Fastening element comprising a floating nut, a cage intended to be fastened to a support, and a retainer secured to the cage and rotatably mounted thereon

Abstract

A fastening element (1) comprises a floating nut (2), a cage (3) intended to be fastened to a support, and a retainer (4) secured to the cage (3). The retainer (4) is mounted on the cage (3) such that it can rotate between a stop position in which the floating nut (2) can be fastened to the cage (3) and an open position in which the nut (2) can be mounted or removed.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Fastening element comprising a floating nut, a cage intended to be fixed to a support, and a circlip integral with the cage and mounted for rotational movement thereon.

[0003] technical field

[0004] The invention relates to the field of fasteners using caged floating nuts.

[0005] Previous techniques

[0006] According to prior art, several configurations of caged floating nuts exist. However, the use of known caged floating nuts presents a number of difficulties, particularly regarding disassembly and controlling the risk of foreign body introduction, especially when used for aircraft engines.

[0007] For example, cage nuts are riveted to a support. To remove them, the rivets must be drilled out to detach the cage nut from the support, with a significant risk of falling chips and rivets. Furthermore, in many cases, surrounding parts must be disassembled beforehand to access the areas under the nut and allow for rivet removal.

[0008] Cage nuts are also known to be press-fitted onto a support. In this configuration, the nut is held in the cage by a retaining ring. Given the significant risk of losing the retaining ring during nut removal, the use of this type of cage nut for aircraft engines is prohibited.

[0009] In another well-known type of cage nut, the nut is clipped onto the cage. This type of nut is only offered by a limited number of suppliers, which can lead to supply problems.

[0010] Nuts that are press-fitted into their cages are now 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

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] The rotating, movable mounting of the ring on the cage prevents the ring from being lost, as it is always securely attached to the cage. Thanks to this invention, the nut can be easily replaced without machining and without the risk of introducing foreign objects.

[0014] For example, the ring includes a central core mounted in two opposite housings of the cage so as to allow rotation of the ring around a longitudinal axis of the central core between the stopped position and the open position.

[0015] 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.

[0016] For example, each lateral arm forms a fold designed to enter the stopping position in an associated groove made in the cage.

[0017] According to one characteristic, the floating nut includes a base with two opposing retaining lugs, each intended to be housed in an associated notch formed in the cage.

[0018] Advantageously, the lateral arms butt against the retaining tabs of the floating nut in the stopped position so as to hold the tabs in the associated notches. Preferably, the rod is a metal or plastic wire having a circular, ellipsoidal, square, or rectangular cross-section.

[0019] According to another aspect, the invention relates to an aircraft engine comprising at least one fastening element as defined above.

[0020] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method for dismantling a nut of a fastening element as defined above, comprising the following successive steps: deformation of the lateral arms from a stop position so as to release the lateral arms from the stop wall,

[0021] - rotate the ring to the open position, and remove the nut.

[0022] Brief description of the drawings

[0023] 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:

[0024] [Fig 1] is a perspective view of a fastening element according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0025] [Fig 2] is a top view of the fastening element of [Fig 1]; and

[0026] [Fig 3] is a perspective view of the fixing element of [Fig 1] in which a rod is in the open position.

[0027] Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0028] Figures [Fig 1] and [Fig 2] show respectively in perspective and top view a fastening element 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0029] The fixing element 1 includes a floating nut 2 and a cage 3 for fixing to a support (not shown). The fixing element 1 also includes a ring 4 attached to the cage 3. The cage 3 here comprises a base 3a and two lateral walls 3b opposite each other and perpendicular to the base 3a.

[0030] 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.

[0031] According to the invention, the ring 4 is mounted to rotate freely on the cage 3 between a stopped 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 stopped position and the open position while remaining fixed to the cage 3. The stopped position and the open position are respectively illustrated in [Fig 1] and [Fig 3].

[0032] 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.

[0033] Each lateral arm 4b cooperates in the stopped position with an associated stop wall 6 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. To allow removal of the nut 2, 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.

[0034] In the illustrated example, each lateral arm 4b forms a fold P. When the lateral arm 4b is in the stopped position, the fold P enters an associated groove 7 formed in the lateral walls 3b of the cage 3. As particularly visible in [Fig. 3], the nut 2 comprises a base 2a with two opposing retaining tabs 2b, each designed to fit into an associated notch 8 formed in each lateral wall 3b. Preferably, each notch 8 is positioned opposite the stop wall 6. The width of each notch 8 corresponds to the width of the corresponding tab 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.

[0035] It should be noted that identical or similar elements carry the same references from one figure to another.

[0036] In the stopped position, the lateral arms 4b butt against the retaining tabs 2b of the nut 2, thus holding the tabs 2b in the associated notches 8. Therefore, in the stopped position, the nut 2 is fixed relative to the cage 3.

[0037] An example of the implementation of a method for dismantling a nut 2 of a fastener 1 described previously is detailed below.

[0038] The process begins here with a deformation step of the lateral arms 4b from the stop position so as to release the lateral arms 4b from the stop wall 6.

[0039] The process continues by rotating the ring 4 until it reaches the open position.

[0040] When the ring 4 is in the open position [Fig. 3], the process ends with a step of removing the nut 2. The removal step may include several substeps. Here, the nut 2 is lifted relative to the 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, the nut 2 is slid along the walls 3b until the nut 2 is completely detached from the cage 3.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Fastening element (1) comprising a floating nut (2), a cage (3) for fixing to a support, and a rod (4) integral with the cage (3), the fastening element (1) being characterized in that the rod (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. A fastening element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the ring (4) comprises a central core (4a) mounted in two housings (5) opposite the cage (3) so as to permit the rotation of the ring (4) around a longitudinal axis (X) of the central core (4a) between the stop position and the open position.

3. Fixing element (1) according to claim 2, in which the rod (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 rod (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 rod (4) towards the open position.

4. Fixing element (1) according to claim 3, in which each lateral arm (4b) forms a fold (P) intended to enter the stop position into 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. Fixing element () according to claim 5 dependent on claim 3, wherein the lateral arms (4b) butt in the stop position against the retaining lugs (2b) of the floating nut (2) so as to retain the lugs (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 wire or plastic 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 for removing a nut (2) from a fastening element (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, depending on claim 3, comprising the following successive steps: deforming the lateral arms (4b) from a stop position so as to release the lateral arms (4b) from the stop wall (6), - rotate the ring (4) to the open position, and remove the nut.

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