A fastening element comprising a floating nut, a cage intended to be fixed to a support, and a ring integral with the cage and mounted for rotational movement thereon.

Abstract

This fastening element (1) comprises a floating nut (2), a cage (3) for mounting on a support, and a circlip (4) integral with the cage (3). The circlip (4) is mounted to rotate freely on the cage (3) between a fixed position for securing the floating nut (2) to the cage (3) and an open position for mounting or dismounting the nut (2). (See Figure 1 for abbreviations)

Description

Title of the invention: A fastening element comprising a floating nut, a cage for fixing to a support, and a ring integral with the cage and mounted for rotational movement thereon. technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of fasteners using caged floating nuts. Prior techniques

[0002] According to the prior art, several configurations of caged floating nuts exist. However, the use of known caged floating nuts presents a number of difficulties, particularly relating to disassembly and controlling the risk of introduction of foreign bodies, especially when used for aircraft engines.

[0003] For example, cage nuts riveted to a support are known. Disassembly requires drilling out the rivets to detach the cage nut from the support, with a significant risk of falling chips and rivets. Furthermore, in many cases, prior disassembly of surrounding parts is necessary to access the areas under the nut and to allow for rivet removal.

[0004] Cage nuts pressed onto a support are also known. In this configuration, the nut is held in the cage by an attached circlip. Given the significant risk of losing the circlip during nut removal, the use of this type of cage nut for aircraft engines is prohibited.

[0005] In another known type of cage nut, the nut is clipped onto the cage. This type of nut is offered by only a limited number of suppliers, which can lead to supply problems.

[0006] Nuts that are press-fitted into their cage are finally known. In this configuration, it is difficult to extract the nut from the cage and there is a significant risk of damaging the cage during extraction. Description of the invention

[0007] In this context, the invention aims to provide a cage nut that is easy to manufacture, assemble or disassemble and that does not present a risk of damage or introduction of foreign objects during disassembly.

[0008] The invention relates to a fastening element comprising a floating nut, a cage for fixing to a support, and a circlip attached to the cage. The circlip is mounted to rotate freely on the cage between a fixed position for securing the nut to the cage and an open position for mounting or dismounting the nut.

[0009] The rotating, movable mounting of the ring on the cage makes the ring captive because it is always securely attached to the cage. Thanks to the invention, the nut can be easily replaced without machining and without risk of introducing foreign objects.

[0010] For example, the ring comprises a central core mounted in two opposite housings of the cage so as to allow the ring to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the central core between the stopped position and the open position.

[0011] Preferably, the ring comprises two lateral arms integral with the central core, each lateral arm cooperating in the stopped position with a stop wall of the cage so as to prevent rotation of the ring, each arm being capable of being deformed so as to be released from the stop wall and to allow rotation of the ring to the open position. The lateral arms and the stop wall form rotation-locking means for the ring that are releaseable under the application of an imposed deformation.

[0012] For example, each lateral arm forms a fold intended to enter the stopping position in an associated groove formed in the cage.

[0013] According to one feature, the floating nut includes a base with two retaining lugs opposite each other and intended to be housed each in an associated notch formed in the cage.

[0014] Advantageously, the lateral arms butt in the stop position against the retaining lugs of the floating nut so as to keep the lugs in the associated notches.

[0015] Preferably, the rod is a metallic or plastic wire having a circular, ellipsoidal, square or rectangular cross-section.

[0016] According to another aspect, the invention relates to an aircraft engine comprising at least one fastening element as defined above.

[0017] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method for dismantling a nut of a fastener as defined above, comprising the following successive steps: - deformation of the lateral arms from a stopped position in order to release the lateral arms from the stopping wall, - rotate the ring to the open position, and - remove the nut. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a fastening element according to a mode of realization of the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] is a top view of the fastening element of [Fig.1]; and

[0021] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the fastening element of [Fig.1] in which a reed is in an open position. Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0022] Figures [Fig.1] and [Fig.2] show respectively in perspective and in top view a fastening element 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] The fastening element 1 comprises a floating nut 2 and a cage 3 for fixing to a support (not shown). The fastening element 1 also comprises a ring 4 integral with the cage 3.

[0024] The cage 3 here comprises a base 3a and two lateral walls 3b opposed to each other and perpendicular to the base 3a.

[0025] The rod 4 comprises a central core 4a and two lateral arms 4b attached to the central core 4a. Here, each lateral arm 4b is connected to the central core by an elbow 4c. Preferably, the rod 4 is a single piece and is a metallic or plastic wire having a circular, ellipsoidal, square or rectangular cross-section.

[0026] According to the invention, the ring 4 is mounted to rotate freely on the cage 3 between a stop position allowing the nut 2 to be fixed to the cage 3 and an open position allowing the nut 2 to be mounted or dismounted. In other words, the ring 4 is mounted on the cage 3 and is able to rotate between the stop position and the open position while being fixed to the cage 3. The stop position and the open position are respectively illustrated in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3].

[0027] The rotational mounting of the ring 4 is achieved by mounting the central core 4a in two housings 5 ​​provided in the walls 3b and opposed to each other, so as to allow the rotation of the ring 4 around a longitudinal axis X of the central core 4a between the stop position and the open position.

[0028] Each lateral arm 4b cooperates in the stopped position with an associated stop wall 6 so as to prevent rotation of the ring 4. Thus, in the stopped position, the lateral arm 4b and the associated stop wall 6 overlap at least partially. In order to allow the nut 2 to be removed, each lateral arm 4b is capable of being deformed so as to be released from the stop wall 6 and to allow rotation of the ring 4 to the open position. In other words, each lateral arm 4b is sufficiently flexible to be elastically deformed by a predetermined deflection corresponding to the complete release of the lateral arm 4b from the stop wall 6.

[0029] In the illustrated example, each lateral arm 4b forms a fold P. When the lateral arm 4b is in the stop position, the fold P enters an associated groove 7 formed in the lateral walls 3b of the cage 3.

[0030] As particularly visible in [Fig. 3], the nut 2 comprises a base 2a provided with two opposing retaining lugs 2b, each intended to be housed in an associated notch 8 formed in each side wall 3b. Preferably, each notch 8 is positioned opposite the retaining wall 6. The width of each notch 8 corresponds to the width of the corresponding lug 2b, so as to prevent relative translation between the nut 2 and the cage 3 in a direction Y substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

[0031] It should be noted that identical or similar elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

[0032] In the stopped position, the lateral arms 4b butt against the retaining lugs 2b of the nut 2 so as to hold the lugs 2b in the associated notches 8. Thus, in the stopped position, the nut 2 is fixed relative to the cage 3.

[0033] An example of the implementation of a method for dismantling a nut 2 of a fastener 1 described above is detailed below.

[0034] The process begins here with a step of deforming the lateral arms 4b from the stop position so as to release the lateral arms 4b from the stop wall 6.

[0035] The process continues by rotating the ring 4 until it reaches the open position.

[0036] When the ring 4 is in the open position [Fig.3], the process ends with a Nut disassembly step 2. The disassembly step may include several sub-steps. Here, nut 2 is lifted relative to cage 3, so as to disengage the tabs 2b from the associated notches 8. When the tabs 2b are disengaged from the associated notches 8, nut 2 is slid along the walls 3b until nut 2 is completely separated from cage 3.

Claims

Demands

1. Fastening element (1) comprising a floating nut (2), a cage (3) intended to be fixed on a support, and a ring (4) integral with the cage (3), the fastening element (1) being characterized in that the ring (4) is mounted movably in rotation on the cage (3) between a stop position allowing the floating nut (2) to be fixed to the cage (3) and an open position allowing the nut (2) to be mounted or dismounted.

2. Fastening element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the ring (4) comprises a central core (4a) mounted in two opposite housings (5) of the cage (3) so as to permit rotation of the ring (4) around a longitudinal axis (X) of the central core (4a) between the stop position and the open position.

3. A fastening element (1) according to claim 2, wherein the ring (4) comprises two lateral arms (4b) integral with the central core (4a), each lateral arm (4b) cooperating in the stop position with a stop wall (6) of the cage (3) so as to prevent rotation of the ring (4), each lateral arm (4b) being able to be deformed so as to be released from the stop wall (6) and to allow rotation of the ring (4) towards the open position.

4. Fixing element (1) according to claim 3, wherein each lateral arm (4b) forms a fold (P) intended to enter the stop position in an associated groove (7) formed in the cage (3).

5. Fastening element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the floating nut (2) comprises a base (2a) provided with two retaining tabs (2b) opposed to each other and intended to be housed each in an associated notch (8) formed in the cage (3).

6. Fastening element () according to claim 5 dependent on claim 3, wherein the side arms (4b) butt in the stop position against the retaining tabs (2b) of the floating nut (2) so as to retain the tabs (2b) in the associated notches (8).

7. Fastening element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the rod (4) is a metal or plastic wire having a circular, ellipsoidal, square or rectangular cross-section.

8. Aircraft engine comprising at least one fastening element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Method of dismantling a nut (2) of a fastener (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, depending on claim 3, comprising the following successive steps: - deformation of the lateral arms (4b) from a stop position so as to release the lateral arms (4b) from the stop wall (6), - rotation of the ring (4) to the open position, and - dismantling of the nut.

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