FR2964174A1 - Suspending device i.e. suspending jaw, for suspension hooking of neon lamp with e.g. inverse T-shaped cross beam used in floor of cockpit of aircraft, has hooking unit integrated with mechanical piece to assure hooking of object with device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (20) has an elastic return unit i.e. extension spring, for elastically returning mechanical pieces (30, 40) to a hooking position. The pieces are spaced with respect to one another so as to allow contact between hooking fingers (32, 42) and support surfaces (12A, 12B), respectively, in the hooking position. The pieces are movable in translation with respect to one another so as to bring the fingers close together or to move away the fingers from one another. A hooking unit is integrated with one of the pieces to assure hooking of an object i.e. neon lamp, with the device. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for hooking a suspending device with a support structure (2) a method for mounting a neon lamp on a support structure of an aircraft.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the general field of suspension devices suspended from an object to a support structure. It can in particular allow the suspended suspension of neon lamps to the structural sleepers of an aircraft during the production phases thereof. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART In a number of industrial fields, it is common to have to hang an object in suspension, possibly to reposition it later. This is particularly the case during the aircraft production phases, during which it is necessary to illuminate certain interior areas of the fuselage. A large number of neon lamps are then used which can be suspended in suspension on a support structure by a cable. The towing cable is usually provided with two hooks arranged at its ends. It is attached to the neon lamp by said hooks and has a middle portion of cable which wraps partially around the support structure. It is common to have to pick up one or the other neon lamps and then reposition it at the desired place. To perform this operation, two technicians are usually needed. Indeed, while the first technician supports the neon lamp, whose weight is of the order of 5 to 6 kg, the second unhooks one of the hooks of the cable and removes the cable of the support structure. The repositioning of the neon lamp can then be performed. Such a suspended suspension device has the main disadvantage of not being simple and easy to handle by a single technician insofar as, as explained above, a single technician can not, at the same time, wear the object that can be bulky and of high weight, and mount or dismount the attachment device on the support structure. In addition, during assembly or disassembly of the attachment device, the hooks of the cable can catch on mechanical parts adjacent to the support structure and cause a delay in implementation and structural damage. This thus leads to a penalization of the industrial manufacturing stages of the aircraft in terms of time and costs.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to present a device for suspending an object to a support structure, presenting a great ease of assembly on said structure. To do this, the invention firstly relates to a device for suspending an object, intended to ensure the hanging suspension of said object to a support structure, said support structure having two opposite edges one to the other. another each having a support surface for said suspension device. According to the invention, the suspension jaw comprises: a first and a second mechanical part each comprising a gripping finger intended to come into contact with the corresponding support surface, said mechanical parts being movable in translation relative to one another; to the other so as to bring said catching fingers closer or apart; and resilient biasing means of said mechanical parts in a latching position in which the two mechanical parts have a relative spacing allowing the contact between the gripping fingers and the corresponding support surfaces; and - a fastening member secured to at least one of said mechanical parts, intended to ensure the attachment of said object to said suspension device. 3 By relative distance of the gripping fingers means the distance of said fingers relative to each other along the axis of translation of the mechanical parts.

Preferably, said hooking fingers have substantially a shape of C and are each arranged so as to grip said corresponding support surface. To enclose, we mean to surround closely. Thus, when one of said borders is engaged in the corresponding gripping finger, it grips the support surface of the edge. Preferably, said gripping fingers are each disposed at one end of said mechanical parts vis-à-vis one another. Preferably, said return means is a tension spring mounted at its ends on said mechanical parts. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, said first mechanical part comprises an interior space within which said second mechanical part can slide. Said tension spring can be disposed in the interior space of the first mechanical part, and have an end mounted on a rod secured to the second mechanical part, said rod having a portion projecting from the first mechanical part through a light of it. Said second mechanical part may comprise a gripping handle for moving in translation said second mechanical part relative to the first mechanical part, when the latter is held stationary. Advantageously, said mechanical parts are made by molding plastic, preferably polyurethane.

The invention also relates to a method of attachment to a support structure of a suspension device according to any one of the preceding features, said support structure comprising two opposite edges to each other each having a surface forming a support for said suspension device. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps. - It has the gripping finger of the first mechanical part so as to engage a first edge among said borders in said finger attachment; - It separates the gripping finger of the second mechanical part beyond the second edge among said borders, by translation of the second mechanical part relative to the first mechanical part; - Release the second mechanical part to reach the attachment position in which the two gripping fingers are in contact with the corresponding support surfaces. It is clear that the suspension device according to the invention has a simplicity of mounting on the support structure particularly simple. Thus, a user can mount the suspension device with one hand, while the second hand holds, for example, the object to be suspended. This results in a significant saving in terms of time and costs during industrial production phases during which the suspension of the object is necessary. Said support structure may be a cross member, a spar or a frame of at least a portion of the structure of an aircraft. In this regard, the suspension device is adapted to be mounted on a particular type of support structure, for example sleepers, longitudinal members or structural frames of an aircraft, parts having a high rigidity. The suspension device according to the invention thus makes it possible to rule out its mounting on parts that are not adapted for this purpose, possibly too fragile.

Finally, the invention relates to a method of mounting a neon lamp on a support structure of an aircraft, said support structure having two opposite edges to each other each having a support surface for said suspension device. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps. the suspension device is hooked to said support structure, using the hooking method according to the preceding characteristics; - Hanging the neon lamp to the suspension device at the latching member of the latter.

Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent in the detailed non-limiting description below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the jaw of FIG. suspension according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, mounted on an exemplary support structure; Figure 2 is a side view of the two mechanical parts of the suspension jaw according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view in oblique section of the suspension jaw according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a neon lamp suspended in suspension with two suspension jaws according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 schematically shows a suspension device 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, intended to ensure the suspension suspension of an object to a support structure 10 The suspension device 20, hereinafter referred to as the suspension jaw description, is removably mounted on a support structure 10 having two borders 11A, 11B opposite to each other and each having a surface 12A, 12B forming a support for said jaw 20. Throughout the following description, by convention, a direct orthonormal coordinate system is used in Cartesian coordinates (X, Y, Z) shown in FIG. 1. The direction X is defined as being the axis of translation of the two mechanical parts 30, 40, described below, of the suspension jaw 20 when it is mounted on the support structure 10, the direction Y is the direction wherein the borders 11A, 11B of the support structure 10 extend, and the direction Z is defined as being substantially orthogonal to the support surfaces 12A, 12B of said borders 11A, 11B. The Z direction is also substantially collinear with the axis of the force applied by the object due to gravity, to the suspension jaw 20.

The terms "lower" and "upper" are here to be understood in terms of orientation along the Z direction of the reference (X, Y, Z).

The support structure 10 may in particular be a cross member, a frame or a spar of an aircraft structure. The support structure 10 may be profiled so as to have an inverted single T or double T cross section. This type of structural element is usually used in aircraft floors, for example the cockpit, passenger cabinet or cargo hold of aircraft. The support structure 10 shown in part in Figure 1 is an inverted T-shaped aircraft beam. It comprises a first portion 14 which extends in a plane parallel to the plane (Y, Z) and a second portion 15 which is orthogonal to it. The two parts 14, 15 of the support structure 10 here have a generally rectangular general shape.

The second portion 15 includes said borders 11A, 11B which extend substantially parallel to each other in the Y direction. Each edge 11A, 11B has a top surface 12A, 12B, a bottom surface and a an abutment end surface 13A, 13B which connects said upper and lower surfaces. As shown in FIG. 1, the support surfaces 12A, 12B are oriented substantially in the Z direction, the lower surfaces in the -Z direction and the abutment surfaces 13A, 13B in the X and -X directions. The borders 11A, 11B have a certain thickness and are spaced from each other by a cross-member width.

As shown in FIG. 2, in which the numerical references identical to those of FIG. 1 previously described designate identical or similar elements, the suspension jaw 20 according to the invention comprises first and second mechanical parts 30, 40 movable in translation with respect to one another along a translation axis. Each mechanical part 30, 40 comprises a main portion 31, 41 and a latching finger 32, 42 intended to come into contact with the support surface 12A, 12B of the corresponding edge 11A, 11B. The main parts 31, 41 of the mechanical parts 30, 40 cooperate with each other so as to allow them to slide relative to one another. The main part 31 of the first mechanical part 30 has an interior space delimited at least partially by its inner surface, in which is partially engaged the main part 41 of the second mechanical part 40. The second mechanical part 40 is therefore at least partially nestable in the first mechanical part 30. The kinematic connection between these two mechanical parts is preferably of slide type, so as to avoid any rotation of a mechanical part relative to the other around the translation axis. In the preferred embodiment, the interior space of the first mechanical part 30 and the main part 41 of the second mechanical part 40 engaged in the interior space has a substantially square or rectangular cross section. The mechanical parts 30, 40 each comprise a gripping finger 32, 42 located at one end of the main part 31, 41 respectively. The two gripping fingers 32, 42 have a general shape in C and are arranged vis-à-vis one another. They are therefore oriented towards each other.

They are intended to come into contact with the support surfaces 12A, 12B of the borders 11A, 11B of the support structure 10. Each gripping finger 32, 42 has a bearing surface 33, 43 intended to come into contact with the surface 12A, 12B, and a clamping surface 34, 44 adjacent to the bearing surface 33, 43. The clamping surfaces 34, 44 may optionally engage the abutment surfaces 13A, 13B of the borders 11A. , 11B. When the suspension jaw 20 is mounted on the support structure 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the bearing surfaces 33, 43 are oriented in the -Z direction and the clamping surfaces 34, 44 in the X and -X, respectively. The gripping fingers 32, 42 have a height greater than the thickness of the borders 11A, 11B, thus allowing said edges 11A, 11B to be engaged in the gripping fingers 32, 42.

By height of the gripping finger is meant the distance, in the Z direction, separating the bearing surface 33, 43 of the finger 32, 42 of the corresponding main part 31, 41. Furthermore, the suspension jaw 10 according to the invention also comprises a fastening member 35 integral with at least one of said mechanical parts, here of the first mechanical part 30, and intended to ensure the attachment of the object to suspend. This attachment member 35 may have the shape of a pierced portion secured to the main portion 31 of the first mechanical part 30. The attachment member 35 is located at the lower surface of the main portion 31, of so that an object attached to the jaw 20 at the attachment member 35 exerts a force by gravity on said member 35 oriented substantially in the direction -Z. In addition, the second mechanical part 40 of the jaw 20 according to the embodiment of the invention comprises a gripping handle 45 for moving in translation said second mechanical part 40 relative to the first mechanical part 30 when the latter is maintained motionless. The handle 45 may have the general shape of a ring, eyelet, butt or even any other similar shape, extending along the translation axis from the hooking finger 42 of the second mechanical part 40. Each mechanical part 30, 40 is made in one piece. Thus, the main part 31 of the first mechanical part 30, the gripping finger 32 and the attachment member 35 together form a single element made in one piece. In the same way, the main part 41 of the second mechanical part 40, the gripping finger 42 corresponding and the gripping handle 45 together form a single element made in one piece. The mechanical parts 30, 40 can be made by molding plastic, for example thermosetting plastic such as polyurethane. As mentioned above, the two mechanical parts 30, 40 are movable in translation relative to one another along an axis of translation, so as to be able to bring said binding fingers 32, 42 closer or apart. displaced: - an attachment position in which the two mechanical parts 30, 40 have a relative distance allowing the contact between the gripping fingers 32, 42 and the corresponding support surfaces 12A, 12B, - at a position of stall in which the mechanical parts 30, 40 have a relative spacing does not allow contact between the gripping fingers 32, 42 and the corresponding support surfaces 12A, 12B, and vice versa. By relative spacing of the mechanical parts is meant the distance separating, along the axis of translation, the two gripping fingers 32, 42. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the relative spacing of the mechanical parts 30, 40 in the stall position is greater than that of their configuration in the attachment position.

As shown in FIG. 3, in which the numerical references identical to those of FIG. 1 previously described designate identical or similar elements, the suspension jaw 20 also comprises an elastic return means 21 for returning said mechanical parts 30, 40 in the snap position. The elastic return means 21 is a tension spring mounted at its ends on said mechanical parts 30, 40. More specifically, the ends of the spring 21 are fixed to a first rod 22A mounted on the first mechanical part 30 and to a second rod 22B mounted on the second mechanical part 40. Thus, the spring 21 has a state of rest when the mechanical parts 30, 40 have a small or minimum spacing. The spacing of the mechanical parts 30, 40 causes the spring 21 to return power. The spring 21 and said fixing rods 22A, 22B are located in the interior space of the first mechanical part 30. In order to prevent the disengagement of the second mechanical part 40 from the first mechanical part 30, the second rod 22B has a projecting portion out of the first mechanical part 30, and thus passes through a slot 36 made at the main part 31 of the first mechanical part 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Thus, the translational spacing of the second mechanical part 40 with respect to the first mechanical part 30 is limited by the formation of a stop between the second rod 22B and the main part 31 of the first mechanical part 30 at the level of the first mechanical part 30. end of the light 36. Thus, the mechanical parts 30, 40 can not be debited during the usual use of the suspension jaw 20. It should be noted that when the suspension jaw 20 is mounted on the support structure 10 , the jaw 20 may or may not tighten or clamp the support structure 10 by its gripping fingers 32, 42. By clamping or clamping, it is intended to exert a pressure force on the edges 11A, 11B of the support structure 10. Thus, when the mechanical parts 30, 40 occupy the hooking position, the spring 21 can be in a so-called rest configuration, or unloaded. The gripping fingers 32, 42 then exert no pressure force on the edges 11A, 11B. The clamping surfaces 34, 44 of the gripping fingers 32, 42 may or may not be in contact with the abutment surfaces 13A, 13B of the edges 11A, 11B. Alternatively, and preferably, when the mechanical parts 30, 40 occupy the hooking position, the spring 21 may still be under tension, so that the gripping fingers 32, 42 then exert a pressure force on the edges 11A , 11B, the clamping surfaces 34, 44 of the gripping fingers 32, 42 then being in contact with the abutment surfaces 13A, 13B of the edges 11A, 11B.

The hooking of the suspension jaw 20 according to the invention to a support structure 10 can be carried out in the following manner: The attachment finger 32 is provided with the first mechanical part 30 so as to engage a first edge 11B of the support structure 10 in said latching finger 32. The latching finger 42 of the second mechanical part 40 is moved beyond the second edge 11A, by translation of the second mechanical part 40 with respect to the first mechanical part 30 For this, the user can pull the second mechanical part 40 from the gripping handle 45 along the axis of translation of the mechanical parts 30, 40. In doing so, the tension spring 21 is stretched. It then exerts a restoring force which tends to reduce the spacing between the gripping fingers 32, 42. - Then releases the second mechanical part 40 to reach the attachment position in which the two gripping fingers 32, 42 are in contact with the corresponding support surfaces 12A, 12B. For this, we have the latching finger 42 of the second mechanical part 40 so as to engage the second edge 11A in this latching finger 42.

The release of the suspension jaw 20 can be effected by moving the latching finger 42 away from the second mechanical part 40 beyond the second edge 11A, by translation of the second mechanical part 40 with respect to the first mechanical part 30 kept still. The second edge 11A is thus disengaged from this latching finger 42. The second mechanical part 40 is then released and the first edge 11B is disengaged from the latching finger 32 of the first mechanical part 30. It is thus noted that the latching and the stall of the suspension jaw 10 with respect to the support structure 10 can be carried out very simply, with one hand, by the same user.

As shown in FIG. 4, in which the numerical references identical to those of FIG. 1 previously described designate identical or similar elements, a neon lamp 1 can be suspended in suspension to a support structure (not shown), for example a cross-beam , a frame or spar of an aircraft. The neon lamp 1 is then mounted in suspension on two suspension jaws 20. Each end of the neon lamp 1 is then connected to the attachment member 35 of the respective jaw 20 by means of a cable 23. presented above, only one user is sufficient to hang a neon lamp 1 in suspension to an aircraft transom. Indeed, the user holds one arm the neon lamp 1 while it attaches the other hand the two suspension jaws 20 in the manner described above. Of course, various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the invention which has just been described, solely by way of non-limiting examples.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for suspending (20) an object (1) intended to suspend said object (1) in suspension to a support structure (10), said support structure (10) comprising two opposing edges (11A, 11B) each other having a surface (12A, 12B) forming a support for said suspension device (20), characterized in that it comprises: a first and a second mechanical parts (30, 40) each comprising a gripping finger (32, 42) intended to come into contact with the corresponding support surface (12A, 12B), said mechanical parts (30, 40) being movable in translation relative to one another so as to to be able to bring said gripping fingers (32, 42) closer or apart; and an elastic return means (21) for said mechanical parts (30, 40) in a hooking position in which the two mechanical parts (30, 40) have a relative spacing allowing contact between the gripping fingers (32). 42) and the corresponding support surfaces (12A, 12B); and - an attachment member (35) integral with at least one of said mechanical parts (30; 40) for securing said object (1) to said suspension device (20). 2. Suspension device (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that said gripping fingers (32, 42) have substantially a shape of C and are each arranged so as to grip said surface (12A, 12B) forming corresponding support. 3. Suspension device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said biasing means (21) is a tension spring mounted at its ends on said mechanical parts (30, 40). 4. Suspension device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first mechanical part (30) comprises an interior space within which can slide said second mechanical part (40). 5. Suspension device (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that said biasing means (21) is a tension spring mounted at its ends on said mechanical parts (30, 40) and arranged in the interior space of the first mechanical part (30), having an end mounted on a rod (22B) integral with the second mechanical part (40), said rod (22B) having a portion projecting from the first mechanical part (30) through a light (36) thereof (30). 6. Suspension device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said second mechanical part (40) comprises a gripping handle (45) for translational movement of said second mechanical part (40) by relative to the first mechanical part (30), when the latter (30) is held stationary. 7. Suspension device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said mechanical parts (30, 40) are made by molding polyurethane. 8. A method of hooking a suspension device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to a support structure (10), said support structure (10) having two edges (11A, 11B) opposite the each having a support surface (12A, 12B) for said suspension device (20), characterized in that: - the latching finger (32) of the first mechanical part (30) is provided with in order to engage a first edge (11B) among said borders in said hooking finger (32); the gripping finger (42) is moved away from the second mechanical part (40) beyond the second edge (11A) among said borders, by translation of the second mechanical part (40) with respect to the first mechanical part ( 30) ; - Release the second mechanical part (40) to reach the attachment position in which the two gripping fingers (32, 42) are in contact with the corresponding support surfaces (12A, 12B). 9. A method of hooking a suspension device (20) to a support structure (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that said support structure (10) is a cross, a spar or a frame of at least part of the structure of an aircraft. 10. A method of mounting a neon lamp (1) on a support structure (10) of an aircraft, said support structure (10) having two borders (11A, 11B) opposite to each other each having a support surface (12A, 12B) for said suspension device (20), characterized in that: - the suspension device (20) is attached to said support structure (10), by implementing the attachment method according to claim 8 or 9; - Hanging the neon lamp (1) to the suspension device (20) at the attachment member (35) of the latter (20).