which supports the connection pin.

In the development of cabins for newer types of aircraft, such as, for example, the Airbus A350, one goal is to design elements to be fastened to the fuselage of the aircraft, such as restrooms, galleys, passenger seats, cabin power networks, cabin lighting, and air nozzles, each as a complete cabin module, wherein, however, all of the connection points should be constructed as flexible, standardized interfaces and wherein simplified fastener designs should be used that allow assembly and disassembly without the use of tools (cf., the article “Cabin Development—New Approach for the A350—Cabin Customization,” One (magazine), German edition, Dec. 18, 2006, pg. 23). Devices of the type named above are designed, in contrast, for the fastening of elements of the interior paneling of an aircraft, such as wall and ceiling paneling parts. In principle, it should also be possible to reconfigure, on short notice, an existing, configuration, for example, the cabin equipment for a long-haul flight, in order to prepare, for example, the cabin equipment for a short-haul flight. The standardized interfaces should be applicable equally for all categories of aircraft. Furthermore, it should be guaranteed that the standardized interfaces reliably prevent rattling noises of the components connected to each other.

A device of the type noted above is known from EP 1 193 403 A2. This known device is a plate unit adjustable in the X/Y coordinate directions for wall paneling elements to be attached detachably by spring clips and consists of a first base plate adjustable in the X-direction and a second holding plate adjustable in the Y-direction. The base plate has at least two first elongated holes oriented in the X-direction and aligned with each other for the imagined fastening of the base plate adjustable in the X-direction to a wall that could involve the support structure or the fuselage of an aircraft. The holding plate has at least two second elongated holes oriented in the Y-direction and aligned with each other and through which the base plate is connected to the holding plate adjustable in the Y-direction by means of connection elements. On the holding plate, holding springs for receiving holding socket pins are arranged on the side facing the base plate at the corners of an imaginary rectangle oriented in the X/Y directions, wherein these socket pins form the connection pins of a plug-in holding mechanism and are connected to a wall paneling element that could involve a part of the interior paneling of an aircraft. The connection pin or holding socket pins is/are connected to the wall paneling element by means of a damping element and a bent connection arm. For this purpose, the connection arm has two drill holes for fastening the wall paneling element, wherein there is not more detailed information on the type of fastening in EP 1 193 403 A2.

In an aircraft, when a part of the interior paneling, such as, for example, a panel that could support parts of the electrical equipment, is swung outward from the ceiling or from the interior wall like a flap, the cables that are connected to the interior-equipment parts on the panel must move along the path of the panel. So that the cables do not obstruct the movement of the panel, the cables connected to the panel must have a certain extra length. In an aircraft, where the length of the installed cables measures many kilometers, the extra cable lengths mentioned above lead to undesired extra weight that could lie on the order of magnitude of several hundred kilograms. If a panel is to be detached from the ceiling or the interior paneling, it is also necessary to disconnect electrical plug connections that must be reconnected later by hand when the panel is reinstalled.

DE 10 2006 012 730 B3 describes a fastening system for fastening a cabin-equipment element to a support structure of an aircraft with which the previously mentioned problems of extra cable length and the making and breaking of plug-in connections should be able to be solved in part. To this end, work starts from the idea of integrating the necessary electrical contacts that must be broken for removal of a part of the interior paneling and must be later made again in at least one of several mechanical supports to which the support structure and interior paneling are connected, so that for coupling, one electrical connection with several contacts is made between the support structure and the interior paneling. In this known fastening system, an electrical contact device is constructed with a socket arrangement and a plug arrangement in at least one bearing of an interior-equipment part through which an electrical connection is made between the support structure and the electrical device of the cabin-equipment part for fixing this support. This support with integrated contact device, however, has a different configuration of the fastening system than a support without a contact device. This makes the use of this known fastening system inflexible.

SUMMARY

The objective of the invention is to form a device of the type noted above so that, when needed, in a simpler and more flexible way, it can be changed to a support with a contact device.

This objective is met according to the invention by a device of the type noted above in which the connection arm is dimensioned so that, when the connection pin is latched detachably in the socket part, the connection arm is in a first position in which it and the socket part are in contact with each other in a dividing plane, but, when the connection arm is in a second position rotated by 180° about its longitudinal axis, the connection arm has a distance from the dividing plane that is bridged or can be bridged by an electrical contact device to be arranged between the connection arm and the socket part, wherein a different connection pin that is attached on the connection arm and is dimensioned longer by this distance than the one connection pin is guided or can be guided through this contact device and is latched or can be latched in the socket part.

The device according to the invention allows the making of a connection between an interior-equipment part and a support structure with the help of a structure bracket and a connection arm attached detachably on this bracket selectively with or without an electrical contact device. If no electrical contact device is needed, the connection arm is brought into a first position on the structure bracket. If an electrical contact device should be integrated in the connection, only the connection arm needs to be brought into a second position rotated by 180° about the longitudinal axis of the connection arm. The structure bracket keeps its original position. When the connection is made and an electrical contact device is located between the connection arm and the socket part, the socket part assumes the same spatial position as in the case in which no electrical contact device is located between it and the connection arm. Due to its configuration, for the use of an electrical contact device, the device according to the invention therefore also needs only one connection pin that is longer by the distance that is bridged by the electrical contact device between the connection arm and the socket part. For the device according to the invention, either the same connection arm can be used on which the connection pin is exchanged for a different connection pin with corresponding length, before the connection arm is latched in its second position rotated by 180° back on the structure bracket, or a different connection arm already prefabricated with a longer connection pin could be used that is then exchanged merely for the connection arm with a shorter connection pin, when an electrical contact device is to be used, and vice versa.

In contrast to the prior art mentioned above according to EP 1 193 403 A2, for the device according to the invention, the bent connection arm is attached on the structure bracket instead of on the interior-equipment part. The structure bracket that is used according to the invention and is advantageously fastened indeed to the support structure but could be fastened alternatively or also additionally to the interior-equipment part, does not need to be modified in its configuration, regardless of whether an electrical contact device is being used or not. A connection pin could be exchanged in a simple way for a longer or shorter connection pin according to whether an electrical contact device is being used or not.

From DE 82 12 130 U1, it is known to fasten bent or step-shaped cable bracket line poles on a work bench in a pluggable manner, in order to be able to mount fittings of a cable section at different heights. Through the stepped shape of the cable bracket line poles, through the height difference of the inserts in table boards of the work bench, and through the possibility to be able to fix the cable brackets in their inserts pointing upward and downward under the use of the displacement length, the mounting of fittings of a cable section with fittings lying on the floor is just as possible as the mounting of fittings at chest height for the purpose of demonstration. The different heights are here produced not only by rotation of the cable bracket line poles, but also with the help of adapters and cable brackets, wherein the adapters could have spacer pieces of different lengths. In their different constructions, the adapters should allow the largest possible spread in variation in the combination of the cable bracket and the accessories relative to each other and their position. The rotation of the cable bracket line poles about the insertion axis is thus used not for the production of different distances to a reference surface. The rotation about the insertion axis is not used at least for the same purpose as the setting of the two positions for the bent connection arm of the device according to the invention.

Advantageous constructions of the invention form the subject matter of the subordinate claims.

In one construction of the device according to the invention, the structure bracket is a flat, plate-shaped, polygonal body with at least one pair of mutually opposing sides that has at least one chamber that opens into one of these sides and in which the first end part of the connection arm is locked or can be locked detachably. This configuration allows the connection arm to be easily brought into a desired, different position through rotation by 180° about its longitudinal axis.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, each of the sides into which the chamber opens has a projection with an end face angled against this side, wherein the chamber opens into this end face. This configuration allows, also on the opposite side of the body of the structure bracket, an equal chamber for at least one additional connection arm to be provided or a chamber for a connection arm to be provided on all of the sides.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, each connection pin is connected using a damping element to the second end part of its connection arm. The damping element is advantageously an elastic body. This allows the connection between the support structure and the interior-equipment part to be made in an elastically biased way, wherein undesired rattling noises during use can be prevented even more easily.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, the damping element extends through the second end part of the connection arm and projects past the connection arm on both sides. Therefore, the damping element comes into contact with the part to be attached to the connection arm, namely with the socket part of the plug-in holding mechanism or with the electrical contact device, and thus provides for an elastically flexible changeover between these parts.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, the detachable connection of the connection arm with the structure bracket is a clip connection or a screw connection. The connection arm thus can be disconnected in a simple way from the structure bracket and can be attached to the structure bracket again after rotation by 180° about its longitudinal axis.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, a retainer frame attached on the plate-shaped body of the structure bracket between two mutually opposing sides is provided for fastening the structure bracket onto the support structure. The retainer frame allows the entire structure bracket to be adjusted in two directions.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, each connection pin is attached on its connection arm so that it projects toward the dividing plane when the connection arm is fastened to the structure bracket. In this way, the connection pin of the plug-in holding mechanism can always be brought into engagement with the socket part of this mechanism, regardless of whether an electrical contact device is being used or not.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, the socket part has a housing that contains a spring-biased slide that can be deflected by the insertion of one or the other connection pin. Regardless of whether an electrical contact device is being used or not, the connection pin of the plug-in holding mechanism can be brought into engagement with the socket part of this mechanism. The socket part keeps its spatial position, because the connection pin of the plug-in holding mechanism is always brought into engagement with the socket part in the same axis, regardless of whether an electrical contact device is being used or not.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, an eccentric lever for actuating the spring-biased slide is attached on the housing of the socket part. This eccentric lever allows, in a simple way, the detachment of the connection between the interior-equipment part and the support structure, and indeed regardless of whether an electrical contact device is being used or not.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, each connection pin has, on its free end, a groove with which the spring-biased slide is or can be brought in engagement. The mechanical connection and the electrical connection are then made when the slide is in engagement with the groove of the connection pin.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, each connection pin has, on its other end, another groove with which a holding plate is or can be brought into engagement. The holding plate that advantageously engages with radially inward projecting, elastic fingers in the additional groove allows, in a simple way, the connection pin to be fastened to the connection arm or the connection pin to be replaced for a different, longer or shorter connection pin.

In another construction of the device according to the invention, the contact device has electrical contacts that can be connected to each other and can be disconnected from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connection pin. At the same time with the making/breaking of the mechanical connection between the interior-equipment part and the support structure, an electrical connection can thus also be made/broken automatically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of a connection device according to the invention that is designated overall with10is shown inFIG. 1in a perspective diagram in a view at an angle from above. The connection device10is used for the detachable connection of an interior-equipment part20to a support structure30(indicated only inFIG. 7). The interior-equipment part20could be the interior paneling of the cabin of an aircraft, wherein the support structure30is then the aircraft fuselage. The connection device10comprises a structure bracket (called Strukturhalter in German)40and at least one bent connection arm60. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection device10has a structure bracket40with two bent connection arms60. A connection device10with only one bent connection arm60or with four or more than four bent connection arms60, however, is also possible. Each connection arm60is attached to a plug-in holding mechanism designated overall with50in the figures. The plug-in holding mechanism50connects the interior-equipment part20via the connection arm60detachably to the structure bracket40that is fastened on its side by a retainer frame110made from metal or a carbon-fiber material to the support structure30. The retainer frame110is fastened on the top side49of the body42of the structure bracket40and is angled at its ends so that it extends past sides47and48of the body42.

The plug-in holding mechanism50that is shown inFIG. 3in an exploded-view representation comprises a socket part designated overall with52and a connection pin70that can be locked detachably in this socket part. According to the representation inFIGS. 2 and 3, the connection arm60has a first end part61and a second end part62. The first end part61is inserted into the structure bracket40according to the representation inFIG. 2and is locked detachably in this structure bracket. The second end part62of the connection arm60carries the connection pin70that is fastened in an elastically flexible way to the second end part62by a damping element100.

The structure bracket40is a flat, plate-shaped, polygonal body42with paired, mutually opposing sides43,44and the sides47,48already mentioned above. Each connection arm60is a separate part that is inserted into the structure bracket40in a first position120according toFIG. 2or in a second position125according toFIG. 5and can be locked detachably in this structure bracket. For each connection arm60, the structure bracket40has a chamber45that can be seen inFIG. 2and opens outward into one of its sides43,44. The structure bracket40has, on the two mutually opposing sides43,44, a molded projection46that has an end face43aor44athat is angled against this side and from which extends the chamber45into the body42of the structure bracket40. The body42, the socket part52, and the connection arms60are made preferably from plastic that can be reinforced with glass or carbon fiber or from any other material typical in aircraft engineering. The detachable connection of the connection arm60to the structure bracket40is a clip connection in the illustrated embodiment, but could just as well be a screw connection. The damping element100that is mounted on the second end part62of the connection arm60projects on both sides past the connection arm60, as can be seen best inFIG. 2.

The socket part52of the plug-in holding mechanism50has a housing53that contains a spring-biased slide54that is partially visible inFIG. 3. The slide54can be deflected by the insertion of the connection pin70of the plug-in holding mechanism50. An eccentric lever56for the manual actuation, that is, for example, for the detachment of the spring-biased slide54, is attached on the housing52of the socket part50.

The connection device10allows the production of a connection between the interior-equipment part20and the support structure30with the help of the structure bracket40and the connection arms60attached detachably on this structure bracket selectively with or without an electrical contact device90. The socket part52fastened on the interior-equipment part20forms a support through which an electrical connection between the support structure30and an electrical device of the interior-equipment part20can be produced when this support is fixed by the connection arm60. Without an electrical contact device90, the support has the configuration as shown inFIG. 2. With the electrical contact device90, the support has the configuration as shown inFIG. 5.

For this purpose, the connection arm60is dimensioned so that, when the connection pin70is locked detachably in the socket part52as inFIG. 2, the connection arm60in the first position120is in contact via the damping element100with the socket part52in a dividing plane80. In the second position125that is shown inFIG. 5and in which the connection arm60is rotated by 180° about its longitudinal axis, the connection arm60has a distance A from the dividing plane80, wherein this distance is bridged by the electrical contact device90arranged between the connection arm60and the socket part52. In this case, another connection pin75that is attached on the connection arm60and is dimensioned longer by this distance A than the connection pin70is led through the contact device90and locked in the socket part52.

InFIGS. 3 and 6, the use of different-length connection pins70and75, respectively, is shown in perspective for the case that the connection arm60is located in the position120according toFIG. 2or in the position125according toFIG. 5. In addition, inFIG. 6the electrical contact device90is shown in an exploded-view representation. Each connection pin70,75is attached on its connection arm60so that it projects toward the dividing plane80when the connection arm60is fastened on the structure bracket40, as can be seen inFIGS. 2 and 5. According to the representation inFIG. 6, the contact device90has electrical contacts92that can be connected to each other and can be disconnected from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis71(cf.FIG. 5) of the other connection pin75. InFIG. 6, only the electrical contacts92on the lower half of the contact device90are visible. For this purpose, the upper half of the contact device90carries complementary electrical contacts. Each connection pin70,75has, on its free end, a groove76(FIGS. 3 and 6a) with which the spring-biased slide54can be brought into engagement. In addition, each connection pin70,75has on its other end another groove77with which a holding plate102of the damping element100can be brought into engagement. According toFIG. 6, the holding plate102has radially inward projecting, elastic fingers that engage in the groove77, so that the second end part62of the connection arm60can be tightened in an elastic and detachable way between two stop rings64,65on the connection pin70or75. For reaching the position120,125according toFIGS. 2 and 5, respectively, connection arms60can be kept in storage with one or the other connection pin70or75. However, it is likewise possible, when necessary, to replace the connection pin70for a connection pin75, and vice versa, on site.

According to the representation inFIGS. 1,4, and7, for adaptation to different installation situations, the housing53of the socket part52of the plug-in holding mechanism50is to be connected to the interior-equipment part20by a connector bracket (called Verbinderhalter in German)25.

InFIG. 6a, the connection pin75of the plug-in holding mechanism50according toFIG. 6is shown as a detail. Below the groove77, the connection pin75is provided with a collar78. The upper half of the electrical contact device90carries, according to the representation inFIG. 6, a socket74with a square cross section. The socket74has a drill hole into which the connection pin75can be inserted from below until the collar78contacts the socket74and the groove77is located above the socket74, as shown inFIG. 6, so that the elastic fingers of the holding plate102can engage in the groove77. The lower part of the connection pin75extends through a drill hole79into the lower half of the contact device90, so that the spring-biased slide54can be brought into engagement with the groove76.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS