Abstract:
A connection device for a plurality of cabin components of an aircraft includes a rail extending in a longitudinal direction of an aircraft structure, wherein the plurality of cabin components is disposed on the rail; and a plurality of adjustment devices configured to self-adjust each of the plurality of cabin components in the longitudinal direction.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     Priority is claimed to German Application No. DE 10 2009 033 299.5, filed Jul. 15, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/225,566, filed Jul. 15, 2009. The entire disclosure of both applications is incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to connection means for cabin components and to a method for connecting cabin components. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cabin components, in particular hatracks in aircraft, are in each case supported in the x-, y- and z-directions on primary structure sections of the aircraft. Support in the y- and z-directions, i.e. in the direction of the transverse axis of the aircraft and in the direction of the vertical axis of the aircraft, usually takes place by way of eye bolt connections. In the x-direction, i.e. in longitudinal direction of the aircraft, the hatracks are guided in dedicated rails that are separate from each other so that adjustment of the hatracks in longitudinal direction of the aircraft relative to each other is possible. Adjustment frequently takes place by way of adjustable threaded rods, each being supported by a hatrack, and that engage a frame element section. By means of these threaded rods the respective gap between adjacent hatracks can be set. However, since the hatracks are arranged one behind the other in longitudinal direction of the aircraft, and since a provided overall length of the arranged hatracks must not be exceeded, the gaps are in direct effective connection with each other so that, for example, readjustment of a gap directly affects the gap width of the remaining gaps, and consequently these also need to be readjusted. In addition, adjacent hatracks are interconnected in their bottom region by way of an adjustable connection means, and consequently these connection means too need to be set anew during readjustment. This adjustment is thus very time-consuming. 
     The German patent application DE 10 2007 032 233 A1 of the applicant discloses a connection of the hatracks by way of a common rail that extends in the x-direction of an air-craft. However, this application does not provide any details relating to the adjustment of the hatracks in longitudinal direction of the aircraft, so that it must be assumed that conventional adjustment by way of threaded rods applies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a connection means for cabin components in an aircraft, which connection means eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages and makes possible fast alignment of adjacent cabin components, as well as a cabin component and a method for connecting cabin components. 
     A connection means according to the invention for cabin components, in particular for hatracks in aircraft, which cabin components are arranged on a rail that extends in longitudinal direction of a structure, according to the invention comprises adjustment devices for self-adjustment of the cabin components in longitudinal direction of the structure. The adjustment device makes possible automatic adjustment of the cabin components in longitudinal direction of the structure so that there are no longer any elaborate manual adjustment steps. This makes it possible to quickly align the cabin components relative to each other. Maladjustment and time-consuming readjustment are avoided. Furthermore, there is no need to provide a separate adjustable connection means in the bottom region of the cabin components. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the adjustment devices comprise adjustment spikes which in some sections engage receiving devices. Such adjustment devices are technically easy to produce and due to their low number of components are reliable and troublefree in operation. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the adjustment spikes are arranged on the side of the cabin component, and the receiving devices are arranged on the side of the structure. This facilitates the arrangement of the cabin components on the rail. For weight optimisation the receiving devices can be implemented directly in the rail so that no further adjustment elements on the side of the structure are required to form the receiving devices. 
     However, the receiving devices can also be implemented in an adjustment strip that extends parallel to the rail. This results in separation of the arrangement of the cabin components on the rail from their adjustment so that, for example, in a rail with marginal component tolerances a desired adjustment can still take place. 
     The adjustment spikes can be brought to an adjustment position automatically or manually, wherein by means of automatic engagement of the adjustment spikes the time required for installing the cabin components can be further reduced. Automatic engagement of the adjustment spikes can, for example, take place by spring-reloading said adjustment spikes. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the adjustment spikes are dimensioned in such a manner that they also take up loads in the x-direction so that support elements which normally takes the loads acting in longitudinal direction of the aircraft can be avoided. 
     Preferably, by way of the adjustment devices a respective inclination of the individual cabin components on the longitudinal axis of the structure is adjustable so that the cabin components can be aligned relative to each other not only in the x-direction but also as far as their inclination towards each other is concerned. 
     The arrangement of the cabin components on the rail can be in a pod-like manner or by way of individual positioning in the region of their respective desired position. The arrangement in a pod-like manner provides an ergonomic advantage in that there is no need for the installing personnel to transport the cabin components over large distances, but instead said cabin components can be slid onto the rail near a delivery region for cabin components. 
     The rail can comprise a hole pattern for receiving a fastening element of the respective cabin component. The hole pattern provides an advantage in that preliminary adjustment of the cabin components relative to each other can take place, as can fine adjustment by means of the adjustment device. In order to compensate, for example, for component tolerances of the cabin components or for production tolerances of the hole pattern it is advantageous if the hole pattern comprises elongated holes that permit longitudinal compensation in the x-direction. 
     A cabin component according to the invention, in particular a hatrack for an aircraft, which cabin component is arranged on a rail that extends in longitudinal direction of a structure, according to the invention comprises an adjustment device for self-adjustment in longitudinal direction of the structure. 
     In a method according to the invention for connecting cabin components, in particular hatracks in an aircraft, to a rail that extends in longitudinal direction of a structure, first the cabin components are arranged on the rail. Thereafter, the cabin components are positioned in longitudinal direction of the structure in the region of their desired position. Thereafter, an adjustment device for self-adjustment of the respective cabin component in its desired position is activated, wherein self-adjustment takes place manually or automatically. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Below, preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to diagrammatic illustrations. The following are shown: 
         FIG. 1  cabin components comprising a connection according to the invention in a first installation position, and 
         FIG. 2  the cabin components of  FIG. 1  in a final installation position. 
     
    
    
     In the figures the same design elements have the same reference characters, wherein in the case of a figure comprising several identical design elements, for the sake of clarity, only some of these design elements comprise a reference character. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a front view of a multitude of cabin components that are designed as hatracks  2  or  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . in an aircraft. In the x-direction of the aircraft, i.e. in longitudinal direction of the aircraft, said cabin components are suspended side-by-side from a common rail  4  in a first installation position ( FIG. 1 ) and in a final installation position or desired position ( FIG. 2 ). 
     In each case the arrangement of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . on the rail  4  takes place in a pod-like manner by way of a suspension  6  or  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c , . . . that allows both a sliding movement in the x-direction and a lifting movement in the z-direction, i.e. along the vertical axis of the aircraft. For the purpose of locking the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . to the rail  4  each hatrack  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . comprises a screw-like fastening element  8  ( FIG. 2 ). In the exemplary embodiment shown, the fastening element  8  is arranged on a left-hand body section of the respective hatrack  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c, . . . .    
     The rail  4  extends in longitudinal direction of the aircraft and is attached to structural sections of the aircraft, for example to frame elements. The rail  4  comprises a hole pattern which at least in some sections comprises elongated holes  10  that extend in the x-direction for receiving the fastening elements  8  of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . ( FIG. 2 ). The elongated holes  10  are incorporated in the rail  4  in the region of the fastening elements  8  in hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . that are adjusted relative to each other, with said elongated holes  10  being used to compensate for component tolerances, production tolerances or installation tolerances of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . and of the rail  4 . 
     For self-adjustment of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . in longitudinal direction of the aircraft a multitude of adjustment devices are provided, each comprising an adjustment spike  12  or  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . on the hatrack side, a receiving device  14  or  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , . . . for receiving the respective adjustment spike  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . , and a common adjustment strip  16  to form the receiving devices  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c, . . . .    
     The adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . are provided at a distance from the fastening elements  8  on a body section that in the exemplary embodiment shown is located on the upper right, and in each case extend in a pin-like manner away from the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . . In the desired position of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . , for the purpose of self-adjustment, they enter at least in some sections the receiving devices  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , . . . ( FIG. 2 ) and by way of a threaded element make it possible to set the inclination of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . on the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. In addition, the adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . are designed in such a manner that they can take up loads in the x-direction, thus supporting the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . in longitudinal direction of the aircraft. 
     In each case the receiving devices  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , . . . comprise a cross section that is open in a funnel-like manner in the direction of the adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . , which cross section facilitates the insertion of the adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . and thus adjustment of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . . The distance between the receiving devices  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , . . . in the adjustment strip  16  in longitudinal direction of the aircraft is set in such a manner that after engaging the adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . are in their desired position ( FIG. 2 ). 
     Below, a method according to the invention for self-adjustment of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . is described. The hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . are, for example, on a left-hand end section  18 , shown in the figures, of the rail  4 , slid one after the other towards the right onto said rail  4 , and are arranged in the region of their desired position so that the adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . are situated opposite the respective receiving device ( FIG. 1 ). Subsequently the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . are lifted individually, and the adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . enter the receiving devices  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , . . . of the adjustment strip  16 , wherein due to the funnel-shaped design of the receiving devices  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , . . . the adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . and thus the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . are automatically adjusted relative to each other in the x-direction ( FIG. 2 ). After self-adjustment, as a result of adjustment of the adjustment spikes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . , the inclination of the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . on the longitudinal axis of the aircraft is set. Finally, for the purpose of locking the hatracks  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . in their desired position the screw-like fastening elements  8  are made to engage the elongated holes  10 . 
     Disclosed is a connection means for cabin components  2 , in particular for hatracks in an aircraft, which cabin components are arranged on a rail  4  that extends in longitudinal direction of a structure, and which cabin components in each case comprise an adjustment device  12 ,  14 ,  16  for self-adjustment in longitudinal direction of the structure, as well as a cabin component  2  for use in such a connection, and an installation method. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
     
         
           2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , . . . Hatrack 
           4  Rail 
           6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c , . . . Suspension 
           8  Fastening element 
           10  Elongated hole 
           12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , . . . Adjustment spike 
           14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , . . . Receiving device 
           16  Adjustment strip 
           18  End section