Patent ID: 12208905

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, toFIG.1thereof, there is seen a component2for guiding an airflow4(in operation), as indicated by an arrow. The component2is a component for an air-conditioning system (not shown in further detail) of an aircraft. The component2contains two partial shells6a,6b, in this case in the form of half shells. The partial shells6a,6bare particle foam parts, that is to say parts that are made of or produced from particle foam.FIG.1shows a pre-assembly position, that is to say that the two partial shells6a,6bare not yet joined together. For assembly, the parts are moved towards one another in the direction of arrows8and (at the edges thereof, omitting inlet and outlet openings for airflow4, see below) are interconnected in an airtight manner to form the component2.

The component2contains a structural part10a, in this case an end fitting12. The end fitting12is used as a piece for connecting the component2to an adjoining pipeline (not shown). In an assembled state M and during operation, the airflow4is conducted through the end fitting12into the component2. Before the process of joining the two partial shells6a,6b, the end fitting12is inserted in the partial shell6aor6b. For this purpose, the end fitting12includes a flange14. The partial shells6a,6beach have a corresponding groove16for receiving the flange14. The end fitting12is received in the rest of the component2in a form-locking and loss-proof manner by joining the two partial shells6a,6bto one another in the direction of the arrows8.

FIG.2shows a portion or detail ofFIG.1after the joining process in a cross section along a plane A-A and thus in the assembled state M of the component2. The component2now has an inlet opening18for the airflow4. In the present case, the end fitting12also includes the inlet opening18, or the end fitting12is located in the inlet opening18.

FIG.3shows the entire component2in the assembled state M, but omitting the end fitting12. The component2includes a plurality of outlet openings20for the airflow4, which openings are described in greater detail below.

The component2also includes a total of four retaining points22a,22b. The retaining points22a,2bare each located on extensions or molded-on portions (not described in greater detail) of the component2. Two retaining points22aare in the form of fixed bearings and two retaining points22bare in the form of floating bearings.

FIG.4shows one of the retaining points22ain the detail IV fromFIG.3. The retaining point22ais formed in such a way that the extension has been made integrally from particle foam during the production of the partial shells6aand/or6b, and an additional structural part10b, in this case a bush24, has been embedded in the particle foam.

FIG.5shows a cross section along the plane A-A throughFIG.4. It can be seen in this drawing how the bush24is rigidly held in a form-locking manner in the partial shell6a,6bor the extension thereof by embedding.

FIG.6shows how the component2, by using a screw26which is guided through the bush24, and a washer27placed underneath, is screwed to a surface (not shown). As a result of a relatively small distance d1of approximately 10 cm between the two retaining points22a, hardly any changes in the length of the component2occur in the event of changes in temperature, and therefore, in this case, fixed bushes24are sufficient for screwing without causing noteworthy tensions in the component2.

FIG.7shows a detail fromFIG.3and thus one of the retaining points22b. However, in the same direction as the bush24, as described above, a slot bush28is form-lockingly embedded as a structural part10cin a molded-on, integral extension of the partial shells6a,6b. Inside the slot bush28, a slide bush30which is provided in two parts (in order to be able to mount the bush) is slidably mounted so as to produce a floating bearing.

FIG.8shows a cross section along the plane A-A throughFIG.7. It can be seen in this drawing how the slot bush28is permanently held in the partial shell6a,6bor the extension thereof by embedding, and how the two-part slide bush30is slidably guided in a linear manner in the slot bush28.

FIG.9, corresponding toFIG.6, shows how the component2, by using a screw26which is guided through the slide bush30, and the washer27, is screwed in a linearly movable manner to a surface (not shown). As a result of the relatively large distance d2of approximately 100 cm between the two retaining points22a, noticeable changes in the length of the component2occur in the event of changes in temperature, and therefore, in this case, floating bearings including displaceable slide bushes30are selected for screwing to prevent noteworthy tensions in the component2.

FIG.10shows a detail X fromFIG.3. On the respective edge portions (except for only the inlet opening18and the outlet openings20and the region of the air-conducting element50, see below) on which the partial shells6a,6bare to be interconnected in an airtight manner, the partial shell6aincludes a tongue40, and the partial shell6bincludes a corresponding groove42. An insertion connection43is thus formed. In this case, the tongue40has a slightly circular, convex shape, the groove42has a correspondingly concave construction, and therefore this groove forms an undercut44which is engaged behind by the tongue40when the insertion connection43is in the assembled state M or inserted state. The insertion connection43is thus in the form of a snap-fit connection45.

The snap-fit connection45is stable enough to hold the partial shells6a,6btogether during the final assembly of the component2.

FIG.11shows how, for the final securing of the partial shells6a,6bto one another, the component2also contains a plurality of securing elements46, in this case in the form of self-tapping screws, which are screwed into the particle foam. For the sake of clarity, the securing elements46are not shown in the rest of the drawings.

FIG.12once again shows the partial shell6ain the pre-assembly state. As an additional structural part10d, the component2contains an air-conducting element50which is covered inFIG.1, in this case in the form of an outlet part52or an outlet geometry. The air-conducting element50includes the plurality of outlet openings20in the component2. The structural part10dis also a particle foam part which has been produced integrally together with the partial shell6a, that is to say it is integrally integrated in the partial shell6a. In contrast with an air-conducting element50, which would be used for example as an injection-molded part (having a greatly different linear expansion in comparison with particle foam) between partial shells6a,6b, no problems occur as a result of a different linear expansion of the air-conducting element50and the partial shells6a,6b.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

2component4air6a, bpartial shell8arrow10a-dstructural part12end fitting14flange16groove18inlet opening20outlet opening22a, bretaining point24bush26screw27washer28slot bush30slide bush40tongue42groove43insertion connection44undercut45snap-fit connection46securing element50air-conducting element52outlet partM assembled state