Honeycomb panel fastener

摘要

One aspect of the invention involves a honeycomb panel insert for use with a honeycomb panel. The insert comprises a generally cylindrical body having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, a first end, an opposite second end and a longitudinally extending passage having a first opening in the first end and a second opening in the second end. The first opening has a first perimeter and the second opening has a second perimeter that is relatively smaller than the first perimeter. The longitudinally extending passage has a first section having a first diameter, a second section having a second diameter that is relative smaller than the first diameter and a third section having a third diameter that is relatively smaller than the second diameter. The difference between the first and second diameters provides a first ledge and the difference between the second and third diameters provides a second ledge.

主权项

1. A fastener assembly (200) for use with a honeycomb panel, comprising:
a honeycomb panel insert (12) comprising a generally cylindrical body (13) having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface (14), a first end (16), an opposite second end (18) and a longitudinally extending passage (20) having a first opening (22) in the first end (16) and a second opening (24) in the second end (18), wherein the first opening (22) has a first perimeter (26) and the second opening (24) has a second perimeter that is less than first perimeter; said longitudinally extending passage (20) comprising a first portion (30) having a first diameter D1, a second portion (40) having a second diameter D2 that is less than the first diameter D1 and a third portion (50) having a third diameter D3 that is less than the second diameter D2, wherein the difference between the first diameter D1 and the second diameter D2 provides a first ledge (60) and the difference between the second diameter D2 and the third diameter D3 provides a second ledge (62); said first end (16) further comprising a first flange section (70) that has a periphery (71) and said second end (18) further comprising a second flange section (72) that has a periphery (73), wherein said first flange section (70) has a pair of notches (100, 102) located in diametrically opposed positions along the periphery (71); said second portion (40) of the longitudinally extending passage (20) having an inner wall (80) and the third portion (50) of the longitudinally extending passage (20) having an inner wall (82), wherein the inner walls (80) and (82) have therein longitudinally extending and diametrically positioned channels (90) and (92) that extend to the second end (18) and form portions of the second perimeter of the second opening (24); a stud (202) comprising a head (204) and a shaft (206) that is attached to the head (204), the shaft (206) extending to a distal end (208) along a longitudinally extending axis (210), the stud (202) further comprising a cross pin (212) that extends through the shaft (206) and is orthogonal with respect to the longitudinally extending axis (210), the cross pin (212) having a first section (214) and a second section (216) that extend from the shaft (206) in opposite directions, wherein the shaft (206) has a diameter that is sized to fit through the longitudinally extending passage (20) and wherein the first section (214) and second section (216) are sized to fit within and move along channels (90) and (92), respectively, the head (204) having a predetermined diameter that is greater than the second diameter D2 of the second portion (40) of passage (20) and less than the first diameter D1 of the first portion (30) of passage (20) so that the head (204) abuts the first ledge (60) when the stud (202) is inserted into the longitudinally extending passage (20); a spring (250) that is mounted on the shaft (206) and interposed between the head (204) and the cross pin (212), the spring (250) having a predetermined diameter that is less than the second diameter D2 of the second portion (40) and greater than the third diameter D3 of the third portion (50) so that the spring (250) abuts the second ledge (62) when the stud (202) with the spring (250) mounted thereon is inserted into the longitudinally extending passage (20); said shaft (206) having a circumferential channel (240) therein at a predetermined location between the head (204) and the cross pin (212), wherein when a force is applied to the head (204) so that the shaft (206) moves longitudinally within the passage (20) in a first direction (280), the spring (250) is compressed and the circumferential channel (240) is exposed near the second end (18) of said insert (12); and a containment ring (300) external to the insert (12) and positioned within the circumferential channel (240) of the shaft (206) so as to maintain the spring (250) in a compressed state, wherein the compression of the spring (250) urges the stud (202) to move longitudinally within the passage (20) in a second direction (282) that is opposite the first direction (280) thereby causing the containment ring (300) to abut the second end (18) of the insert (12) thereby limiting the movement of the stud (202) in the second direction (282).