Distributor of ordered bolts

Abstract

Ordered bolt dispenser One aspect of the invention relates to an assembly (1) comprising a plurality of bolts (2) and a dispenser (3) containing said bolts (2), in which: at least some of these bolts (2) have an individual identification element; The dispenser (3) comprises a drawer (5) and a sleeve (6), both made of transparent plastic and rectangular in shape with six faces each, namely two opposing upper (5a, 6a) and lower (5b, 6b) faces, two opposing lateral (5c, 5d, 6c, 6d) faces, and two opposing end (5e, 5f, 6e, 6f) end faces, namely a front end face (5e, 6e) and a rear end face (5f, 6f); the drawer (5) is housed within the sleeve (6); the bolts (2) are aligned one after the other within the drawer (5). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Ordered bolt dispenser TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of containers for bolts.

[0002] The present invention relates to a container designed to allow the distribution of bolts in a specific order. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Nowadays, especially when tightening discs in a turbomachine, the nuts must be put in place in a certain order, most generally to achieve cross tightening in order to allow a progressive approach of the parts to be assembled.

[0004] Indeed, for example during the inter-disc tightening on the assembly site of a turbomachine, failure to comply with the cross-tightening instructions can result in problems with disc seating and loss of complete tightening on the first screws tightened, and can be detrimental to the operation of the turbomachine.

[0005] However, there is no solution to ensure that the operator has followed the predefined tightening order set out in the assembly range.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide such a solution. Summary of the invention

[0007] Following numerous studies and various attempts to raise operator awareness of the problems associated with not following tightening sequence instructions, the applicant has observed that the operator remains free to do as they please and is free to disregard the instructions given in the assembly instructions. They may thus choose to tighten the screws sequentially, which is simpler for them, but entails risks to the reliability of the assembly thus created.

[0008] The applicant therefore sought a solution to allow for quick and easy verification that the operator had correctly followed the tightening sequence predefined by the assembly instructions. This solution is based in particular on the following two characteristics: • The bolts have markings that allow them to be identified and distinguished from one another; and • the bolts are arranged in a specific order in a container, referred to as a dispenser in the remainder of this document, and intended to allow the distribution of said bolts in a specific order.

[0009] One aspect of the invention relates to an assembly comprising a plurality of bolts and a dispenser containing said bolts, in which: • at least some of these bolts have an individual identifying feature; • the dispenser comprises a drawer and a sleeve which are made of transparent plastic and are rectangular in shape with six faces each, namely two opposite upper and lower faces, two opposite side faces and two opposite end faces, namely a front end face and a rear end face; • the drawer is housed in the sheath; • The bolts are lined up one after the other in the drawer

[0010] By making an opening in the sleeve or by moving it relative to the spool, it is possible to create an opening that provides access to the first bolt initially located in the front part of the distributor. After removing this first bolt, it is then possible to access the subsequent bolts, for example by tilting the distributor so that the bolts slide by gravity towards the opening or by enlarging said opening. This advantageously encourages the operator to remove the bolts one by one in the order defined when they were installed in the distributor. Furthermore, after the bolts have been installed and tightened onto the screws, the individual identification element present on some bolts advantageously allows visual verification that these bolts have been correctly positioned according to the instructions given in the assembly instructions.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the sleeve is open at its two end faces, which advantageously allows it to slide longitudinally relative to the drawer.

[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, in its front part, the drawer is open at the level of its upper face, which advantageously allows access at least to the first bolt when the sleeve no longer covers the drawer in the front part of the distributor.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention, in the front part of the drawer, the two opposite lateral faces of said drawer each have a cutout. These lateral cutouts, also referred to as scallops, form openings that advantageously facilitate the lateral gripping of the bolts in the front part of the distributor.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the upper face of the drawer is open along the entire length of said drawer, which advantageously facilitates the placement of the bolts 2 in the drawer 5.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the drawer is housed sliding in the sleeve, which advantageously allows the dispenser to be opened and closed by sliding the sleeve around the drawer.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the invention, the drawer is fixed to the sleeve, which allows, in particular when an opening is made in the sleeve at the level of the front part of the distributor, access only to the bolt located at the level of said front part of the distributor, and thus advantageously obliges the operator to take the bolts one by one in the order in which they are arranged in the drawer.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, in its front part, the sleeve has a removable and / or tiltable part delimited by two cut lines located each in the lateral faces of said sleeve, the lower face of said removable and / or tiltable part being open, which allows access to the bolts limited to the front part of the distributor.

[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, in its front part, the sleeve has a detachable part located at the level of its upper face, said detachable part being partially pre-cut and delimited by lines of perforations, which makes it possible for example to constitute an integrity seal for the dispenser, in particular when the sleeve is fixed to the drawer.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the invention, in its front part, the sleeve has a cutout located at the level of its upper face, said cutout being closed by a removable adhesive strip, which advantageously allows the dispenser to be reused after use by putting in place a new adhesive strip if necessary.

[0020] These last three variants, which can be combined, allow, in particular when the drawer is fixed to the sleeve, the creation of an opening in the container which only allows access to the bolt located at the level of said front part of the distributor, and thus advantageously obliges the operator to take the bolts one by one in the order in which they are arranged in the drawer.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the spool and the sleeve each have dimensions that are 1 to 20% larger than those of a set of bolts consisting of bolts aligned and in contact with one another. Thus, the spool and the sleeve allow a slight play between the bolts and the walls of the distributor, but advantageously do not allow the bolts to move sufficiently to change the order in which they are aligned in the spool.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, at least one individual identifying element is: • a self-adhesive identification label stuck onto a bolt; • an identification marking in relief or intaglio on a bolt; • an identification tab with a ring mounted for a snug fit tightened around a bolt; • a ring fitted tightly around a bolt and equipped with an identification tab; • an identification color applied to a bolt; or • an RFID identification chip attached to a bolt.

[0023] According to a further aspect of the invention, at least one individual identification element comprises or represents a number, a letter, a reference, another sequence of alphanumeric characters, a symbol, an ideogram or an icon.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, at least one element of the drawer and the sleeve is made of plexiglass, polyethylene terephthalate, crystal polystyrene, or polypropylene. These materials are advantageous because of their low cost and / or their strength.

[0025] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. In these figures, the distributor and the bolts are represented schematically.

[0027] [Fig.1] is a perspective view of an assembly according to an example of the invention in the dissociated state.

[0028] [Fig.2] is a detail view of the framed part in [Fig.1].

[0029] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of an assembly according to an example of the invention partially opened by sliding the drawer relative to the sheath.

[0030] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a variant of a sheath according to an example of the invention having a detachable and / or tiltable part.

[0031] [Fig.5] is a detail view of the framed part in [Fig.4].

[0032] [Fig.6] is a view similar to [Fig.5] where the removable and / or tiltable part is retracted by tilting upwards and backwards.

[0033] [Fig.7] is a detailed perspective view of a variant of a sheath according to an example of the invention having a detachable part.

[0034] [Fig.8] is a view similar to [Fig.7] where the detachable part has been removed by tearing.

[0035] [Fig.9] is a detailed perspective view of a variant of a sheath according to an example of the invention having a cutout closed by a removable adhesive strip.

[0036] [Fig. 10] is a view similar to [Fig. 9] where the adhesive strip has been removed

[0037] [Fig. 11] is a perspective view of a bolt according to an example of the invention equipped on its side with a self-adhesive label bearing an identification number.

[0038] [Fig. 12] is a perspective view of a bolt according to an example of the invention equipped on its upper face with a self-adhesive label bearing an identification number.

[0039] [Fig. 13] is a perspective view of a bolt according to an example of the invention equipped on its lateral face with a raised or recessed marking representing an identification number.

[0040] [Fig. 14] is a perspective view of a bolt according to an example of the invention equipped on its upper face with a self-adhesive label bearing an identification number.

[0041] [Fig. 15] is a perspective view of a bolt according to an example of the invention equipped on its lateral face with an identification tab having an identification number and a ring mounted in tight fit around the bolt.

[0042] [Fig. 16] is a perspective view of a bolt according to an embodiment of the invention equipped on its lateral face with a ring mounted for an interference fit around the bolt and provided with an identification tab bearing an identification number. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures presents a unique reference.

[0044] By convention, in the present application, the terms "front," "rear," "lateral," "lower," "upper," "front," and "rear" are defined with respect to the assembly according to the invention as shown in the figures. Although this orientation may not be maintained in use, it is nevertheless the preferred orientation for the assembly according to the invention. The front portion is preferably the portion at which the bolts can be removed one by one from the distributor of the invention.

[0045] [Fig.1] illustrates an assembly 1 according to the invention, comprising a plurality of bolts 2 and a container designated as distributor 3. In this assembly 1, the bolts 2 preferably all have substantially the same dimensions.

[0046] By distributor 3, we mean here a container for bolts 2, which is provided in a closed configuration to the operator responsible for using the bolts 2 and which can be opened by said operator in order to have access to these bolts 2. A distributor 3 is a container suitable for allowing the grasping of the bolts 2 which it contains one by one and one after the other, in an order defined by that in which said bolts 2 are aligned in the distributor 3, the first bolt 2, 2i being located in the front part 3av of the distributor 3 when the latter is in its initial closed configuration.

[0047] In the remainder of this description, by bolts we mean the bolts 2 which are part of the assembly 1 according to the invention.

[0048] The bolts 2 can be of any type. In the figures, they are schematically represented by cylinders. They can, for example, be conventional bolts with a hexagonal cross-section, special fixing bolts designed for tightening discs in a turbine, or any other type of bolt.

[0049] Among the plurality of bolts 2, at least some of them, preferably all of them, have an individual identification element 4 that allows them to be distinguished and identified. The presence of this identification element 4 must not hinder the tightening of the bolts 2; therefore, it must not obstruct the tool's access to the gripping portion of the bolts 2. It can, for example, be positioned on the lateral side 2a of a bolt 2 (see [Fig. 11], [Fig. 13]-[Fig. 16]) or on its upper face 2b (see [Fig. 12] and [Fig. 14]). This identification element 4 should preferably remain visible after the bolts 2 have been installed and tightened. For example, an individual identification element 4 can be in the form of one of the following: • a self-adhesive identification label 4a stuck on a bolt 2 (see [Fig.11] and [Fig. 12]); • an identification marking in relief or intaglio 4b on a bolt 2 (see [Fig.13] and [Fig. 14]); • an identification tab 4c having a ring 4d mounted in tight fit around a bolt 2 (see [Fig. 15]); • a ring mounted 4e in tight fit around a bolt 2 and equipped with an identification tab 4c (see [Fig. 16]); • an identification color applied to a bolt 2; or • an RFID identification chip attached to a bolt 2.

[0050] Of course, other solutions are conceivable by a person skilled in the art. It is also possible to combine these solutions, for example by attaching an RFID identification chip to a bolt 2, which has a specific color and includes an embossed identification marking.

[0051] The identification tabs 4c are preferably flexible so as not to interfere with the storage of the bolts 2 in the distributor 3.

[0052] An identification element 4 may include or represent a visual element that makes it easy to identify the bolt 2 that it equips, for example a number, a letter, a reference, another sequence of alphanumeric characters, a symbol, an ideogram or an icon.

[0053] The identification elements 4 can be removable, so that they can be removed from the bolts 2 which they equip after tightening and once the check, preferably visual, has been carried out to ensure that the operator has followed the tightening order predefined by the assembly range.

[0054] In particular, in the case where the bolts 2 are to be used in a turbomachine, an identification element 4 may be made of paper, cardboard, carbon or any other material suitable for burning without waste likely to interfere with the operation of said turbomachine.

[0055] The distributor 3 according to the invention comprises a drawer 5 housed in a sleeve 6. In the initial closed configuration, the distributor 3 has a front part 3av, at the level of which the first bolts 2 can be accessed, and a rear part 3ar where the last bolts 2 are stored.

[0056] In the initial closed configuration, the distributor 3 preferentially has dimensions 1 to 20% larger than those of a set of bolts 2 made up of bolts 2 aligned and in contact one after the other, which allows the order of bolts 2 aligned in the distributor 3 to be maintained.

[0057] The drawer 5 and the sleeve 6 are preferably rectangular parallelepiped in shape with six faces each, namely opposite upper faces 5a, 6a and lower faces 5b, 6b, two opposite lateral faces 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d and two opposite end faces 5e, 5f, 6e, 6f, namely a front end face 5e, 6e and a rear end face 5f, 6f provided respectively in the front parts 5av, 6av and rear parts 5ar, 6ar of the drawer 5 and the sleeve 6.

[0058] Of course, the front parts 5av, 6av and rear parts 5ar, 6ar of the drawer 5 and the sleeve 6 are respectively located on the side of the front parts 3av and rear parts 3ar of the distributor 3.

[0059] In the initial closed configuration of the distributor 3, the front 6av and rear 6ar parts of the sleeve 6 cover at least partially, preferably entirely, the front 5av and rear 5ar parts of the drawer 5 respectively.

[0060] The drawer 5 and the sleeve 6 are preferably made of transparent plastic. For example, this transparent plastic may be plexiglass, poly(ethylene terephthalate), crystal polystyrene or polypropylene.

[0061] Each of these components may have cutouts whose size prevents the passage of a bolt 2. These cutouts may, for example, be provided for the purpose of reducing the weight or ventilating the distributor 3. Preferably, these cutouts must not alter the overall rigidity of the distributor 3 to the point of making it flexible. Indeed, the distributor 3 preferably has sufficient overall rigidity to be able to accommodate the bolts 2 without bending under their weight.

[0062] The drawer 5 is designed to house the bolts 2, which are aligned one after the other in a specific order. The drawer 5 therefore extends to a length slightly greater than that of the line formed by the ordered bolts 2.

[0063] The upper face 5a of the drawer 5 is preferably open, at least in its front part 5av, which advantageously allows access to at least the first bolt 2, 2i when the sleeve 6 no longer covers the front part 5av of the drawer 5.

[0064] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper face 5a of the drawer 5 is open along the entire length of said drawer 5, as in a conventional drawer, which allows, for example, the placement of all the bolts 2 in the drawer 5 in a single step by means of a tool suitable for transporting and depositing said bolts 2.

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two opposing lateral faces 5c, 5d of the drawer 5 each have a cutout 7 located at least in its front part 5av, which facilitates the lateral gripping of the bolts 2 at the level of said cutouts 7 (see [Fig. 2]). These cutouts 7, preferably rectangular in shape, each have dimensions allowing, for example, the passage of a user's finger through them.

[0066] The sleeve 6 is designed to enclose the drawer 5 in order to close it and prevent the bolts 2 from coming out when it is in place and not open. The sleeve 6 thus has dimensions very similar to those of said drawer 5.

[0067] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two end faces 6e, 6f of the sleeve 6 are open, which allows the sleeve 6 to slide longitudinally around the drawer 5.

[0068] Indeed, according to a variant of the invention, the drawer 5 is housed sliding within the sleeve 6, which notably allows the distributor 3 to be opened and closed by sliding the sleeve 6 around the drawer 5. A partially open distributor 3, with a sliding drawer 5, is illustrated in [Fig. 3].

[0069] According to another variant of the invention, the drawer 5 is fixed to the sleeve 6, which allows, in particular when an opening is made in the sleeve 6 at the level of its front part 6av, access only to the bolt 2 located at the level of said front part 3av of the distributor 3 (see below).

[0070] Indeed, the sheath 6 may have a removable and / or tiltable portion 8 facing upwards, located at least in its front part 6av. By removable portion is meant the part of a component that can be detached by pulling it away from the rest of said component. Similarly, by tiltable portion is meant the part of a component that can be moved by pivoting it relative to the rest of said component, to which it remains attached.

[0071] According to a variant of the invention illustrated in [Fig. 4], [Fig. 5], and [Fig. 6], the removable and / or tiltable portion 8 is laterally delimited by two cut lines 9, each located in the lateral faces 6c and 6d of the sleeve 6, the lower face 8b of said removable and / or tiltable portion 8 being open. The lower face 8b is referred to as the lower face because it is located at the bottom of the removable and / or tiltable portion 8 when the latter is not tilted upwards. The tilting and / or the tearing off of the removable and / or tiltable part 8 upwards can be carried out along a line of weakening 10, which may for example include a thinning of material or a line of perforations, provided in the upper face 6a of the sleeve 6, between the removable and / or tiltable part 8 and the rest of the sleeve 6.

[0072] The removable and / or tiltable portion 8, by its removal by tilting or retraction, is designed to create an opening in the distributor 3 through which a bolt 2 can be extracted. Thus, the removable and / or tiltable portion 8 preferably has dimensions slightly larger than those of a bolt 2.

[0073] According to another variant of the invention illustrated in [Fig.7] and [Fig.8], the upper face 6a of the sleeve 6 has a removable part 11 located in its front part 6av, said removable part 11 being partially pre-cut and delimited by lines of perforations 12. Once removed, this removable part 11, preferably rectangular in shape, generates a cut 13 in the upper face 6a of the sleeve 6 which has dimensions allowing at least the passage of a bolt 2 through it.

[0074] According to a further embodiment of the invention illustrated in [Fig. 9] and [Fig. 10], the upper face 6a of the sleeve 6 has a cutout 13 located at least in its front part 6av, said cutout 13 being closed by a removable adhesive strip 14. This cutout, preferably rectangular in shape, has dimensions allowing at least one bolt 2 to pass through it. The adhesive strip 14 is preferably transparent.

[0075] In particular when the drawer 5 is fixed to the sleeve 6, these last three variants, which can be combined, make it possible to create an opening in the container capable of allowing only access to the bolt 2 located at the level of said front part 3 of the distributor 3, and thus advantageously obliges the operator to take the bolts 2 one by one in the order in which they are arranged in the drawer 5.

[0076] Although described through a number of examples, variants and embodiments, the whole according to the invention includes various variants, modifications and improvements which will be obvious to a person skilled in the art, it being understood that these variants, modifications and improvements form part of the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly (1) comprising a plurality of bolts (2) and a dispenser (3) containing said bolts (2), characterized in that: - at least some of these bolts (2) have an individual identification element (4); - the dispenser (3) comprises a drawer (5) and a sleeve (6) which are made of transparent plastic and are of rectangular lepipedal parallel shape with six faces each, namely two opposing upper (5a, 6a) and lower (5b, 6b) faces, two opposing lateral (5c, 5d, 6c, 6d) faces and two opposing end faces (5e, 5f, 6e, 6f), namely a front end face (5e, 6e) and a rear end face (5f, 6f); - the drawer (5) is housed in the sleeve (6); - the bolts (2) are aligned one after the other in the drawer (5).

2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheath (6) is open at its two end faces (6e, 6f).

3. Assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in its front part (5av), the drawer (5) is open at the level of its upper face (5a).

4. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the front part (5av) of the drawer (5), the two opposite lateral faces (5c, 5d) of said drawer (5) each have a cutout (7).

5. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drawer (5) is housed sliding in the sleeve (6).

6. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drawer (5) is fixed to the sleeve (6).

7. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in its front part (6av), the sheath (6) has a removable and / or tiltable part (8) upwards delimited by two cut lines (9) each located in the lateral faces (6c, 6d) of said sheath (6), the lower face (8b) of said removable and / or tiltable part (8) being open.

8. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in its front part (6av), the sheath (6) has a detachable part (11) located at the level of its upper face (6a), said detachable part (11) being partially pre-cut and delimited by lines of perforations (12).

9. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in its front part (6av), the sheath (6) has a cutout (13) located at the level of its upper face (6a), said cutout (13) being closed by a removable adhesive strip (14).

10. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one identification element (4) is: - a self-adhesive identification label (4a) affixed to a bolt (2); - an identification marking in relief or intaglio (4b) on a bolt (2); - an identification tab (4c) having a ring (4d) mounted in close fit around a bolt (2); - a ring mounted (4e) in close fit around a bolt (2) and equipped with an identification tab (4c); - an identification color applied to a bolt (2); or - an RFID identification chip fixed to a bolt (2).

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