Connecting element with a sacrificial ball joint, especially for an engine mount

Abstract

A connecting element (1), in particular for supporting a motor, comprises a body (2) and a first ball joint (3a) and a second ball joint (3b) which are attached to the body (2). The connecting element (1) comprises a third sacrificial ball joint (3c) separate from the first and second ball joints (3a, 3b) and supported by the body (2), the sacrificial ball joint comprising an outer ring (4) and an inner ring (5) having a spherical inner surface (4a) and a spherical outer surface (5b) respectively, which are in contact with each other, the outer ring (4) projecting laterally on both sides of the body (2), the connecting element (1) further comprising a device for attaching the sacrificial ball joint (3c) to the body (2).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of connecting elements with ball joints, in particular connecting elements for supporting a motor.

[0002] An aircraft engine is generally supported by a pylon that connects the engine to the wing or fuselage of the aircraft. The pylon is connected to the engine via connecting elements that utilize ball joints. The ball joints allow the system freedom of movement; in particular, they enable the system to be flexible in accordance with the thermal expansion of the engine.

[0003] Some connecting elements comprising two ball joints can rotate freely around their extension axis, which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the ball joints. This rotation occurs due to micro-movements and vibrations, primarily caused by friction. The connecting element can therefore move uncontrollably and collide with surrounding parts, such as the engine mount. These collisions between the connecting element and surrounding parts can lead to wear and failure. State of the art

[0004] To locate such collisions in unloaded areas of a fastener, excess thickness can be provided on one of the front surfaces of the fastener body that carries the ball joints. While this solution is effective in protecting the fastener body and the attached ball joints, it does not protect the surrounding parts. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention aims to eliminate this disadvantage.

[0006] The invention relates to a connecting element, in particular for supporting a motor, comprising a body and a first ball joint and a second ball joint attached to the body. The connecting element includes a third sacrificial ball joint, separate from the first and second ball joints and supported by the body, and comprising an outer ring and an inner ring, the latter having a spherical inner surface and a spherical outer surface, respectively, which are in contact with each other. The outer ring projects laterally on each side of the body.

[0007] According to a general characteristic, the connecting element further comprises a device for attaching the sacrificial ball joint to the body.

[0008] Thus, the outer ring of the third ball joint acts as a sacrificial ring, designed to come into contact with the surrounding part(s) after the connecting element has been assembled. This limits the contact between the surrounding part(s) on the one hand and the body and the first and second ball joints of the connecting element on the other. The outer ring can be easily replaced in case of wear without disassembling the connecting element.

[0009] Advantageously, the outer surface of the outer ring of the sacrificial ball joint comprises at least one flat surface, and preferably two opposing flat surfaces.

[0010] Preferably, at least the outer surface of the outer ring of the sacrificial ball joint comprises a bronze coating and / or a cobalt alloy coating.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the body of the connecting element comprises an elongated section in which the first and the second separate ball joints are arranged, and a projecting section that projects transversely in relation to the elongated section and carries the sacrificial ball joint.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment, the fastening device comprises a threaded shaft extending through the inner ring of the sacrificial ball joint and inserted into a recess in the body, and a clamping disc attached to the shaft and inserted between the inner ring of the sacrificial ball joint and the body.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the fastening device comprises a thread formed on the body or on a shaft connected to the body, to which the inner ring of the sacrificial ball joint is attached.

[0014] The fastening device may further comprise a groove formed on the body or shaft in the extension of the thread, in which a projection of the inner ring of the sacrificial ball joint is accommodated. Alternatively or in combination, the fastening device may further comprise a nut for locking the sacrificial ball joint, the nut being attached to the body or shaft.

[0015] Advantageously, the first and second ball joints comprise two parallel axes of rotation, and the sacrificial ball joint comprises one axis of rotation orthogonal to these axes.

[0016] Optionally, a first main surface of the body comprises a nickel and / or cobalt alloy and an opposing second main surface of the body comprises a titanium and / or nickel alloy. Brief description of the characters

[0017] Further aims, features and advantages of the invention will become clear upon reading the following description, which is given merely as a non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1] a perspective view of a connecting element according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 2] a detailed view of a ball joint of the connecting element made of Fig. 1 is; [ Fig. 3] a perspective view of the connecting element made of Fig. 1 is; [ Fig. 4] a partial cross-sectional view of the connecting element made of Fig. 1 is; [ Fig. 5] a perspective partial view of the connecting element made of Fig. 1 according to one variant; and [ Fig. 6] a partial cross-sectional view of a connecting element made of Fig. 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0018] Fig. Figure 1 shows a connecting element designated by reference numeral 1, comprising a body 2 and three ball joints 3a, 3b, 3c, which are separate from each other and attached to the body 2. The connecting element 1 is represented in an orthonormal reference grid X, Y, Z, in which X indicates the transverse direction of the connecting element 1, the axis Y indicates the direction perpendicular to the transverse axis X, and the axis Z indicates the longitudinal direction of the connecting element 1.

[0019] The body 2 of the connecting element 1 is provided with two opposing principal surfaces A and B, which define its thickness. The body 2 comprises an elongated section 2a extending in the longitudinal direction Z, and a projecting section 2b that extends transversely in the Y direction relative to the elongated section 2a. The elongated section 2a and the projecting section 2b define the principal surfaces A and B.

[0020] The connecting element 1 comprises a first ball joint 3a, which is attached in a lower region of the elongated part 2a, and a second ball joint 3b, which is attached in an upper region of the elongated part 2a. The first and second ball joints 3a, 3b are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction Z. Each ball joint 3a, 3b is attached in a recess that extends through the body. Each ball joint 3a, 3b comprises a ring that is attached in the associated recess. Each ball joint 3a, 3b comprises a convex spherical outer surface that is in contact with the inner surface of the associated recess in the body 2.

[0021] The connecting element 1 further comprises a third ball joint 3c, called the sacrificial ball joint 3c, which is attached to the part 2b projecting from the body 2 of the connecting element 1. The first and second ball joints 3a, 3b comprise two parallel axes of rotation R1 extending in the X-direction, and the sacrificial ball joint 3c comprises an axis of rotation R2 extending in the Y-direction. The axis of rotation R2 is orthogonal to the axes of rotation R1.

[0022] As described in more detail below, the connecting element 1 further comprises a device for attaching the sacrificial ball joint 3c to the body 2, in particular to the projecting part 2b of the body.

[0023] As in Fig. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 2, the sacrificial ball joint 3c of the connecting element comprises an outer ring 4 and an inner ring 5 which are in contact with each other.

[0024] The outer ring 4 comprises a concave spherical inner surface 4a or a bore, an outer surface 4b radially opposite the inner surface 4a, and two opposing radial end faces (without reference numerals) axially bounding the inner surface 4a and the outer surface 4b.

[0025] The inner ring 5 comprises a convex spherical outer surface 5b to which the inner surface 4a of the outer ring 4 is attached, a cylindrical bore 5a radially opposite the outer surface 5b, and two opposing radial end faces (without reference numerals) axially delimiting the bore 5a and the outer surface 5b.

[0026] The spherical inner surfaces 4a and outer surfaces 5b of the outer ring 4 and the inner ring 5 are in contact with each other and have complementary shapes.

[0027] The outer surface 4b of the outer ring 4 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c comprises two opposing planar surfaces 6. These planar surfaces 6 each allow a connection of the planar bearing type to be established for the walls of the surrounding part of the motor system, as shown in Fig. 3 is shown.

[0028] The outer ring 4 of the sacrificial ball joint projects laterally on each side of the body 2. The outer ring 4 projects laterally on each side of the body 2 in the direction Y. The outer ring 4 projects on one side relative to the main surface A of the body 2 and on the other side relative to the opposite main surface B of the housing.

[0029] The outer ring 4 thus forms a sacrificial ring, which is designed in such a way that it comes into contact with the walls of the surrounding part of the motor system and prevents contact between this part on the one hand and the body 2 and the ball joints 3a, 3b on the other.

[0030] Advantageously, the outer surface 4b of the outer ring 4 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c comprises a bronze coating and / or a cobalt alloy coating.

[0031] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 4, the device for attaching the sacrificial ball joint 3c to the body 2 comprises a thread 7 formed on the body 2. The thread 7 is formed on the projecting part 2b of the body. The inner ring 5 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c is attached by screwing it onto the thread 7 and, for this purpose, includes a corresponding thread in its bore.

[0032] The fastening device further comprises a groove 8 formed on the body 2 in the extension of the thread 7, in which a projection of the inner ring 5 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c is accommodated. The groove 8 also allows the inner ring 5 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c to be clipped onto the body 2.

[0033] In one version, as it appears in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the fastening device could include a nut 12 for locking the sacrificial ball joint 3c, this nut being fastened to the thread 7 of the body 2, the bore of the inner ring 5 being unthreaded in this case and the fastening device not having the groove 8. The fastening device further includes a clamping washer 11, which is fastened to the thread 7 of the body 2 and which is inserted between the inner ring 5 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c and the nut 12. The nut 12 and the clamping washer 11 enable the inner ring 5 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c to be locked against the body 2 and consequently the sacrificial ball joint 3c to be locked against the body 2.

[0034] In the two embodiments described above, the thread 7 of the fastening device is formed directly on the body. Alternatively, it would be possible to provide the thread on a shaft connected to the body 2.

[0035] In the Fig.In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, in which identical elements bear the same reference numerals, the device for fastening the sacrificial ball joint 3c to the body 2 comprises a threaded shaft 9 connected to the body 2, which extends through the bore of the inner ring 5 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c. The projecting section 2b of the body 2 of the connecting element 1 includes a recess 10 into which the connected threaded shaft 9 is positively engaged. The fastening device further comprises a clamping disc 11, which is attached to the shaft 9 and inserted between the inner ring 5 of the sacrificial ball joint 3c and the body 2 of the connecting element 1. The clamping disc 11 engages in a groove (without reference numeral) formed on the threaded shaft 9.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the first main surface A of the body 2 may comprise a nickel and / or cobalt alloy that is resistant to the high temperatures generated by combustion in the engine, and the opposite second main surface B of the body 2 may comprise a titanium and / or nickel alloy.

Claims

[1] Connecting element (1), in particular for supporting a motor, comprising a body (2) and a first ball joint (3a) and a second ball joint (3b) attached to the body (2), characterized by , that it comprises a third sacrificial ball joint (3c) which is separate from the first and second ball joints (3a, 3b) and is supported by the body (2), wherein the sacrificial ball joint (3c) comprises an outer ring (4) and an inner ring (5) which comprise a spherical inner surface (4a) and a spherical outer surface (5b) respectively, which are in contact with each other, wherein the outer ring (4) projects laterally on both sides of the body (2), wherein the connecting element (1) further comprises a device for attaching the sacrificial ball joint (3c) to the body (2). [2] Connecting element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface (4b) of the outer ring (4) of the sacrificial ball joint (3c) comprises at least one flat surface (6) and preferably two opposing flat surfaces (6). [3] Connecting element (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein at least the outer surface (4b) of the outer ring (4) of the sacrificial ball joint (3c) comprises a bronze coating and / or a cobalt alloy coating. [4] Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body (2) of the connecting element (1) comprises an elongated section (2a) in which the first and the second separate ball joint (3a, 3b) are arranged and a projecting section (2b) which projects transversely in relation to the elongated section (2a) and supports the sacrificial ball joint (3c). [5] Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fastening device comprises a threaded shaft (9) extending through the inner ring (5) of the sacrificial ball joint (3c) and inserted into a recess (10) in the body (2), and a clamping disc (11) attached to the shaft (9) and inserted between the inner ring (5) of the sacrificial ball joint (3c) and the body (2). [6] Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fastening device comprises a thread formed on the body (2) or on a shaft (9) connected to the body (2) and on which the inner ring (5) of the sacrificial ball joint (3c) is fastened. [7] Connecting element (1) according to claim 6, wherein the fastening device further comprises a groove (8) formed on the body (2) or on the shaft (9) in the extension of the thread (7) and in which a projection of the inner ring (5) of the sacrificial ball joint (3c) is accommodated. [8] Connecting element (1) according to claim 6, wherein the fastening device further comprises a nut (12) for locking the sacrificial ball joint (3c), the nut being attached to the body (2) or to the shaft (9). [9] Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first and second ball joints (3a, 3b) comprise two parallel axes of rotation (R1) and wherein the sacrificial ball joint (3c) comprises an axis of rotation (R2) orthogonal to the axes of rotation (R1). [10] Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a first main surface (A) of the body (2) comprises a nickel and / or cobalt alloy and an opposing second main surface (B) of the body (2) comprises a titanium and / or nickel alloy.

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