Device for adjusting the height of an assembly without the use of tools

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.

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 claim1.

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.

In the drawings, the same constructive elements each have the same reference numeral.

FIG. 1is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the device for adjusting the height of assemblies.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

A device1according to the invention for adjusting the height of assemblies comprises, inter alia, a substantially rectangular base plate2, two wedge bodies3,4and a support5. An upper side6of the base plate2is provided, for example with a preferably dovetailed tongue7which runs parallel to a longitudinal axis8. Each of the two wedge bodies3,4has in the region of a lower side9,10a preferably dovetailed groove11,12which is configured such that it corresponds to the tongue7. The wedge bodies3,4are each guided displaceably on the tongue7of the base plate2parallel to the longitudinal axis8due to the dovetailed grooves11,12. It is impossible to lift the thus guided wedge bodies3,4parallel to a vertical axis13and thus a secure and smooth-running guidance of the wedge bodies3,4on the base plate2is ensured. Introduced into both upper sides14,15of the wedge bodies3,4is a respective, also preferably dovetailed groove16,17. According to the invention, the grooves16,17are configured to be inclined in each case by an angle of between 10° and 40° in relation to the longitudinal axis8, the grooves16,17in both wedge bodies3,4being respectively inclined in opposite directions, i.e. the wedge bodies3,4are configured to be mutually mirror-symmetrical.

A lower side18of the support5also has two preferably dovetailed tongues19,20which are configured corresponding to the dovetailed grooves16,17in the wedge bodies3,4and can be introduced positively into said grooves16,17at least in regions. The tongues19,20which run at an inclination angle in a range of from 10° and 40° are inclined in opposite directions such that the tongues19,20meet in the region of a centre line21of the support5. The geometric shape of the support5approximately corresponds to that of an inverted v-shaped roof. The inclination angles of the tongues19,20of the support5correspond in each case to inclination angles of the grooves16,17in the wedge bodies3,4. By simultaneously moving both wedge bodies3,4in the direction of or against the orientation of the arrows22, in conjunction with the inclined grooves16,17or the tongues19,20the opposed horizontal movement of the wedge bodies3,4is transformed into a vertical movement of the support5in the direction of the arrow23to adjust the height of an assembly (not shown) attached to the support5, for example a galley module or the like. The base plate2is 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 bodies3,4between the base plate2and the support5by 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 bodies3,4and the base plate2and the support5can 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 bodies3,4against uncontrolled displacements parallel to the longitudinal axis8, at least regions of the base plate2have base plate teeth24. The base plate teeth24extend over the entire length expanse of the base plate2on both sides of the longitudinal axis8, only one region being left clear for an attachment hole25in the base plate2. Furthermore, two lock levers26,27are present which can be pivoted upwards and downwards and are provided with lock lever teeth30,31in the region of a lower side28,29. The lock lever teeth30,31are brought into engagement with the base plate teeth24when the lock levers26,27are pressed downwards in the direction of the arrows32by a user. The two lock levers26,27are accommodated or mounted pivotally by the pins33,34in the recesses35,36inside the wedge bodies3,4. To ensure that the lock lever teeth30,31are always engaged in a “securing position” with the base plate teeth24for securing the wedge bodies3,4, the two lock levers26,27are preferably pretensioned in each case by a (pressure) cylinder spring37,38or a (pressure) helical spring. Alternatively, with a suitable constructive connection of the lock levers26,27in the wedge bodies3,4, 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 recesses35,36is dimensioned such that the lock levers26,27can be pivoted upwards, against the direction of the arrow32, by a user until the lock lever teeth30,31no longer mesh with the base plate teeth24, but have been lifted out of said base plate teeth24. In this so-called “adjusting position”, the wedge bodies3,4can be moved manually, without using a tool, parallel to the longitudinal axis8to adjust the height of the support5. When the two wedge bodies3,4are moved outwards, the support5is lowered, whereas when the wedge bodies3,4are moved inwards, the support5is raised parallel to the vertical axis13.

When the support5has reached the intended height, the user simply releases the lock levers26,27. Consequently, the lock levers26,27automatically pivot back into their “securing position” in the direction of arrows32by the effect of the cylindrical springs37,38, in which position the two sets of lock lever teeth30,31mesh positively at least in regions with the base plate teeth24and any horizontal displacements of the two wedge bodies3,4are ruled out.

Both the base plate teeth24and the lock lever teeth30,31are 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 device1, allow a practically almost continuously variable height adjustment with a simultaneous secure locking of the wedge bodies3,4. The teeth of the base plate teeth24and of the lock lever teeth30,31which 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 axis8. Other geometric configurations of the tooth geometry are also possible.

Finally, in the lowered state of the lock levers26,27, two stoppers39,40as an additional securing means are pressed into the recesses35,36with a light pressing closure above the two lock levers26,27, thereby making it impossible for the lock levers26,27to pivot upwards and thus preventing any uncontrolled height adjustment of the device1. Furthermore, the stoppers39,40ensure protection against the penetration of moisture and particles of grime into the device1and thus ensure that the device1can be easily operated at any time.

The lock levers26,27are mounted pivotally on two pins33,34, which are each mounted in a hole inside the wedge bodies3,4. Of the two holes, only one hole41in the first front wedge body3has a reference numeral representing the concealed hole in the second rear wedge body4. In the region of their trailing ends, the lock levers26,27each have a continuous hole42,43for the guidance through of the pins33,34.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the device in the assembled state.

The wedge bodies3,4of the device1with their lower-side dovetailed grooves11,12are guided on the tongue7with the teeth24of the base plate2, while the support5with its two lower-side tongues19,20is accommodated displaceably in the upper-side grooves16,17in the two wedge bodies3,4. In the view ofFIG. 2, the lock levers26,27are in the “securing position” in which the stoppers39,40have been pressed or inserted into the recesses35,36and there is no possibility of a horizontal displacement of the wedge bodies3,4. Due to the easy press fit between the stoppers39,40and the recesses35,36, the stoppers39,40are themselves secured against falling out. The stoppers39,40can also be captively connected, for example to the base plate2or the wedge bodies3,4by securing tapes (not shown). Introduced into the support5is at least one preferably centrally arranged central attachment hole44which 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 device1.

FIG. 3is a perspective (partially internal) view of the left-side wedge body3of the device in the assembled state, to which the inner structure of the wedge body4corresponds which is constructed in a mirror-inverted manner to wedge body3. On the base plate2, the left-side wedge body3is accommodated in a known manner in the dovetailed guide means such that it can be displaced horizontally.

The lock lever26is pressed downwards under the effect of the cylindrical spring37and is held in this position (“securing position”) such that the base plate teeth24mesh with the lock lever teeth30and there is no possibility of horizontal displacements of the wedge body3. Thus, an uncontrolled, automatic raising or lowering of the support5is impossible.

To adjust the height of the support5, a user removes the stoppers39,40, raises both lock levers26,27manually without tools until the “adjusting position” is reached, introduces the stoppers39,40under the lock levers26,27into the recesses35,36, as a result of which they are held without further support in the raised position, and moves the wedge bodies3,4in opposite directions on the base plate2until the correct height adjustment of the device1has been found. Due to the lock levers26,27which are held in the raised position by the stoppers39,40, the user keeps both hands free for the height adjustment during assembly. When the intended height adjustment has been found, the two lock levers26,27automatically return into the “securing position” after the user has removed, by pulling out, the stoppers39,40from the recesses35,36. Finally, by pressing the stoppers39,40above the lock levers26,27into the recesses35,36, lock levers26,27can be fixed in the “securing position”. In addition, the stoppers39,40prevent the development of rattling noises in the event of oscillations or vibrations.

Both ends of the cylindrical springs37are accommodated in respectively opposite holes45,46of a small depth which are respectively introduced into a central region of an upper side47of the lock lever26and in the region of a cover surface48of the recess35in the wedge body3and are thus secured against sliding laterally. The lock lever26is mounted pivotally inside the first wedge body3by the pin33. Any upwards movement of the lock lever26is blocked by the stopper39inserted into the recess35in the “securing position” illustrated inFIG. 3. The fixing in position of the cylindrical spring38in the lock lever27and in the recess36(and the mounting thereof in the right-hand wedge body4, not shown inFIG. 3) is carried out analogously (cf. in particularFIG. 1).

Due to the device1according to the invention, it is no longer necessary for the height adjustment procedure to release the (screw) connection between the support5and 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 plate2to 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 device1, it is possible to considerably reduce the assembly effort.