FLOATING NUT LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly, in particular for an aircraft engine, comprising: - a support (10) comprising an opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member, - a floating nut (19) mounted floating inside a cage (20) fixed on a face of the support (10), said floating nut (19) comprising a threaded opening (21) arranged opposite the opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member, and - a nut locking device (25) comprising: - a threaded rod (27) comprising at least one threaded portion (28) intended to be screwed inside the threaded opening (21) of the floating nut (19), and - a support element (29) extending in radial projection relative to the axis (X) of the threaded rod (27), said support element (29) being intended to bear at least partly against the internal face support (16) delimiting the opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member. Figure for the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR LOCKING A FLOATING NUT

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for locking a floating nut. The invention finds a particularly advantageous, but not limiting, application in the field of aeronautics, in particular for the immobilization of unused floating nuts in certain aircraft engine configurations.

[0002] As shown in [Fig. 1], in order to mount parts on a support 1, such as an intermediate casing of an aircraft engine, it is known to use a support 1 comprising nuts 2 mounted floating inside a cage 3. A nut 2 can be of the self-locking type, that is to say that it comprises standard threads then deformed threads to trap a screw or a stud and prevent untimely loosening of the screw or stud after assembly.

[0003] Depending on certain engine configurations, it is not possible to use the floating nut 2 due to the presence of a facing part 4 preventing the mounting of a standard fixing member. In this case, there is a need to lock the nut 2 in order to prevent it from vibrating during operation while remaining within the space allocated to the fixing device.

[0004] The invention aims to effectively meet this need by proposing an assembly, in particular for an aircraft engine, comprising: - a support comprising an opening for the passage of a fixing member, said opening for the passage of a fixing member being delimited by an internal support face, - a floating nut mounted floating inside a cage fixed on one face of the support, said floating nut comprising a threaded opening arranged opposite the passage opening of a fixing member, said threaded opening being delimited by an internal face of the nut, and - a nut locking device comprising: - a threaded rod having an axis, said threaded rod comprising at least one threaded portion intended to be screwed inside the threaded opening of the floating nut, and - a support element extending radially from the axis of the threaded rod, said support element being intended to come to bear at least in part against the internal support face delimiting the passage opening of a fixing member.

[0005] The invention thus makes it possible to lock the floating nut in a small space requirement while retaining the fixing interfaces between the parts. The invention also has the advantage of being an easy-to-implement and inexpensive solution.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support element is constituted by a seal arranged inside a groove made in an external periphery of the threaded rod, said seal being intended to come to bear at least in part against the internal support face delimiting the passage opening of a fixing member.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the seal is an O-ring.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support element is constituted by an edge annular-shaped end edge disposed at an axial end of the threaded rod, said end edge being deformable so as to be able, after deformation, to bear against the internal support face delimiting the passage opening of a fixing member.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the annular end edge has a continuous profile.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the annular end edge has a discontinuous profile.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the threaded rod comprises an axial end face arranged at the same level or slightly below relative to a face of the support located on the side opposite the face carrying the floating nut.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the support is an intermediate casing of an aircraft engine.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the floating nut is of the self-braking type.

[0014] The invention also relates to an aircraft engine comprising an assembly as previously defined.

[0015] The present invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description which follows, comprising embodiments given by way of illustration with reference to the appended figures, presented as non-limiting examples, which may serve to complete the understanding of the present invention and the description of its embodiment and, where appropriate, contribute to its definition, in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] [Fig.l], already described, is a sectional view of a standard support carrying a floating nut for mounting a part;

[0017] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of a device for locking a floating nut according to the present invention;

[0018] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of a device for locking a floating nut according to the present invention.

[0019] It should be noted that, in Figures 2 and 3, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments may have the same references. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

[0020] Figures 2 and 3 show a support 10, such as an intermediate casing of an aircraft engine. The support 10 comprises a first face 11 and a second face 12 opposite the first face 11. A gap between the first face and the second face of the support 10 corresponds to a thickness 13 of the support 10. The support 10 comprises an opening 15 for the passage of a fixing member. The opening 15 is a through opening extending between the faces 11 and 12 along the thickness 13 of the support 10. The opening 15 for the passage of a fixing member is delimited by an internal support face 16.

[0021] A floating nut 19 is mounted floating, that is to say with a slight clearance, inside a cage 20 fixed on one face of the support 10, here the face 12 of the support 10. The floating nut 19 has a threaded opening 21 arranged opposite the opening 15 for the passage of a fixing member. The threaded opening 21 is delimited by an internal face of nut 22. The opening 15 for the passage of a fixing member and the threaded opening 21 are coaxial with each other. The floating nut 19 can be of the self-locking type, that is to say it has standard threads then deformed threads to trap a screw or a stud and prevent untimely loosening of the screw or stud after assembly.

[0022] A nut locking device 25 comprises a threaded rod 27 having an axis X intended to coincide with the axes of the opening 15 for passage of a fixing member and of the threaded opening 21. The threaded rod 27 comprises at least one threaded portion 28 intended to be screwed inside the threaded opening 21 of the floating nut 19, and a support element 29 extending in radial projection relative to the axis X of the threaded rod 27. The support element 29 is intended to bear at least partly against the internal support face 16 delimiting the opening 15 for passage of a fixing member. The threaded rod 27 thus makes it possible to produce a mechanical connection between the floating nut 19 and the support 10 preventing the nut 19 from vibrating inside the cage 20.

[0023] In the embodiment of [Fig. 2], the support element 29 is constituted by a seal 32, in this case an O-ring, arranged inside a groove 33 made in an external periphery of the threaded rod 27. In the undeformed state, the O-ring 32 has a diameter slightly greater than the opening 15 for passage of the fixing member.

[0024] When installing the nut locking device 25, the threaded rod 27 is screwed inside the tapped opening 21 of the floating nut 19. During tightening, the seal 32 will crush and come to bear at least partly against the internal support face 16 delimiting the opening 15 for passage of a fixing member. The seal 32 thus provides a nut locking function to prevent the floating nut 19 from vibrating.

[0025] The threaded rod 27 has an axial end face 38 passing through a head of the rod 27. The axial end face 38 is arranged at the same level or slightly in below relative to the face 11 of the support 10 located on the opposite side to the face 12 carrying the floating nut 19. A plane passing through the axial end face 38 of the threaded rod 27 is in the same plane as the face 11 of the support 10 or between the two faces 11, 12 of the support 10. This makes it possible to avoid any interference between the threaded rod 27 and the environment of the engine.

[0026] In the embodiment of [Fig. 3], the support element 29 is constituted by an end edge 35 of annular shape arranged at an axial end of the threaded rod 27. In the undeformed state, the end edge 35 has an annular shape of axial orientation relative to the axis X. The end edge 35 is deformable so as to be able, after deformation, to bear against the internal support face 16 delimiting the opening 15 for the passage of a fixing member. The end edge 35 has a small thickness, preferably less than or of the order of a millimeter.

[0027] For this purpose, the threaded rod 27 is screwed inside the tapped opening 21 of the floating nut 19 up to a braking torque. Then, a pin 36 is inserted with a mallet inside a cavity 37 delimited by the end edge 35 in the undeformed state. The pin 36 has at least one portion having an external diameter greater than an internal diameter of the end edge 35 in the undeformed state. The insertion of the pin 36 will therefore deform the end edge 35 of the threaded rod 27, such that the deformed end edge 35 comes into contact with the internal support face 16 and thus lock the floating nut 19 to prevent it from vibrating.

[0028] The end edge 35 may have a continuous profile or a discontinuous profile with an alternation of solid and empty portions to facilitate its deformation.

[0029] The threaded rod 27 has an axial end face 38 passing through a head of the rod 27. The axial end face 38 is arranged at the same level or slightly below with respect to the face 11 of the support 10 located on the side opposite the face 12 carrying the floating nut 19. A plane passing through the axial end face 38 of the threaded rod 27 is in the same plane as the face 11 of the support 10 or between the two faces 11, 12 of the support 10. This makes it possible to avoid any interference between the threaded rod 27 and the environment of the engine.

[0030] Of course, the various features, variants and / or embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0031] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided solely by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants that may be envisaged by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention and in particular all combinations of the different operating modes described above, which may be taken separately or in association.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly, in particular for an aircraft engine, comprising: - a support (10) comprising an opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member, said opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member being delimited by an internal support face (16), - a floating nut (19) mounted floating inside a cage (20) fixed on a face of the support (10), said floating nut (19) comprising a threaded opening (21) arranged opposite the opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member, said threaded opening (21) being delimited by an internal nut face (22), characterized in that said assembly further comprises a nut locking device (25) comprising: - a threaded rod (27) having an axis (X), said threaded rod (27) comprising at least one threaded portion (28) intended to be screwed inside the threaded opening (21) of the floating nut (19),and - a support element (29) extending radially projecting relative to the axis (X) of the threaded rod (27), said support element (29) being intended to come to bear at least in part against the internal support face (16) delimiting the opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member.,

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (29) is constituted by a seal (32) arranged inside a groove (33) made in an external periphery of the threaded rod (27), said seal (32) being intended to come to bear at least in part against the internal support face (16) delimiting the opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member.

3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the seal (32) is an O-ring.

4. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (29) is constituted by an end edge (35) of annular shape arranged at an axial end of the threaded rod (27), said end edge (35) being deformable so as to be able, after deformation, to bear against the internal support face (16) delimiting the opening (15) for the passage of a fixing member.

5. Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the annular end edge (35) has a continuous profile.

6. Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the annular end edge (35) has a discontinuous profile.

7. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the threaded rod (27) has an axial end face (38) arranged at the same level or slightly below relative to a face of the support (10) located on the side opposite the face carrying the floating nut (19).

8. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support (10) is an intermediate casing of an aircraft engine.

9. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the floating nut (19) is of the self-braking type.

10. An aircraft engine comprising an assembly as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

Images