Hybrid Contoured Load-Spreading Washer

• US 20090003965A1
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Esposito, Jack, Hunziker, Kenneth J., Firth, Lee C., Gregg, Paul S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,511,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/371.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/015 Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 31/04 for maintaining a tensile load
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24

Abstract

A hybrid contoured load-spreading washer is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the washer includes a washer body having a composite layer and a metal layer bonded to the composite layer and a fastener opening extending through the washer body. A floor beam seat track attachment assembly and a method of transmitting a load from a seat track to a floor beam web in a seat track attachment assembly are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A washer, comprising:

a washer body having a composite layer and a metal layer bonded to said composite layer; and

a fastener opening extending through said washer body.

2. The washer of claim 1 wherein said composite layer comprises graphite/epoxy.

3. The washer of claim 1 wherein said metal layer comprises a titanium alloy.

4. The washer of claim 1 wherein said composite layer is biased along an axis disposed in generally parallel relationship with respect to a plane of said washer body.

5. The washer of claim 1 further comprising a washer gap provided in said washer body.

6. The washer of claim 1 wherein said washer body has a generally triangular shape.

7. The washer of claim 6 further comprising a pair of washer sides disposed in angular relationship with respect to each other.

8. The washer of claim 7 further comprising a washer gap provided in said washer body and extending between said pair of washer sides.

9. A floor beam to attachment assembly, comprising:

a floor beam web;

a metal floor beam cap having at least one fastener opening provided on said floor beam web;

a seat track having at least one fastener opening provided on said metal floor beam cap;

at least one fastener extending through said at least one fastener opening of said seat track and said at least one fastener opening of said metal floor beam cap;

at least one washer including a washer body having a composite layer and a metal layer bonded to said composite layer and a fastener opening extending through said composite layer and said metal layer; and

wherein said at least one fastener extends through said fastener opening of said washer body and said composite layer of said washer body engages said metal floor beam cap.

10. The seat track attachment assembly of claim 9 further comprising a composite floor beam cap between said metal floor beam cap and said seat track.

11. The seat track attachment assembly of claim 9 wherein said at least one washer comprises a pair of washers and said at least one fastener comprises a pair of fasteners.

12. The floor beam to seat track attachment assembly of claim 9 wherein said composite layer of said washer body comprises graphite/epoxy.

13. The washer of claim 9 wherein said metal layer of said washer body comprises a titanium alloy.

14. The washer of claim 9 wherein said composite layer of said washer body is biased along an axis disposed in generally parallel relationship with respect to a plane of said washer body.

15. The washer of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of web ridges provided in said floor beam web and a washer notch provided in said washer body and receiving one of said plurality of web ridges.

16. The washer of claim 15 wherein said washer body has a generally triangular shape.

17. A method of transmitting a load from a seat track to a floor beam web in a seat track attachment assembly having a floor beam cap between said seat track and said floor beam web, comprising:

providing at least one fastener opening in said seat track;

providing at least one fastener opening in said floor beam cap;

providing at least one washer including a washer body having a composite layer in engagement with said floor beam web, a metal layer bonded to said composite layer and a fastener opening extending through said washer body;

extending a fastener through said at least one fastener opening in said seat track, said at least one fastener opening in said floor beam cap and said fastener opening in said washer body; and

transmitting a primary fastener load from said seat track to said floor beam web through said fastener and said washer body, respectively.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said composite layer of said washer body comprises graphite/epoxy and said metal layer of said washer body comprises a titanium alloy.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said composite layer of said washer body is biased along an axis disposed in generally parallel relationship with respect to a plane of said washer body.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of web ridges provided in said floor beam web and a washer notch provided in said washer body and receiving one of said plurality of web ridges.