Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2011 013 828.5 filed Mar. 14, 2011 and also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/452,476 filed Mar. 14, 2011, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The technical field relates to a fairing transition for covering a gap between a movable body and a fixed body on a vehicle, and further relates to a vehicle with a movable body and a fixed body as well as with a fairing transition. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Usually there is a gap between a movable body and a fixed body, which bodies regularly carry out a movement relative to each other, which gap prevents rubbing between, or collision of, the two bodies. For example, commercial aircraft regularly comprise a number of control flaps to carry out flight control tasks, which control flaps can be moved relative to fixed structures, for example the fuselage or the wings, in order to influence the management of forces of the aircraft in a desired manner. At the same time, for cruise flight of an aircraft it is particularly important to achieve the lowest possible drag coefficient so that smooth surfaces in the region of control surfaces and their transition to fixed structures are preferred in the retracted state. 
         [0004]    A secondary flight control system of a commercial aircraft, for example a high-lift system, often comprises high-lift flaps or slats or similar bodies that can carry out a very distinct movement relative to a fuselage or a wing of the aircraft. A leading-edge flap that is movably arranged on a wing and that is also known as “slat” can, for example, be moved in at least one spatial direction relative to the respective wing and to the adjacent aircraft fuselage without adjacent structural components being damaged. For this purpose a gap is implemented between an end surface, which faces the fuselage, of the leading-edge slat, which gap should completely disappear in the retracted state of the leading-edge slat, thus providing a smooth and even surface. This is made possible by a fairing transition in a wing root, also referred to as a “root fillet”. 
         [0005]    Such a fairing transition is essentially implemented as a plate-shaped component with a base plate and an elastic cover plate, which plates are attached to the fuselage of an aircraft by means of several screws with the use of a sealant that needs drying. In an aircraft of the series AIRBUS A 320 fastening takes place on a fairing component arranged near a wing root, which fairing component is sometimes referred to as a “BAE panel,” in a position adjacent to an end surface of a leading-edge slat. Subsequently, the heads of the screws are closed with a sealant. Normally the fairing transition is produced separately of the structure to which it is to be attached, with holes being made in said fairing transition. 
         [0006]    With such a design of fairing transitions it may happen that the hole pattern of the fairing transition frequently does not correlate with the hole pattern at the point where it is to be installed. Consequently, the screws used for attachment are difficult or even impossible to insert. Furthermore, the gap dimensions present between the surface of the place of installation and the fairing transition are often incorrect after installation; during subsequent deinstallation of the fairing transition the heads of the screws are frequently damaged and the entire fairing transition is deformed, and consequently new components are required. An additional difficulty is presented by the additional drying time, usually several hours, of the sealant, when new components need to be installed. 
         [0007]    It is thus at least one object to provide a fairing transition for integration in the transition region between a fixed body and a movable body having a fairing transition that, if at all possible, has no, or very little, adjustment work so that the installation time is short, there is no need for rework, and the expenditure is significantly limited. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The fairing transition according to an embodiment comprises a base plate that is attachable to a vehicle. Furthermore, a cover plate is provided that is attachable to the base plate. For this purpose the base plate and the cover plate comprise corresponding a connecting profile having positive fit on surfaces facing each other. The connecting profile is adapted such that the cover plate is slidable onto the base plate, and in an end position lockable to the base plate. 
         [0009]    The cover plate can be realized by an elastic rubber-like material or some other suitable materials mixture so that, by taking advantage of the elasticity, flush closing of a gap in an end position can be achieved. The design of the material of the base plate can be selected independently of this and should be as lightweight as possible, in particular when used on an aircraft. Not only light metals can be considered for this, but also thermoplastics and elastomers, which ideally allow some elasticity in the integration on a component, for example on a region of an aircraft, which region is adjacent to a leading-edge slat. 
         [0010]    When compared to a known holding arrangement of a fairing transition, the installation times are reduced, among other things because there are no longer any screw connections involved. In addition, there is no longer any time-consuming adjustment of the fairing transition, a process which in prior art usually takes approximately one hour. In addition, because there are no longer any screw connections involved, there is also no longer any sealing of the heads of the screws, and consequently, for example in the use on an aircraft for sealing the gap between a leading-edge slat and a fuselage structure, a leading-edge slat may be operated immediately rather than after the sealant has had several hours of curing time. This represents a very significant advantage in the manufacturing process of a vehicle, for example an aircraft, as well as in the maintenance thereof. 
         [0011]    The shortened installation time, furthermore, makes it possible for the fairing transition according to the invention to be installed only after the vehicle has been painted, so that the masking work previously associated with the fairing transition also no longer applies. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment the base plate comprises a material from a group of materials comprising light metal, thermoplastics and elastomers. Simple processability and a lightweight construction have an advantageous effect on its suitability in an aircraft. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment the base plate is designed to be laminated on or to the vehicle. This may, for example, be implemented by a suitable connecting surface that can be placed under a matrix material and fiber material layer. Consequently, the base plate forms an integral component of the vehicle. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment the base plate can comprise holes that make it possible to screw the base plate to the vehicle. This involves, in particular, countersunk holes, which ensure good introduction of force from screw-type devices to the vehicle. 
         [0015]    In order to save sealing the fairing transition, in an embodiment the normally used sealant is replaced by a circumferential rubber lip. In its installed state this rubber lip should be designed to ensure a complete seal between the cover plate and the structure to which the fairing transition is to be affixed, and to this effect said rubber lip may be arranged either on the base plate or on the cover plate. By means of the rubber lip any ingress of humidity between the cover plate, the base plate and underneath the base plate can be prevented. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment the connecting profile having positive fit comprise at least one undercut so that the cover plate is slidable onto the base plate only in one sliding direction, and with the connecting profile engaged not being removable from the base plate in a direction transverse to the sliding direction. The undercut can be implemented in the form of a profile set back from a cutout arranged on a surface, which profile is designed in a dovetail-like manner. Consequently the cover plate can be undone in an end position, in a snapped-in or in some other way locked state, only by releasing the locking device from the base plate. 
         [0017]    Locking can take place with a securing screw. The cover plate can comprise a hole for receiving a securing screw that can be connected to the base plate, for the purpose of securing the position of the cover plate on the base plate. The base plate need not necessarily comprise a thread, for example in the form of a slidable nut, for receiving the securing screw; as an alternative the cover plate can also be jammed to the base plate with a grub screw. To the average person skilled in the art the use of further securing screws will, of course, be self-evident. 
         [0018]    As an alternative or in addition, locking the cover plate onto the base plate can take place with the use of an arrangement of a snap-in device, which arrangement comprises an indentation, an undercut or an opening in which a latch, a lug or some other snap-in element comes against an end stop. Furthermore, the arrangement of snap-in device can comprise a locking body that is slidably held within the base plate in a hole and that is forced by a spring to move into a corresponding receiving hole of the cover plate so that when the holes are aligned after the cover plate has been slid on, the locking body thus automatically snaps into the hole. When pressure is exerted on the locking body the latter can be undone. The arrangement of snap-in device can also comprise a quick-release fastener. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Further characteristics, advantages and application options of embodiments are disclosed in the following detailed description with figures. The described and/or illustrated characteristics per se and in any combination form the embodiments of the invention, even irrespective of their composition in the individual claims or their interrelationships. Furthermore, identical or similar components in the figures have the same reference characters where: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b  show a fairing transition according to an embodiment with two differently designed connecting profile; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2   a  to  FIG. 2   g  show a cover plate and a snap-in device for the cover plate; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a detailed view of an aircraft with a fairing transition arranged thereon. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 1   b  show a fairing transition  2  according to an embodiment with a base plate  4  and a cover plate  6  ( FIG. 1   a ) or a base plate  8  and a cover plate  10  ( FIG. 1   b ). Both variants show dovetail-like connecting profile  12  and  14  or  16  and  18 , which by means of indentations and protrusions are formed so as to correspond to each other. These connecting profiles  12 ,  14  and  16 ,  18  are provide a connection having positive fit, and in each case comprise at least one undercut so that the cover plate  6  or  10  can be moved only in the direction of extension of the indentations or protrusions. This prevents accidental lifting of the cover plate  6 ,  10  from the base plate in a slid-on state. 
         [0025]    As an example,  FIG. 1   b  shows a rubber lip  20  on the cover plate  10 , which rubber lip  20  establishes a seal between the cover plate  10  and a structure (shown by hatched lines  22 ) of a vehicle. To this effect the base plate  8  can be laminated into this vehicle structure or can be integrated in some other way so that the base plate  8  forms an integral component of the vehicle. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2   a  shows a top view of a cover plate  10  in its installed state, with the connecting profile  16  shown by a dashed line. In order to lock the cover plate  10  to the base plate  8  a snap-in mechanism  24  can be used, which in the case shown is, for example, designed as a securing screw. As an alternative,  FIG. 2   b  shows a locking catch  26  that can engage a correspondingly formed locking aperture  28 . Undoing may be achieved by way of a tool that lifts the locking catch  26 , which tool may be inserted into a gap or opening provided for this purpose. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2   c  shows a grub screw  30  that is screwed into a threaded hole  32  of the cover plate  6  and establishes a frictional connection between the cover plate  6  and the base plate  4  so as to prevent the cover plate  6  from sliding out. The grub screw  30  is preferably designed in such a manner that only a small indentation arises in the surface of the cover plate  6 , which surface points away from the base plate  4 .  FIG. 2   d  shows a nut  36  that is slidably guided in the base plate  4  in a channel-like indentation  34 , into which nut  36  a screw  38  can be screwed in order to secure the cover plate  6  to the base plate. As an alternative, instead of using a screw  38  it is also possible to use a screw rivet so that the nut  36  is then designed as a nut plate. 
         [0028]    As a result of the slidability of the nut  36 , clamping or jamming the nut  36  can be prevented because purely axial introduction of force is possible. The screw  38  preferably comprises a screw head  40  whose diameter is greater than the diameter of a shank  42  so that the screw  38  can rest against a correspondingly formed recess  44  of the cover plate  6 . The channel-like indentation  34  should comprise a cutout  46  that points away from the cover plate  6 , which cutout  46  makes it possible for the end of the screw  38 , which end points away from the head  40 , to penetrate the nut  36  in order to prevent clamping of the nut  36 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 2   e  shows a locking body  48  that is slidably held within the base plate  4  in a hole  50  and with a loop-like spring  52  that is under tension, which spring  52  comprises an elastic material, for example a flat spring steel or a plastic suitable for this purpose, is forced into a corresponding hole  56  of the cover plate, which hole  56  comprises a recess  54 . When the holes  50  and  56  are aligned after the cover plate  6  has been slid onto the base plate  4  the locking body  48  thus automatically snaps into the hole  56  and with the recess  54  is protected against full penetration of the hole  56 . Preferably, the locking body  48  and the recess  54  are designed in such a manner that as flat a surface as possible is provided on the side of the cover plate, which side faces away from the base plate  4 . By manually pushing against the surface  58  of the locking body  48 , which surface passes through the cover plate  6 , the locking body  48  can be forced from the hole  56  to the base plate  4  in order to undo the locking action and undo the cover plate  6  by sliding it from the base plate  4 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2   f  shows a variant that differs slightly from the previous one. In this illustration the locking body  48  is forced into the hole  56  by a coil spring  60  with a circular cross section. In this arrangement the coil spring  60  is arranged in a retaining hole  62  that is preferably designed as a blind hole. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2   g  shows a quick-release fastener  64  comprising, for example, two pivotally held latches  66  that are arranged so as to be offset from each other by approximately 180° above an operating body  68 , which as an example is designed as a screw shank with a screw head, which latches  66  can snap into corresponding indentations  70  that follow on in an undercutting manner from an opening  72 . The latches  66  are designed as pin-like projections. To this effect the latches  66  will be inserted, through insertion openings  74  that are arranged so as to be offset with the indentations  70 , into the base plate  4  until by being rotated they reach into the undercut indentations  70 . To this effect the operating body is inserted in a receiving aperture  76  of the cover plate and is pushed against the tension of a coil spring  78  in the direction of the base plate  4  before being inserted with rotation of the operating body, into the indentations  70  where they are held by resting flush against a return force of the spring  78 . 
         [0032]    Finally,  FIG. 3  shows a section of a three-dimensional view of an aircraft  80  on which a leading-edge slat  82  is arranged and is movably held relative to an adjacent aircraft structure  84  in a wing root region. The fairing transition  2  is able to seal the gap between the leading-edge slat  82  and the structure  84  in a retracted position of the leading-edge slat  82 . 
         [0033]    It should be pointed out that “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and “a” or “an” does not exclude a plural number. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that characteristics which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other characteristics of other exemplary embodiments described above. In addition, while at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Technology Category: 7