Device and method for connecting a male yoke and a female yoke requiring little space to be installed and connecting method.

Abstract

- Device and method for connecting a male yoke and a female yoke requiring little space to be installed and connecting method. - The connecting device comprises a fixing pin (2) which has an end portion (5), an end portion (6) and an intermediate portion (4), the end portion (5) having a circular cross section (5S), the intermediate portion (4) having a circular cross section (4S), the end portion (6) having a circular cross section (6S), the circular cross section (5S) being smaller than the circular cross section (4S) which is smaller than the circular cross section (6S), the fixing pin (2) comprising a conical shoulder (12) between the end portion (5) and the intermediate portion (4) and a conical shoulder (11) between the intermediate portion (4) and the end portion (6).The conical shoulder (11) allows the installation of the fixing pin (2) requiring little space. Figure for summary: Fig.1.

Description

Title of the invention: Device and method for connecting a male yoke and a female yoke requiring little space to be installed and connecting method. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for connecting a male yoke and a female yoke requiring little space to be installed in order to connect the male yoke and the female yoke. The present invention also relates to a connecting method for installing the connecting device for connecting the male yoke and the female yoke. State of the art

[0002] On board an aircraft, there are large structures, such as the 80VU structure which is intended to receive computers for flight controls, communication and radio navigation. This structure is attached to the fuselage using different types of connecting devices. Among these connecting devices, there are fixing pins which each connect a male yoke secured to the 80VU structure to a female yoke secured to the fuselage. The male yoke has a cheek intended to be located between two cheeks of the female yoke when the fixing pin connects the two yokes. Each of these fixing pins has a body having a constant circular cross-section, in other words each of these fixing pins has a constant diameter. In addition, each of these fixing pins has a first threaded free end and a second free end comprising a shoulder.The first free end is threaded so that a nut can be screwed on until the nut abuts a first cheek of the female yoke when the fixing pin connects the female yoke and the male yoke. The shoulder of the second free end is intended to abut a second cheek of the female yoke when the nut abuts the first cheek of the female yoke. Having a fixing pin of constant diameter makes it difficult to insert it through the yokes if they are misaligned, which requires the yokes to be "played" together to insert the fixing pin and also to apply a significant force to the fixing pin using a tool, such as a mallet. This type of fixing pin also requires a large space around the two yokes in order to be inserted using a mallet. This space corresponds at least to the length of the fixing pin.

[0003] This fixing device comprising such a fixing axis is therefore not fully satisfactory. Statement of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

[0005] For this, it relates to a connecting device intended to connect together a male yoke and a female yoke, the male yoke having a cheek comprising an opening, the female yoke having a first cheek and a second cheek each comprising an opening, the fixing device comprising a fixing pin, the cheek of the male yoke being intended to be located between the first cheek and the second cheek of the female yoke when the male yoke and the female yoke are connected by the fixing pin, the fixing axis being intended to pass through the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke, the opening of the male yoke and the opening of the second cheek of the female yoke to connect the male yoke and the female yoke together.

[0006] According to the invention, the fixing axis comprises a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion having a first circular cross-section, the intermediate portion having a second circular cross-section, the second end portion having a third circular cross-section, the first circular cross-section being smaller than the second circular cross-section, the second circular cross-section being smaller than the third circular cross-section, the fixing axis comprising a first conical shoulder and a second conical shoulder, the first conical shoulder being located between the first end portion and the intermediate portion, the second conical shoulder being located between the intermediate portion and the second end portion.

[0007] Thus, thanks to the second conical shoulder, the space required to introduce the fixing pin into the openings of the cheeks of the female yoke and the male yoke is reduced compared to the fixing pins without conical shoulder.

[0008] In addition, the fixing axis comprises a straight shoulder at a free end of the second end portion, the straight shoulder being intended to block a longitudinal translation of the fixing axis in a first direction going from the second end portion towards the first end portion, when the fixing axis connects the female yoke and the male yoke.

[0009] Further, the first end portion comprises a threaded portion at a free end of the first end portion, the fixing device further comprising a nut intended to be screwed onto the threaded part, the nut being further intended to block a longitudinal translation of the fixing axis in a second direction going from the first end portion towards the second end portion, when the fixing axis links the female yoke and the male yoke.

[0010] The invention also relates to a connecting method for connecting a male yoke and a female yoke together using a fixing system as specified above.

[0011] According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: - an installation step comprising the installation of the female yoke relative to the male yoke so that the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke, the opening of the male yoke and the opening of the second cheek of the female yoke are substantially opposite each other, - a first introduction step comprising the introduction of the first end portion of the fixing pin through the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke up to the first conical shoulder, - a first alignment step comprising the alignment of the fixing axis with the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke by introducing the first conical shoulder into the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke, - a second introduction step comprising the introduction of the intermediate portion of the fixing axis through the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke and through the opening of the cheek of the male yoke up to the second conical shoulder, - a second alignment step comprising the alignment, on the one hand, of the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke and the opening of the second cheek of the female yoke with, on the other hand, the opening of the male yoke by the introduction of the second conical shoulder into the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke, - a third introduction step comprising the introduction of the second end portion of the fixing axis through the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke.

[0012] Furthermore, the third step of introducing the second end portion of the fixing pin through the opening of the first cheek of the female yoke is implemented until the right shoulder blocks the longitudinal translation of the fixing pin in the first direction going from the second end portion towards the first end portion.

[0013] Furthermore, the method comprises a screwing step comprising screwing the nut to the threaded portion until the nut blocks the longitudinal translation of the fixing axis in the second direction going from the first end portion towards the second end portion. Brief description of the figures

[0014] The attached figures will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

[0015] [Fig.l] represents a longitudinal section of the connecting device as well as a transverse section of the fixing axis.

[0016] [Fig.2] shows a longitudinal section of a male yoke and a female yoke connected by the connecting device.

[0017] [Fig. 3] shows a longitudinal section of the male yoke and the female yoke shown in [Fig. 2] before they are connected by the connecting device.

[0018] [Fig.4] represents a longitudinal section of the male yoke and the female yoke shown in [Fig.3] when the fixing pin is introduced up to the second shoulder.

[0019] [Fig.5] represents a flowchart of the linking process. Detailed description

[0020] The connecting device 1 is shown in longitudinal section in [Fig.l].

[0021] This connecting device 1 is intended to connect together a male yoke 7 and a yoke female 8 ([Fig.2]).

[0022] The male yoke 7 has a cheek 7A comprising an opening 9 ([Fig.3]). The female yoke 8 has a first cheek 8A and a second cheek 8B. Each of the two cheeks 8A, 8B of the female yoke 8 comprises an opening 10A, 10B ([Fig.3]). The first cheek 8A comprises the opening 10A. The second cheek 8B comprises the opening 10B.

[0023] Advantageously, the opening 9, the opening 10A and the opening 10B are substantially cylindrical.

[0024] The fixing device 1 comprises at least one fixing axis 2.

[0025] The cheek 7A of the male yoke 7 is intended to be located in the space SP between the first cheek 8A and the second cheek 8B of the female yoke 8 when the male yoke 7 and the female yoke 8 are linked by the fixing axis 2.

[0026] The fixing axis 2 is intended to pass through the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8, through the opening 9 of the male yoke 7 and through the opening 10B of the second cheek 8B of the female yoke 8 to connect the male yoke 7 and the female yoke 8 together.

[0027] The fixing axis 2 comprises a first end portion 5, a second end portion 6 and an intermediate portion 4 between the first end portion 5 and the second end portion 6.

[0028] As shown in [Fig.l], the first end portion 5 has a first circular cross-section 5S. The intermediate portion 4 has a second circular cross-section 4S. The second end portion 6 has a third circular cross-section 6S.

[0029] The first circular cross-section 5S is smaller than the second circular cross-section 4S. The second circular cross-section 4S is smaller than the third circular cross-section 6S. The circular cross-sections 5S, 4S and 6S correspond to circles whose centers are aligned on the same straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the fixing axis 2.

[0030] It is understood that saying that a first circular cross-section is smaller than a second circular cross-section means that the first circular cross-section has a radius smaller than the radius of the second circular cross-section.

[0031] The fixing axis 2 comprises a first conical shoulder 12 and a second conical shoulder 11.

[0032] The first conical shoulder 12 is located between the first end portion 5 and the intermediate portion 4. Thus, the first conical shoulder 12 securely connects the first end portion 5 and the intermediate portion 4. The first conical shoulder 12 has a circular cross-section which continuously evolves from a cross-section equal to the first circular cross-section 5S to a cross-section equal to the second circular cross-section 4S.

[0033] The second conical shoulder 11 is located between the intermediate portion 4 and the second end portion 6. Thus, the second conical shoulder 11 securely connects the intermediate portion 4 and the second end portion 6. The second conical shoulder 11 has a circular cross-section which continuously evolves from a cross-section equal to the second circular cross-section 4S to a cross-section equal to the third circular cross-section 6S.

[0034] Preferably, the opening 10A (of substantially cylindrical shape) of the first cheek 8A has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the third circular cross-section 6S. The opening 10B (of substantially cylindrical shape) of the second cheek 8B and the opening 9 (of substantially cylindrical shape) of the cheek 7A each have a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the second circular cross-section 4S of the intermediate portion 4.

[0035] Advantageously, the fixing axis 2 comprises a straight shoulder 13 at a free end of the second end portion 6. The straight shoulder 13 is intended to block a longitudinal translation of the fixing axis 2 in a first direction SI going from the second end portion 6 towards the first end portion 5, when the fixing axis 2 connects the female yoke 8 and the male yoke 7. [Fig.2] represents by the arrow SI said first direction.

[0036] The first end portion 5 may comprise a threaded portion 14 at a free end of the first end portion 5. The fixing device 1 may then further comprise a nut 3 intended to be screwed to the threaded part 14. The nut 3 is further intended to block a longitudinal translation of the fixing axis 2 in a second direction S2 going from the first end portion 5 towards the second end portion 6 (the second direction S2 is opposite to the first direction S1), when the fixing axis 2 connects the female yoke 8 and the male yoke 7. [Fig.2] represents by the arrow S2 said second direction.

[0037] In a particular embodiment, the opening 9 of the cheek 7A of the male yoke 7 may comprise a ring 23 defining the diameter of the opening 9. The ring 23 may be composed of three concentric bushings of decreasing radii. The ring 23 may therefore comprise a bushing 23A, a bushing 23B and a bushing 23C. The bushing 23A has an outside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the opening of the cheek 7A. The bushing 23B connects the bushings 23A and 23C. The bushing 23C has an outside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bushing 23B and an inside diameter substantially equal to the second circular cross-section 4S of the fixing pin 2. In a non-limiting manner, the bushing 23A and the bushing 23C are made of metal, such as aluminum; the bushing 23B is made of elastomer. The opening 10A of the first cheek 8A may comprise a first shouldered ring 20 defining the diameter of the opening 10A.The opening 10B of the second cheek 8B may comprise a second smooth ring 24 defining the diameter of the opening 10B. The diameter of the opening 10A defined by the first ring 20 is substantially equal to the diameter of the third circular cross-section 6S. The diameter of the opening 9 defined by the ring 23 is substantially equal to the diameter of the second circular cross-section 4S.

[0038] In this particular embodiment, at least a portion of the ring 23, in particular the sleeve 23B, may be made of a more flexible material than the materials from which the first ring 20 and the second ring 24 are made. Thus the first ring 20 and the second ring 24 may grip the ring 23 to maintain the position of the male yoke 7 relative to the position of the female yoke 8. In a non-limiting manner, the ring 23 is made at least partly of elastomer. Also in a non-limiting manner, the first ring 20 and the second ring 24 are made of metal, such as aluminum.

[0039] Furthermore, in this particular embodiment, washers 21, 22 can be inserted between the right shoulder 13 and the first ring 20 and between the nut 3 and the second ring 24.

[0040] The invention also relates to a connection method for connecting together a male yoke 7 and a female yoke 8 using the fixing system 1 ([Fig.5]).

[0041] The bonding method comprises the following steps: - a step El of installing the female yoke 8 in relation to the male yoke 7, - a first step E2 of introducing the first end portion 5, - a first step E3 of aligning the fixing axis 2 with the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A, - a second step E4 of introducing the intermediate portion 4, - a second step E5 of aligning the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A and the opening 10B of the second cheek 8B of the female yoke 8 with the opening 9 of the male yoke 7, - a third step E6 of introducing the second end portion 6.

[0042] The installation step E1 comprises the installation of the female yoke 8 relative to the male yoke 7 so that the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8, the opening 9 of the male yoke 7 and the opening 10B of the second cheek 8B of the female yoke 8 are substantially opposite one another.

[0043] The first introduction step E2 comprises the introduction of the first end portion 5 of the fixing pin 2 through the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8 up to the first conical shoulder 12. The arrow 25 of [Fig.3] and [Fig.4] indicates the direction of introduction of the fixing pin 2.

[0044] The first alignment step E3 comprises aligning the fixing axis 2 with the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8 by introducing the first conical shoulder 12 into the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8. Thanks to the first conical shoulder 12, the longitudinal fixing axis 2 can be substantially aligned with the axis of the opening 10A in order to facilitate the introduction of the fixing axis 2 into all the openings 10A, 9 and 10B.

[0045] The second introduction step E4 comprises the introduction of the intermediate portion 4 of the fixing axis 2 through the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8 up to the second conical shoulder 11 ([Fig.4]).

[0046] In this step E4, the first end portion 5 can pass through the opening 9 of the cheek 7A of the male yoke 7 as the intermediate portion 4 is introduced through the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A and through the opening (9) of the cheek (7A) of the male yoke (7). Similarly, the intermediate portion 4 passes through the opening 9 of the cheek 7A of the male yoke 7. The first end portion 5 can also pass through the opening 10B of the cheek 8B of the female yoke 8.

[0047] The second alignment step E5 comprises the alignment, on the one hand, of the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8 and of the opening 10B of the second cheek 8B of the female yoke 8 with, on the other hand, the opening 9 of the male yoke 7 by the introduction of the second conical shoulder 11 into the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8. Thanks to this second alignment step E5, the opening 9 has an axis of revolution A1 substantially coincident with the respective axes of revolution A2, A3 of the opening 10A and the opening 10B.

[0048] The third introduction step E6 comprises the introduction of the second end portion 6 of the fixing axis 2 through the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8.

[0049] The introduction step E2, the alignment step E3 and the introduction step E4 can be carried out without the aid of a tool to introduce the fixing pin 2 into the different openings 10A, 9 and 10B. The fixing pin 2 can be introduced by hand for these steps E2, E3 and E4.

[0050] The alignment step E5 and / or the introduction step E6 may require the use of a tool 26, such as a mallet, to implement them.

[0051] From step E5, only the second end portion 6 and the second conical shoulder 11 of the fixing pin 2 remain to be introduced. There therefore remains a dimension D of the fixing pin 2, which is less than the total dimension of the fixing pin 2 to be introduced. Thus, the space which may be necessary to complete the introduction of the fixing pin 2 using a tool 26 is reduced thanks to the second conical shoulder 11.

[0052] Step E6 of introducing the second end portion 6 of the fixing pin 2 through the opening 10A of the first cheek 8A of the female yoke 8 can be implemented until the right shoulder 13 blocks the longitudinal translation of the fixing pin 2 in the first direction SL

[0053] The method may further comprise a screwing step E7 comprising screwing the nut 3 to the threaded part 14 until the nut 3 blocks the longitudinal translation of the fixing axis 2 in the second direction S2.

[0054] Preferably, the screwing step E7 is implemented when the introduction step E6 is completed, i.e. when the right shoulder 13 already blocks the longitudinal translation of the fixing axis 2 in the first direction SL.

[0055] Thus, the straight shoulder 13 and the nut 3 can make it possible to block the fixing axis 2 in translation when the nut 3 is screwed onto the first end of the fixing axis 2.

Claims

Claims

1. A connecting device for connecting a male yoke (7) and a female yoke (8) together, the male yoke (7) having a cheek (7A) comprising an opening (9), the female yoke (8) having a first cheek (8A) and a second cheek (8B) each comprising an opening (10A, 10B), the fixing device (1) comprising a fixing pin (2), the cheek (7A) of the male yoke (7) being intended to be located between the first cheek (8A) and the second cheek (8B) of the female yoke (8) when the male yoke (7) and the female yoke (8) are connected by the fixing pin (2), the fixing pin (2) being intended to pass through the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8), the opening (9) of the male yoke (7) and the opening (10B) of the second cheek (8B) of the female yoke (8) for connecting the male yoke (7) and the female yoke (8) together, characterized in that the fixing axis (2) comprises a first end portion (5),a second end portion (6) and an intermediate portion (4) between the first end portion (5) and the second end portion (6), the first end portion (5) having a first circular cross-section (5S), the intermediate portion (4) having a second circular cross-section (4S), the second end portion (6) having a third circular cross-section (6S), the first circular cross-section (5S) being smaller than the second circular cross-section (4S), the second circular cross-section (4S) being smaller than the third circular cross-section (6S), the fixing axis (2) comprising a first conical shoulder (12) and a second conical shoulder (11), the first conical shoulder (12) being located between the first end portion (5) and the intermediate portion (4),the second conical shoulder (11) being located between the intermediate portion (4) and the second end portion (6).,

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing axis (2) comprises a straight shoulder (13) at a free end of the second end portion (6), the straight shoulder (13) being intended to block a longitudinal translation of the fixing axis (2) in a first direction (SI) going from the second end portion (6) towards the first end portion (5), when the fixing axis (2) links the female yoke (8) and the male yoke (7).

3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first end portion (5) comprises a threaded part (14) at a free end of the first end portion (5), the fixing device (1) further comprising a nut (3) intended to be screwed to the threaded part (14), the nut (3) being further intended to block a longitudinal translation of the fixing axis (2) in a second direction (S2) going from the first end portion (5) towards the second end portion (6), when the fixing axis (2) connects the female yoke (8) and the male yoke (7).

4. A method of connecting a male yoke and a female yoke together using a fixing system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - an installation step (El) comprising the installation of the female yoke (8) relative to the male yoke (7) so that the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8), the opening (9) of the male yoke (7) and the opening (10B) of the second cheek (8B) of the female yoke (8) are substantially opposite each other, - a first introduction step (E2) comprising the introduction of the first end portion (5) of the fixing pin (2) through the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8) up to the first conical shoulder (12), - a first alignment step (E3) comprising the alignment of the fixing axis (2) with the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8) by the introduction of the first conical shoulder (12) into the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8), - a second introduction step (E4) comprising the introduction of the intermediate portion (4) of the fixing axis (2) through the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8) and through the opening (9) of the cheek (7A) of the male yoke (7) up to the second conical shoulder (11), - a second alignment step (E5) comprising the alignment, on the one hand, of the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8) and of the opening (10B) of the second cheek (8B) of the female yoke (8) with, on the other hand, the opening (9) of the male yoke (7) by the introduction of the second conical shoulder (11) into the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8), - a third introduction step (E6) comprising the introduction of the second end portion (6) of the fixing axis (2) through the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8).

5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the third step (E6) of introducing the second end portion (6) of the fixing pin (2) through the opening (10A) of the first cheek (8A) of the female yoke (8) is implemented until the straight shoulder (13) blocks the longitudinal translation of the fixing pin (2) in the first direction (SI) going from the second end portion (6) towards the first end portion (5).

6. Method according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that it further comprises a screwing step (E7) comprising screwing the nut (3) to the threaded part (14) until the nut (3) blocks the longitudinal translation of the fixing axis (2) in the second direction (S2) going from the first end portion (5) towards the second end portion (6).

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