Mechanical component with pre-integrated through fastening element

Abstract

A mechanical component (10) is disclosed, comprising a component body (12) provided with a through opening (14), and comprising a through fastening element (16) comprising a stem (18) engaged in the through opening and connected to an inner surface (20) of the through opening by a support (22) fastened to the stem of the through fastening element and to the inner surface of the through opening and configured to break the connection between the stem of the through fastening element and the inner surface of the through opening under the action of a thrust exerted on the through fastening element to push the stem of the through fastening element into the through opening. Since the through fastening element is pre-integrated with the mechanical component, the logistics management before assembling the mechanical component to another mechanical component is simplified, and the risk of operator error and loss of fastening elements is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a mechanical part, as well as to a method for manufacturing such a mechanical part and to a method for assembling such a mechanical part to another mechanical part. BACKGROUND

[0002] In many mechanical fields, parts are assembled using through fastening elements, such as rivets or bolts. These fastening elements are attached during the operations for assembling the parts to each other.

[0003] This mode of handling therefore requires the prior provision of groups of such fastening elements, which requires specific considerations in the supply chain.

[0004] Furthermore, this mode of handling creates a risk of assembly errors, as well as a risk of loss of fastening elements in the assembled enclosure or chamber, which can lead to a risk of damage and to a risk of weight increase, which can be particularly detrimental in certain cases, for example in the case of operations involving aircraft. SUMMARY

[0005] The aim of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and effective solution to this problem.

[0006] To this end, the invention proposes a mechanical part comprising a part body provided with a through opening, and comprising a through fastening element comprising a stem engaged in the through opening and connected to an inner surface of the through opening by a support fastened to the stem of the through fastening element and to the inner surface of the through opening and configured to break the connection between the stem of the through fastening element and the inner surface of the through opening under the effect of a thrust exerted on the through fastening element, in order to push the stem of the through fastening element into the through opening.

[0007] Thanks to the pre-integration of the through fastening element in the through opening within the mechanical part, the logistics management before the assembly of the mechanical part to another mechanical part is simplified by means of the through fastening element. Furthermore, the risk of error is reduced for the operator, as is the risk of loss of fastening elements.

[0008] Of course, the mechanical part can comprise a plurality of through openings and a corresponding plurality of fastening elements pre-integrated in these openings in the manner described above. In this case, the optional provisions detailed below can apply to all or a portion of the groups of fastening elements.

[0009] Furthermore, for the same through fastening element, there can be a plurality of supports. In this case, for a given fastening element, the optional provisions detailed below can apply to all the supports or to certain supports.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the application, the through fastening element is a rivet or a threaded rod.

[0011] Preferably, the support is fastened to a lateral surface of the stem of the through fastening element.

[0012] The application also relates to a propulsion assembly for an aircraft comprising a mechanical component of the type described above.

[0013] The application also relates to an aircraft comprising a mechanical component of the type described above.

[0014] The application also relates to a method for manufacturing a mechanical component of the type described above, the method comprising manufacturing the component body, the through fastening element and the support by means of an additive manufacturing technique.

[0015] The additive manufacturing technique makes it possible to manufacture all the above-mentioned elements in a particularly simple manner.

[0016] The application also relates to a method for assembling a mechanical component of the type described above to another mechanical component, wherein the other mechanical component comprises another component body provided with another through opening, the method comprising the following steps:

[0017] A) positioning the mechanical component and the other mechanical component so that the through opening of the mechanical component is aligned with the other through opening of the other mechanical component; then

[0018] B) exerting a pushing force on the through fastening element so as to break the connection between the stem of the through fastening element and the inner surface of the through opening and to push the stem of the through fastening element into the through opening and the other through opening; then

[0019] C) fastening the mechanical component to the other mechanical component by means of the through fastening element.

[0020] Preferably, the through fastening element is a rivet or a threaded rod and the pushing force of step B is exerted on the head of the through fastening element.

[0021] In the case where the through fastening element is a rivet, step C is a riveting operation.

[0022] In the case where the through fastening element is a threaded rod, step C comprises tightening a nut on one end of the through fastening element opposite the head of the through fastening element. In other words, in this case, step C is a bolting operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] The application will be best understood and other details, advantages and features thereof will become apparent on reading the description that follows, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic view of the mechanical part along the plane I-I of Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 2 Figure 1 is a schematic view of the mechanical part along the plane II-II of Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 , showing the mechanical part of Figure 1 and another mechanical part during the implementation of the assembly method according to the preferred embodiment of the application;

[0027] Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 after implementation of the method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows a mechanical part 10, for example intended to go into a propulsion assembly for an aircraft or into a constituent part of an aircraft. For example, the mechanical part 10 constitutes a fitting for an aircraft floor.

[0029] The mechanical part 10 comprises a part body 12 provided with through openings 14 for assembly of the part 10 to another mechanical part, by riveting or bolting, or more generally by any technique based on the use of through fastening elements.

[0030] According to the application, it is proposed to pre-integrate such through fastening elements into the mechanical part 10 during its manufacture, this manufacture being preferably achieved by additive manufacturing techniques, for example by laser fusion on a powder bed.

[0031] The mechanical part 10 thus also comprises a through fastening element 16 comprising a stem 18 engaged in the corresponding through opening 14. It will be understood thereby that, as Figure 1 shown, the stem 18 extends over a portion of the length of the through opening 14, or alternatively, the stem 18 passes through the through opening 14 on either side.

[0032] In all cases, the stem 18 is connected to the internal surface 20 of the through opening 14 by at least one support 22 fastened to the stem 18 of the through fastening element on the one hand and to the internal surface 20 of the through opening on the other hand.

[0033] ​The support 22, or the group of supports 22 connected to the stem 18 if applicable, is configured to break the connection between the stem 18 of the through fastening element and the inner surface 20 of the through opening under the action of a thrust force exerted on the through fastening element 16 to push the stem 18 of the through fastening element into the through opening 14.

[0034] Therefore, it should be understood that the support 22 is designed and dimensioned as precisely as possible so that the through fastening element 16 can remain in place during the handling of the mechanical part and so that it can break or release from the stem 18 and / or from the inner surface 20 of the through opening during the application of a thrust force, for example an impact, on the through fastening element 16, which thrust force has a suitable level to push the fastening element into the hole without damaging it.

[0035] To this end, the support 22 is a relatively thin structure and / or a lightweight structure, such as a honeycomb structure, compared to the through fastening element 16.

[0036] In the preferred case where the mechanical part 10 is manufactured by additive manufacturing techniques, the part body 12, the through fastening element 16 and the support 22 (or the group of supports 22) can be formed integrally from the same material. Alternatively, different materials can be used to make these elements, respectively.

[0037] Preferably, the support 22 is connected to the lateral surface 24 of the stem 18 of the through fastening element. In the preferred case where the mechanical part 10 is manufactured by additive manufacturing techniques, it should be understood that the support 22 forms a protruding structure on said lateral surface 24.

[0038] In the example shown, Figure 1 and Figure 2 the stem 18 of the through fastening element, visible in the figures, is connected to the inner surface 20 of the corresponding through opening by two supports 22 of the type described above, which are diametrically opposite with respect to the longitudinal axis of the through opening 14.

[0039] Furthermore, in the example shown, the through fastening element 16 is a rivet for assembly by riveting. Alternatively, the through fastening element 16 can be a threaded rod for assembly by bolting. Therefore, in both cases, the through fastening element 16 comprises a head 26 arranged at one end of the stem 18 of the element.

[0040] With reference to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the mechanical part 10 can be assembled to another mechanical part 30 comprising another part body 32 provided with another through opening 34 by an assembly method comprising the following steps:

[0041] A) positioning the mechanical part 10 and the other mechanical part 30 so that the through opening 14 of the mechanical part 10 is aligned with the other through opening 34 of the other mechanical part 30; then

[0042] B) exerting a pushing force (for example an impact) on the through fastening element 16, in this case on the head 26 of the through fastening element, so as to break the connection between the stem 18 of the through fastening element 16 and the inner surface 20 of the through opening 14 (which was previously ensured by one or more supports 22) and to push the stem 18 of the through fastening element 16 into the through opening 14 and the other through opening 34; Figure 3 ) ; then

[0043] C) fastening the mechanical part 10 to the other mechanical part 30 by means of the through fastening element 16 Figure 4 ).

[0044] In the example shown, in which the through fastening element 16 is a rivet, step C is a riveting operation which generally comprises widening by extrusion the end of the stem 18 opposite the head 26, thus forming a second head 36 which enables the mechanical parts 10 and 30 to be fastened to each other.

[0045] Alternatively, in the case in which the through fastening element 16 is a threaded stem, step C comprises tightening a nut on the end of the through fastening element 16 opposite the head 26 thereof, so as to again obtain the mutual tightening of the mechanical parts 10 and 30.

[0046] In general, the pre-integration of the fastening element 16 into the mechanical part 10 enables a considerable simplification of the logistics management until the assembly of the mechanical parts to each other by means of the through fastening element 16, while reducing the risk of operator error and the risk of loss of the fastening element.

[0047] Throughout the description and claims, the use of the indefinite article "a" and the definite article "the" with respect to a given element or to a given step does not exclude the possibility that a plurality of such elements or steps is present, unless otherwise specified or when it is clear from the context that this is not possible for technical reasons.

[0048] In particular, the mechanical part 10 can of course comprise a plurality of corresponding through fastening elements and a plurality of through openings pre-integrated into the mechanical part 10 according to the method described above, so as to enable the assembly of the mechanical part 10 to one or more other mechanical parts.

Claims

1. A mechanical component (10), said mechanical component comprising a component body (12) having a through opening (14), characterized in that, The mechanical component includes a through fastening element (16) comprising a rod (18) engaging in the through opening (14) and connected to the inner surface (20) of the through opening (14) by a support (22) fastened to the rod (18) of the through fastening element (16) and the inner surface (20) of the through opening (14), wherein the component body (12), the support (22) and the through fastening element (16) are formed as a single unit, and wherein the support (22) is configured to break under the action of a thrust applied to the through fastening element (16) to push the rod (18) of the through fastening element into the through opening (14).

2. The mechanical component (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The through-fastening element (16) is a rivet or a threaded rod.

3. The mechanical component (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The support (22) is connected to the side surface (24) of the rod (18) of the through fastening element (16).

4. A propulsion assembly for an aircraft, the propulsion assembly comprising a mechanical component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. An aircraft comprising a mechanical component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. A method for manufacturing a mechanical component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the method comprising manufacturing the component body (12), the through fastening element (16), and the support member (22) by additive manufacturing technology.

7. A method for assembling a mechanical component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 to another mechanical component (30), wherein, The other mechanical component (30) includes another component body (32) having another through opening (34), and the method includes the following steps: A) Position the mechanical component (10) and the other mechanical component (30) such that the through opening (14) of the mechanical component (10) is aligned with the other through opening (34) of the other mechanical component (30); then B) Apply a thrust to the through fastening element (16) to break the support (22) and push the rod (18) of the through fastening element (16) into the through opening (14) and the other through opening (34); then C) The mechanical component (10) is fastened to the other mechanical component (30) by means of the through fastening element (16).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The through fastening element (16) is a rivet or a threaded rod, and the thrust of step B is applied to the head (26) of the through fastening element (16).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The through fastening element (16) is a rivet, and step C is a riveting operation.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein, The through-fastening element (16) is a threaded rod, and step C includes tightening a nut on one end of the through-fastening element opposite to the head (26) of the through-fastening element.

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