Abstract:
Mounting techniques and systems are detailed. Such techniques and systems are particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, useful for connecting vehicle seat tracks to fixtures for dynamic testing. No holes need necessarily penetrate central portions of the base plates of the tracks.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to mechanisms for and methods of mounting objects to test fixtures and more particularly, but not exclusively, to such mechanisms for and methods of mounting aircraft seat tracks to dynamic test fixtures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Federal standards in the United States prescribe characteristics of seat and restraint systems in transport category airplanes during emergency landing conditions. Among requirements of U.S. regulations is that “each seat type design approved for crew or passenger occupancy during takeoff and landing must successfully complete dynamic tests or be demonstrated by rational analysis based on dynamic tests of a similar type seat” pursuant to certain parameters thereafter provided. See 14 C.F.R. § 25.562. Accordingly, sections of tracks to which aircraft seats are connected must be mounted to test fixtures for purposes of performing the required dynamic testing. 
         [0003]    Aircraft seat tracks conventionally comprise a horizontally-oriented base plate from which a crown upwardly extends. The base plate is connected to a structural member of the air frame of the aircraft in which it is situated to prevent relative movement of the plate and frame. Passenger or crew seats (or both) are connected to the crowns of the tracks. Such connection may be direct or indirect and need not necessarily be permanent, as many aircraft cabins are reconfigured from time to time. 
         [0004]      FIGS. 1A-C  illustrate a section of seat track  10  as conventionally used for testing purposes. As is typical, track  10  includes base plate  14  as well as integrally-formed crown  18 . Crown  18  extends longitudinally along base plate  14  and is symmetric about a longitudinally-extending center line CL of the plate  14 . For conventional testing purposes, also created within track  10  are multiple through holes  22  longitudinally spaced along base plate  14  in the region of crown  18 . Holes  22  are centered transversely in base plate  14 ; i.e. they are aligned with center line CL. 
         [0005]    Also detailed in  FIG. 1A  are load cell  26  and mounting interface  30 . Load cell  26  forms part of a dynamic test fixture for seat track  10  pursuant to federal standards. As illustrated, upper surface  34  of load cell  26  typically has circular cross-section with (four) mounting openings  38  spaced ninety degrees about its periphery. 
         [0006]    Mounting interface  30  functions to facilitate connection of seat track  10  to load cell  26 . Interface  30  conventionally comprises a structure of generally-rectangular cross-section with two sets of openings  42  and  46 , one each to match holes  22  and openings  38 . Openings  46  extend through interface  30  in alignment with openings  38  of load cell  26 . Consequently, bolts or other fasteners may be passed through openings  46  into openings  38  to attach interface  30  to load cell  26 . 
         [0007]    Openings  42 , by contrast, are designed to align with holes  22 . They thus are spaced longitudinally in a central region  50  of interface  30  and accept bolts  54  (or other fasteners) passed through holes  22  to connect track  10  and interface  30 . Because bolts  54  do not extend into load cell  26 , openings  42  need not necessarily extend the full depth of interface  30 . 
         [0008]    At least a substantial portion of upper surface  58  of interface  30 , as well as lower surface  62  of base plate  14 , are flat, so that most or all of upper surface  58  is available to support the plate  14  when interface  30  and plate  14  are connected. Likewise, both lower surface  66  of interface  30  and upper surface  34  of load cell  26  are flat. Accordingly, interface  30  and plate  14  readily rest upon load cell  26  during testing. 
         [0009]    In some cases it may be beneficial to test seat tracks more representative of those actually installed in aircraft.  FIGS. 2A-B  depict, among other things, one such seat track  70 . Like seat track  10 , track  70  includes a (flat) base plate  14 . Track  70  additionally comprises an integrally-formed crown  18  extending longitudinally therealong and which is symmetric about a longitudinally-extending center line CL of the plate  14 . Unlike track  10 , seat track  70  also includes a vertical member  74  extending downward from plate  14  along center line CL, thus assuming a “T” shape in cross-section. Alternatively, seat track  70  may include both vertical member  74  and a horizontal base member  222  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3D ) so that it assumes an “I” shape in cross-section. 
         [0010]    The presence of vertical member  74  precludes ready attachment of track  70  to interface  30 , as lower surface  62  of base plate  14  no longer may abut upper surface  58  of the interface  30 . The existence of vertical member  74  thus likewise disrupts creation of holes  22 . Accordingly, new mounting techniques and systems must be devised to perform dynamic testing of track  70  to comply with federal regulations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention provides such new mounting techniques and systems. It further provides mounting methods and systems in which no holes  22  need necessarily be created in base plate  14 . Instead, tracks may be clamped in position pursuant to the current invention, thus effecting attachment of tracks to interfaces in non-destructive manners. Further, to the extent desirable, fastening holes may be created in vertical member  74 . 
         [0012]    In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, clamping of both the base plate and the vertical member of the track occurs. Additionally, clamping of the base plate may occur twice, on each side of the longitudinal center line. Such clamping of all major surfaces of the track clearly furnishes adequate support for the track when the interface is connected to a fixture for testing. 
         [0013]    One embodiment of the invention includes a pair of elongated brackets with generally L-shaped cross-section. A horizontally-oriented leg of each bracket is designed to contact the upper face of the base plate of the track. Each horizontal leg also may include a series of longitudinally-spaced holes through which fasteners may pass. Vertically-oriented legs of the brackets similarly may include series of longitudinally-spaced holes through which fasteners may pass. 
         [0014]    Also included in this embodiment of the invention may be two elongated, generally rectangular sections. Such sections are configured to contact the lower face of the base plate of the track and include openings longitudinally aligned with those of the horizontal legs of brackets. Appropriate fasteners passing through the holes of both the horizontal bracket legs and the rectangular sections may cause these components to clamp tightly against the opposed faces of the base plate of the track. 
         [0015]    Additionally incorporated into this embodiment of the invention are two clamping members. In use, the clamping members may be connected to the upper face of the load cell and to the vertically-oriented legs of the brackets. Upstanding walls of the clamping members also function to sandwich the vertical member of the track, thus retaining it in an appropriate position for testing. 
         [0016]    It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide mounting interface systems and methods for purposes of testing seat tracks. 
         [0017]    It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide interface systems and methods relating to tracks on which aircraft or other seats or equipment are mounted. 
         [0018]    It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide mounting interface systems and methods in which no holes need necessarily penetrate central portions of base plates of the tracks under test. 
         [0019]    It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide mounting interface systems and methods in which seat tracks may be clamped in position for testing. 
         [0020]    It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide mounting interface systems and methods for use with seat tracks having downwardly-extending vertical members. 
         [0021]    It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide mounting interface systems and methods utilizing components such as brackets, rectangular sections, and clamping members. 
         [0022]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant fields with reference to the remaining text and drawings of this application. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  is an exploded perspective view of components of a conventional seat track mounting assembly. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a top plan view of the seat track of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0025]      FIG. 1C  is a front elevational view of the seat track of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 2A  is an exploded perspective view of components of a seat track mounting assembly of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the seat track mounting assembly of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0028]      FIGS. 3A-D  present views of a second embodiment of the seat track mounting assembly of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 4A-D  present views of a third embodiment of the seat track mounting assembly of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIGS. 5A-D  present views of a fourth embodiment of the seat track mounting assembly of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 6A-D  present views of a fifth embodiment of the seat track mounting assembly of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    Illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-B  is mounting system  100 . System  100  is configured to function as an interface between a test fixture and an object to be tested. As shown in  FIGS. 2A-B , system  100  may connect seat track  70  to load cell  26 . However, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that system  100  may be useful in other situations as well. 
         [0033]    An exemplary version of system  100  includes brackets  104 A-B, rectangular sections  108 A-B, and clamping members  112 A-B. These or similar components function to clamp seat track  70  in a suitable position relative to load cell  26 . They do so without any need to drill holes in base plate  14  of the track  70 , thus avoiding potential structural degradation of the plate  14  during test. 
         [0034]    Each of brackets  104 A and  104 B may comprise two elongated legs, preferably integrally formed at a right angle. Preferred bracket  104 A, therefore, may include horizontally-oriented leg  116 A and vertically-oriented leg  120 A. Bracket  104 B, similarly, may comprise horizontally- and vertically-oriented legs  116 B and  120 B, respectively. One or more holes  124  penetrate each of horizontally-oriented legs  116 A-B, while at least one hole  128  penetrates each of vertically-oriented legs  120 A-B. Holes  124  and  128  are adapted to receive cap screws or other fasteners  132  during assembly of system  100 . Openings  132  in clamping members  112 A-B, further, receive fasteners in order to connect system  100  to load cell  26 . 
         [0035]    Assembly of system  100  is relatively straightforward. Vertical member  74  may be clamped between clamping members  112 A-B, which are attached directly to load cell  26 . Each of segments  136  and  140  opposite crown  18  of base plate  14  may also be clamped between horizontally-oriented legs  116 A and  116 B, respectively, and rectangular sections  108 A and  108 B. Thus, when vertically-oriented legs  120 A and  120 B are attached to respective clamping members  112 A and  112 B, seat track  70  is firmly connected to the testing fixture. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 3A-6D  illustrate alternative assemblies to system  100 . System  200 , for example, may include brackets  204 A-B as well as clamping members  208 A-B. Bolts  212  or other fasteners may connect clamping members  208 A-B to load cell  26 . Further, bolts  216  or other fasteners may extend from clamping member  208 B through openings  220  of vertical member  74  into openings  224  of clamping member  208 A to secure seat track  70  in place. Brackets  204 A-B may attach to respective clamping members  208 A-B, with horizontally-oriented legs  228 A-B contacting segments  136  and  140  of base plate  14 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-D , brackets  204 A-B may be one- or multi-piece and may have complex shape if desired. Such complex shapes may especially be useful if seat track  10  is to be tested, as no vertical member would be present for clamping. Instead, clamping would occur solely by positioning base plate  14  between brackets  204 A-B and clamping members  208 A-B. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 4A-D  detail alternative system  300  comprising clamp blocks  304 A-B and clamp devices  308 A-B. Clamp blocks  304 A-B may be connected directly to load cell  26 . Holes  312  may be made in segments  136  and  140  of base plate  14 , and holes  316  may be present in clamp devices  308 A-B. Fasteners  320  may then pass through corresponding holes  312  and  316  to fix the position of base plate  14  relative to load cell  26 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 5A-D  depict alternative system  400 . System  400  includes central clamping members  404 A-B secured directly to load cell  26  (preferably using countersunk bolts). Secondary clamping members  408 A-B attach to, respectively, central clamping members  404 A-B and provide support surfaces for base plate  14 . Clamp devices  412 A-B may then sandwich base plate  14 , with fasteners  416  passing through openings  420  of the clamp devices  412 A-B and openings  424  made in base plate  14  so as to be received by openings  428  of secondary clamping members  408 A-B. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 6A-D , finally, show alternative system  500  of the present invention. System  500  is generally similar to system  100 , although it may include fasteners  504  passing through openings  508  in vertical member  74  of seat track  70 . If vertical member  74  is not present, clamping of segments  136  and  140  may continue to occur. 
         [0040]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing exemplary embodiments and certain benefits of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to the illustrated and described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Additionally, although systems and methods described herein are designed principally for testing of components relating to aircraft seats, any or all of them may relate to other seats (vehicular or otherwise) or be used for other purposes as appropriate or desired.