Threaded adjustable-height inserts and related methods

• US 9,976,583 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lopez, Karina R., Osborn, Hayden S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette E
• Application Number:
  US15/090,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20170284434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/40 Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 Aircraft blades, propellers B32B2603/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/01 by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/02 by means of fastening members using screw-thread F16B5/0004 takes precedence; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00

Abstract

A threaded adjustable-height insert may be installed in a bore of a sandwich panel, such that the insert may be configured to transfer a load to the sandwich panel. The threaded adjustable-height insert may include a first insert part and a second insert part that may be selectively operatively positioned with respect to each other. The overall height of the threaded adjustable-height insert may be adjusted by longitudinally sliding the second insert part with respect to the first insert part and rotating the second insert part with respect to the first insert part. Presently disclosed threaded adjustable-height inserts may be configured for flush installation in a sandwich panel. Methods of installing such threaded adjustable-height inserts and adjusting the height of the same are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A threaded adjustable-height insert, comprising:

a first insert part comprising;

a first flange having a first upper surface and a first lower surface;

a first neck extending from the first upper surface of the first flange to a first neck end region; and

a first hole extending at least through the first neck and defined at least partially by a first inner surface of the first neck, wherein the first neck comprises a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface; and

a second insert part comprising;

a second flange having a second upper surface and a second lower surface;

a second neck extending from the second lower surface of the second flange to a second neck end region; and

a second hole extending through the second neck and the second flange, wherein the second hole is partially defined by a second inner surface of the second neck, and wherein the second neck comprises a second outer surface opposite the second inner surface;

wherein the second insert part is configured to be selectively operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part such that the second inner surface of the second neck has a threaded engagement with at least a portion of the first neck, wherein the threaded adjustable-height insert is configured to have a selectively adjustable overall height such that moving the second insert part with respect to the first insert part such that the second flange is moved towards the first flange reduces the overall height of the threaded adjustable-height insert, wherein the overall height of the threaded adjustable-height insert is defined as a perpendicular distance between the second upper surface of the second flange and the first lower surface of the first flange, wherein the first hole and the second hole are at least substantially concentric when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part, and wherein the first insert part and the second insert part are configured to both longitudinally slidably translate relative to each other and rotate relative to each other when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part.

2. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1, wherein the threaded adjustable-height insert is configured to be installed within a bore of a sandwich panel, and wherein the threaded adjustable-height insert further comprises an anti-rotation feature configured to resist rotation of the first insert part with respect to the sandwich panel, as the second insert part is rotated with respect to the first insert part, once the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part and the threaded adjustable-height insert is inserted in the bore of the sandwich panel.

3. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 2, wherein the anti-rotation feature comprises a plurality of projections radially extending from a peripheral edge region of the first flange.

4. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1, wherein the threaded adjustable-height insert is configured such that the overall height is adjustable by longitudinally sliding the second insert part with respect to the first insert part and by rotating the second insert part with respect to the first insert part.

5. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1, wherein the first outer surface of the first neck comprises a first threaded portion.

6. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 5, wherein the second inner surface of the second neck comprises one or more thread engagement clips configured to engage the first threaded portion of the first neck, wherein the one or more thread engagement clips are positioned adjacent the second neck end region, wherein the one or more thread engagement clips project radially inward from the second inner surface of the second neck.

7. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 6, wherein the second neck comprises one or more pairs of longitudinally-extending slots spaced relative to one another so as to form a radially-expandable tab between each respective adjacent pair of longitudinally-extending slots, wherein each thread engagement clip is positioned on a respective radially-expandable tab, wherein the thread engagement clips are configured to grip the first threaded portion of the first insert part when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part, and wherein the second insert part is configured to be longitudinally moved with respect to the first insert part by radially expanding the radially-expandable tabs and ratcheting the thread engagement clips along the first threaded portion.

8. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1, wherein the second inner surface of the second neck comprises a second threaded portion.

9. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 8, wherein the first outer surface of the first neck comprises one or more thread engagement clips configured to engage the second threaded portion of the second neck, wherein the one or more thread engagement clips are positioned adjacent the first neck end region, wherein the one or more thread engagement clips project radially outward from the first outer surface of the first neck, and wherein each of the one or more thread engagement clips comprises a partial thread such that rotation of the second insert part with respect to the first insert part causes the thread engagement clips to engage with and travel along the second threaded portion.

10. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 9, wherein the second insert part comprises one or more longitudinally-extending slots formed in the second threaded portion of the second inner surface of the second neck, such that the second threaded portion is discontinuous at each of the one or more longitudinally-extending slots, wherein each of the longitudinally-extending slots is configured to receive a respective thread engagement clip such that each thread engagement clip is configured to slide longitudinally along a respective longitudinally-extending slot when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part.

11. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1, wherein the threaded adjustable-height insert is configured such that the overall height of the threaded adjustable-height insert is adjustable once the first insert part and the second insert part are at least partially inserted into a bore of a sandwich panel.

12. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1 in combination with a sandwich panel, wherein the threaded adjustable-height insert is configured to be installed in a bore of the sandwich panel, the sandwich panel comprising a first skin, a second skin opposite the first skin, and a core therebetween, and wherein the threaded adjustable-height insert is configured such that the second upper surface of the second flange is at least substantially flush with one of the first skin and the second skin of the sandwich panel when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part and the threaded adjustable-height insert is installed in the bore of the sandwich panel.

13. A sandwich panel, comprising:

a first skin having a first inner surface and a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface;

a second skin opposite the first skin, the second skin having a second inner surface and a second outer surface opposite the second inner surface, and the first outer surface and the second outer surface facing away from one another;

a core sandwiched between the first inner surface of the first skin and the second inner surface of the second skin;

at least one bore formed in at least one of the first skin and the second skin, and extending into the core; and

at least one threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1, each threaded adjustable-height insert of the at least one threaded adjustable-height inserts being installed in a respective bore of the sandwich panel.

14. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1, wherein the first lower surface of the first flange of the first insert part faces the second lower surface of the second flange of the second insert part when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part.

15. The threaded adjustable-height insert according to claim 1, wherein the second insert part is oriented such that the second neck is positioned between the first flange of the first insert part and the second flange of the second insert part when the second insert part is operatively positioned with respect to the first insert part.