Abstract:
A method for tolerance compensation in an overlap joint between a first and a second body section of adjacent fuselage rings includes introducing a plurality of holes into a first body section corresponding to a pattern of rivets; arranging the first and second body section in an overlapping configuration so as to form an overlap; injecting a filler mass through the plurality of holes into a gap formed in the overlap; and hardening the filler mass.

Description:
[0001]    Priority is claimed to German Application No. DE 10 2009 014 933.3, filed Mar. 25, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/163,052, filed Mar. 25, 2009. The entire disclosure of both applications is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
       [0002]    The invention concerns a method for tolerance compensation between two components and a tool for execution of the method. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    From the German patent document DE 727 196 it has for a long time been of known art to form aircraft fuselages from a large number of fuselage rings. Adjacent fuselage rings are joined with one another in the transverse joint region and with their edge sections thereby form a riveted overlap joint. As a result of manufacturing and component tolerances between the overlapping edge sections a radial gap can occur, at least in some sections. In fuselages of metal construction these gaps can be closed by an appropriate deformation of the edge sections during riveting. 
         [0004]    The gaps are particularly problematic, however, in the case of carbon fibre reinforced fuselages (CFRP fuselages) since these can hardly be deformed at all. Component tolerances are thus compensated for by a filler mass in the gaps. Accurate metering and positioning of the filler mass is, however, very difficult as a result of limited accessibility, since in the manufacture of an overlap joint in particular the filler mass can flow out or be displaced as a result of shear forces during the assembly process. 
         [0005]    Alternatively US 2006/0060705 A1 envisages positioning CFRP fuselage rings side-by-side and riveting their adjacent edge sections together by means of a transverse joint tab. However even in this solution of known art accurate metering and positioning of the filler mass is critical. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An aspect the present invention is to create a method for tolerance compensation in an overlap joint between two body sections of adjacent components, which avoids the disadvantages cited above and allows accurate metering and positioning of the filler mass, as well as a tool for the execution of the method. 
         [0007]    A method according to the invention for tolerance compensation between two body sections of adjacent fuselage rings envisages the introduction of a multiplicity of holes into the one body section, wherein the arrangement of the holes, i.e. the pattern of holes thus formed, corresponds to a subsequent pattern of rivets. The body sections are then brought into an overlapping configuration, wherein as a result of tolerance differences a gap occurs between the body sections, at least in some sections. As soon as the overlapping configuration is created a filler mass is injected into the gap via the holes. After the filler mass has hardened the two body sections are joined together and an overlap joint is thus formed. 
         [0008]    In the method according to the invention it is advantageous if the filler mass can fill the gap in an accurately metered and positioned manner. Excess filler mass is pushed out of the gap such that the filling of the gap can be terminated. Thus no wastage of the filler mass occurs. Furthermore it is ensured that the gap in question is adequately filled with the filler mass and that no voids are formed. Furthermore the filler mass is compressed during injection such that in the hardened state the filler mass has a uniform structure. 
         [0009]    The filler mass is injected via a tool, which closes off the holes that it covers such that the filler mass cannot exit from these holes. 
         [0010]    Injection of the filler mass preferably takes place through a plurality of holes at the same time. 
         [0011]    To prevent the filler mass from exiting through an axial gap between the two components the gap can be closed off with a porous-to-air adhesive tape. Likewise a radial gap can be closed off on the end face by a porous-to-air adhesive tape. 
         [0012]    A tool according to the invention for tolerance compensation between two components has at least one injection nozzle for the injection of a filler mass via a hole into a gap, wherein the injection nozzle can be introduced into the hole in a sealing manner and wherein the injection nozzle can have an elastic rubber nozzle tip to improve the sealing action and wherein the nozzle tip has a radial taper on its inner circumference for increasing the pressure as the filler mass exits and the hole is additionally sealed. 
         [0013]    An advantage of the tool according to the invention is that the filler mass cannot exit through the hole into which the injection nozzle is inserted. By this means the loss in particular of filler mass in the working environment is prevented. 
         [0014]    A multiplicity of injection nozzles is preferably provided, the arrangement of which corresponds to a hole pattern in one body section of the one component. 
         [0015]    In the case of a multiplicity of injection nozzles the injection nozzles can be moved relative to another to compensate for the tolerances between the hole pattern and the arrangement of the injection nozzles. This can occur in particular either by means of a design of the tool that is elastic at least in the region of the injection nozzles, or by means of an elastic design of the injection nozzles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In what follows preferred examples of embodiment of the invention are elucidated in more detail with the aid of schematic representations. In the figures: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view onto adjacent body sections of two components arranged side by side. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section through the body sections of  FIG. 1  in an overlapping configuration. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-section through one of the body sections of  FIG. 1  and through a tool according to the invention, and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section through an injection nozzle of the tool as per  FIG. 3  that has been inserted into a hole. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view onto two body sections  2 ,  4  of adjacent components. The components can for example be carbon fibre-reinforced fuselage rings (CFRP fuselage rings), which are to be joined together in the transverse joint region by means of an overlap joint for purposes of creating an aircraft fuselage. The body sections  2 ,  4  are designed as a radially outer-lying edge section  2  and a radially inner-lying edge section  4 . 
         [0022]    In the radially outer-lying edge section  2  a region is designed with a circumferential pattern of holes  6  with a multiplicity of holes  8 ,  10 . The pattern of holes  6  corresponds to a pattern of rivets that is formed during the riveting together of the two edge sections  2 ,  4 . Thus recourse can be made to existing hole templates for the creation of the pattern of holes  6 . The holes  8 ,  10  are arranged side-by-side in the axial direction and the circumferential direction. Two holes  8 ,  10 , side-by-side in the axial direction, in each case form a hole pair  12 ,  14 . 
         [0023]    In accordance with  FIG. 2  a radial gap  16  and an axial gap  18  are formed between the edge sections  2 ,  4  during the creation of the overlap joint. The gaps  16 ,  18  are operatively connected with one another, wherein in particular the radial gap  16  occurs as a result of manufacturing, i.e. component tolerances of the components. 
         [0024]    The tolerance compensation takes place by means of a filler mass, not represented, which is injected via the holes  8 ,  10  into the gaps  16 ,  18 . 
         [0025]    The filler mass is a conventional fluid composite material such as, for example, a fluid shimming material, or an adhesive. 
         [0026]    In the region facing away from the axial gap  18  the radial gap  16  is open on its end face. Depending on the tolerances to be compensated for the radial gap  16  is an annular type of single gap, or consists of a plurality of gaps separated from one another. It is bounded by an inner circumferential surface  20  of the outer-lying edge section  2  and by an opposing outer circumferential surface  22  of the inner-lying edge section  4 . The holes  8 ,  10  pass through the outer-lying edge section  2  radially and thus open out into the radial gap  16 . 
         [0027]    The inner-lying edge section  4  is generated by means of an offset, i.e. a step. The outer circumferential surface  22  of the inner-lying edge section  4  is designed to be closed and no holes pass through it. 
         [0028]    The axial gap  18  is bounded by opposing annular surfaces  24 ,  26  of the edge sections  2 ,  4 . It is open outwards on its circumferential face. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-section through the outer-lying edge section  2  in the region of its holes  8 , arranged side-by-side in the circumferential direction. Furthermore the figure shows a cross-section through a tool  28  according to the invention for the injection of the filler mass. 
         [0030]    The tool  28  has a multiplicity of injection nozzles  30 ,  32 , which are arranged in accordance with the hole pattern  6  shown in  FIG. 1 . The injection nozzles  30 ,  32  project out of the tool  28  and in operation are inserted into the respective holes  8 ,  10  in a section-by-section manner, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The tool  28  is designed in an elastic manner, so that the individual injection nozzles  30 ,  32  can be moved relative to one another. By this means tolerances between the hole pattern  6  and the injection nozzles  30 ,  32  can be compensated for, and the introduction of the injection nozzles  30 ,  32  into the respective holes  8 ,  10  is made easier. 
         [0031]    The flow direction of the filler mass through the tool  28  and into the injection nozzles  30 ,  32  is indicated by the arrows  34 ,  36  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section through the edge section  2  in the region of the hole  8  with a tool  28  in position. In accordance with the representation in the figure the tool  28  in operation is positioned at a distance from the opposing outer circumference  38  of the outer-lying edge section  2 . Just the injection nozzle  30  is inserted section-by-section into the holes  8 . This is true, needless to say, for all holes  8 ,  10  and all injection nozzles  30 ,  32 , as is the following elucidation. 
         [0033]    To ease the insertion of the injection nozzle  30  into the hole  8 , the outer diameter d A  of the injection nozzle  30  is smaller than the inner diameter d 1  of the hole  8 . Thus in the inserted state an annular gap  42  is formed between the inserted section of the injection nozzle  30  and the inner circumference  40  of the hole  8 . 
         [0034]    In the region in which it opens out into the radial gap the injection nozzle  30  has an elastic rubber nozzle tip  44 . The nozzle tip  44  is made of a softer material than the rest of the injection nozzle  30 . During injection of the filler mass in accordance with the flow direction  34  represented in  FIG. 4  the nozzle tip  44  is radially widened; it closes the annular gap  42  and is positioned in a sealing manner against the inner circumference  40  of the hole  8 . 
         [0035]    To improve the sealing action the nozzle tip  44  has a radial taper on its inner circumferential face. The taper  46  is of conical design and during injection of the filler mass produces a pressure rise in the nozzle tip  42 ; as a result the latter widens further and is pressed with a greater force against the inner circumference  40  of the hole  8 . 
         [0036]    The conical taper  46  has an annular end face  48  facing towards the radial gap  16 . In the case in which the injection nozzle is not in operation and the filler mass is being injected via an adjacent hole  8 , as a result of the filler mass flowing against the end face  48  the latter also causes a widening of the nozzle tip  44  and thus the formation of a seal against the inner circumference  40  of the hole  8 . The annular gap  42  is closed and thus the filler mass cannot exit via the holes  8  that are not in operation. Thus the holes  8 ,  10  are sealed closed, independently of the activation of the injection nozzles  30 . 
         [0037]    In a method according to the invention a hole pattern  6  is introduced into the radially outer-lying edge section  2 . The two edge sections  2 ,  4  of the adjacent components are then brought together in an overlapping configuration. The axial gap  18  on the circumferential face and the radial gap  16  on the end face are then covered with a porous-to-air adhesive tape, so that during the injection of the filler mass through the holes  8 ,  10  the air can exit from the gaps  16 ,  18  and no air inclusions, i.e. voids, can form in the gaps  16 ,  18 . The tool  28  is positioned on a region of the hole pattern  6  such that the injection nozzles  30 ,  32  insert into the opposing holes  8 ,  10 . The tool  28  is actuated and the filler mass is injected via the injection nozzles  30 ,  32  into the radial gap  16  and the axial gap  18 . The control of the tool  28  preferably takes place such that the filler mass is injected in each case via an axial pair of holes  12  into the gaps  16 ,  18 . As soon as the gaps  16 ,  18  have been closed up in the region of this pair of holes  12  and the filler mass is exiting from the gaps  16 ,  18 , the supply of filler mass is interrupted and filler mass is injected into the gaps  16 ,  18  via the circumferentially adjacent axial pair of holes  14 . After the filler mass has been injected into this region of the hole pattern  6  through all injection nozzles  30 ,  32  of the tool  28 , the tool  28  is positioned on the adjoining region of the hole pattern  6  and the injection of the filler mass begins again, until the filler mass has been injected into the radial gap  16  and the axial gap  18  over the complete hole pattern  6  and thus over the complete circumference of the outer-lying edge section  2 . After hardening of the filler mass the edge sections  2 ,  4  are prepared for riveting in a manner of known art, are riveted together, and thus the overlap joint is formed. Here by virtue of the hardened filler mass no swarf can accumulate between the edge sections during the drilling of the rivet holes. 
         [0038]    After hardening the filler mass has accumulated in the regions of the edge sections  2 ,  4 , in which manufacturing, i.e. component, tolerances were present between the components, so that in the following creation of the overlap joint, in the riveting together of the edge sections  2 ,  4 , for example, the latter are not deformed, and thus no disadvantageous stresses are introduced into the components. 
         [0039]    It should be noted that under riveting of the edge sections  2 ,  4  is understood not only a rivet joint per se, but that all joints formed by frictional forces, interlocking shapes and/or material bonds are included, such as those using screws, pins, welding or brazing. 
         [0040]    It should further be noted that it is also conceivable not only to manufacture the nozzle tip  44  of the injection nozzle  30 ,  32  from an elastic rubber material, but the complete region of the nozzle projecting from the tool  28 . This has the advantage that the injection nozzle  30 ,  32 , that is to say, the nozzle region, can be deformed per se, so that the introduction of the injection nozzles  30 ,  32  into the holes is further eased. 
         [0041]    Likewise it is possible for the tool  28  to be of elastic design just in the immediate region of the injection nozzles  30 ,  32 . For example, elastic rubber rings can be inserted in the tool, in which the injection nozzles  30 ,  32  are arranged. 
         [0042]    It should further be noted that the tool  28  can be freely selected in terms of its size and number of injection nozzles  30 ,  32 . 
         [0043]    Moreover it is also conceivable to form the hole pattern  6  in the radially inner-lying edge section  4 . 
         [0044]    The injection nozzles  30 ,  32  can also have an outer diameter d A  that is somewhat larger than the inner diameter d 1  of the holes  8 ,  10 , such that the injection nozzles  30 ,  32  close off the holes  8 ,  10  immediately upon insertion, i.e. upon positioning of the tool  28 . 
         [0045]    Likewise it is conceivable that the tool  28  is not positioned at a distance from the outer circumference  38  of the outer edge section  2 , but is positioned against the latter. 
         [0046]    It should further be noted that the method according to the invention and the tool according to the invention are not limited to the joining of CDRP components, but can be fundamentally applied independently of the material of the components to be joined. Thus, for example, the components can consist of other fibre-reinforced composite materials, such as, for example, a glass fibre-based laminate material such as GLARE®, or a metal alloy. 
         [0047]    A method is disclosed for tolerance compensation between two components, wherein the components are brought section-by-section into an overlapping configuration, a filler mass is injected via at least one hole ( 8 ,  10 ) between the components, and the components after hardening of the filler mass are joined together in an overlap joint; also a tool ( 28 ) for the execution of a method of this type with at least one injection nozzle ( 30 ,  32 ), which can be inserted into the hole ( 8 ,  10 ) in a sealing manner. 
       REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           2  radially outer-lying edge section 
           4  radially inner-lying edge section 
           6  hole pattern 
           8  hole 
           10  hole 
           12  hole pair 
           14  hole pair 
           16  radial gap 
           18  axial gap 
           20  inner circumferential surface 
           22  outer circumferential surface 
           24  annular surface 
           26  annular surface 
           28  tool 
           30  injection nozzle 
           32  injection nozzle 
           34  flow direction 
           36  flow direction 
           38  outer circumference 
           40  inner circumference 
           42  annular gap 
           44  nozzle tip 
           46  taper 
           48  end face 
         d A  outer diameter 
         d 1  inner diameter