Method to install equipment racks in aircraft

• US 6,513,755 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lambiaso, Guy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US09/951,266
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/129.1, 211/95, 211/99, 211/168, 211/169
• US Class Current: 244/118.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/00 Equipment not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/003 Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers securing freight containers on vehicles B60P7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1412 hold down mechanisms, e.g. avionic racks

Abstract

A design and installation method are provided to improve access to equipment mountable on aircraft equipment racks, including installing modified equipment rack framework on the aircraft, preassembling the equipment on a separate equipment package, providing separate matable hinge units on both the framework and equipment package, and temporarily supporting the equipment package in a hanging position from the equipment rack by matably joining the separate hinge units. Wiring the equipment from adjacent wireway banks is performed in the hanging position, followed by rotating the equipment package about an axis of rotation formed by the joined hinge units into a fixed stowed position, and fastening the equipment package to the equipment rack framework to complete the installation.

Claims

1. A method for supporting equipment on an aircraft equipment rack comprising the steps of:

constructing an equipment rack;

installing a first half hinge on the equipment rack;

providing an equipment package having a second half hinge;

engaging the equipment package second half hinge with the equipment rack first half hinge to provide an equipment package temporary support position; and

making system connections to the equipment package in the temporary support position.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing attachment members on the equipment rack; and

fixedly connecting the attachment members to a frame structure of the aircraft prior to engagement of the equipment package second half hinge.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing the system connections from an aircraft wiring assembly; and

routing the aircraft wiring assembly to the equipment package temporary support position.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

swinging the equipment package through an arc of about ninety degrees from the temporary support position to an equipment package installed position; and

mechanically fastening the equipment package in the installed position to the equipment rack.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

providing quarter turn fasteners; and

rotating the quarter turn fasteners to mechanically fasten the equipment package in the installed position to the equipment rack.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

providing a drip shield; and

fastening the drip shield to the equipment rack.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a flat plate having fastener location points to connect with mating fasteners of the equipment package;

fastening the equipment package to the flat plate; and

installing a box shaped enclosure on the flat plate to surround the equipment package.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

forming the first half hinge as a male hinge; and

constructing the second half hinge as a female hinge dimensioned to internally accept the male hinge.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

constructing the first half hinge as a female hinge; and

forming the second half hinge as a male hinge to mate with the female hinge.

10. A method to access equipment mountable on an aircraft equipment rack comprising the steps of:

constructing an equipment rack structure having attachment members and a first half hinge;

fixedly connecting the attachment members to a frame structure of the aircraft;

providing a flat plate having a second half hinge;

mounting an equipment set on the flat plate;

forming an equipment package from the equipment set and the flat plate;

engaging the second half hinge to the first half hinge to form an axis of rotation for the equipment package.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

selecting as the equipment set an antenna equipment package; and

installing an antenna;

positioning the antenna equipment package within a radial distance of about two feet from the antenna.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

providing wiring terminal connectors from a wiring bank; and

connecting the wiring terminal connectors to the equipment package; and

rotating the equipment package about the axis of rotation to a fixed position.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

installing quarter turn fasteners; and

rotating the quarter turn fasteners to mechanically fasten the equipment package in the fixed position.

19. The hinged aircraft equipment rack of claim 13 comprising:

the first half hinge formed as a male hinge; and

the second half hinge formed as a female hinge dimensioned to internally accept the male hinge.

20. The hinged aircraft equipment rack of claim 13 comprising:

the first half hinge formed as a female hinge; and

the second half hinge formed as a male hinge to mateably engage the female hinge.

14. A hinged aircraft equipment rack comprising:

an equipment rack structure comprising attachment members;

the attachment members fixedly connected to a frame structure of the aircraft;

a first half hinge attached to the equipment rack structure;

a flat plate;

an equipment package fixedly attached to the flat plate;

a second half hinge integrally connected to the flat plate;

the second half hinge rotatably engaged to the first half hinge to form an axis of rotation for the equipment package; and

the axis of rotation is selected to provide the equipment package in one of a working suspended position and a stored fixed position.

15. The hinged aircraft equipment rack of claim 14 comprising:

mechanical fasteners fixedly engaged to restrain the equipment package in the stored fixed position.

16. The hinged aircraft equipment rack of claim 15 wherein said mechanical fasteners are selected from the group consisting of:

one quarter turn fasteners, bolts, screws, and stud bolts.

17. The hinged aircraft equipment rack of claim 14 wherein the equipment rack structure further comprises a drip tray fixedly joined to the attachment members.

18. The hinged aircraft equipment rack of claim 16 wherein the flat plate further comprises a box shaped enclosure to surround the equipment package.