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EP-4230878-B1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MISALIGNMENT ADJUSTMENT UTILIZING DOUBLE ECCENTRIC BUSHINGS

EP4230878B1EP 4230878 B1EP4230878 B1EP 4230878B1EP-4230878-B1

Inventors

  • LEE, BRANDON
  • LARSON, WALLACE HAROLD
  • Meyer, Zachary
  • SCHULZ, MICHAEL A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20221206

Claims (9)

  1. A fastener aligning joint arrangement, comprising: a first component (10) comprising an oversized aperture (12); a first eccentric bushing (22) comprising a first eccentric aperture (42), the first component is configured to receive the first eccentric bushing in the oversized aperture; a second eccentric bushing (24) comprising a second eccentric aperture (46), the first eccentric bushing is configured to receive the second eccentric bushing in the first eccentric aperture; a fastener (26), the second eccentric bushing is configured to receive the fastener in the second eccentric aperture; a washer (62) configured to be received around a portion of the second eccentric bushing; a snap ring (28) configured to be received around the portion of the second eccentric bushing to secure the washer in an installed position; wherein the second eccentric bushing (24) comprises a second head flange (54) and a second shaft portion (56) extending from the second head flange, wherein the second eccentric aperture extends through the second head flange and the second shaft portion; further comprising a second component (30) comprising a fastening feature (32), wherein rotation of at least one of the first eccentric bushing (22) with respect to the first component or the second eccentric bushing (24) with respect to the first eccentric bushing is configured to align the fastener with the fastening feature, and wherein the first component (10) comprises a depression (14) configured to receive the washer (62) so that the washer (62) and the second eccentric bushing (24) are recessed within the first component.
  2. The fastener aligning joint arrangement of claim 1, wherein rotation of at least one of the first eccentric bushing (22) with respect to the first component (10) or the second eccentric (24) bushing with respect to the first eccentric bushing is configured to align the fastener within the oversized aperture.
  3. The fastener aligning joint arrangement of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first eccentric bushing (22) comprises a first head flange (58) and a first shaft portion (60) extending from the first head flange, wherein the first eccentric aperture (42) extends through the first head flange and the first shaft portion.
  4. The fastener aligning joint arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the fastener (26) is configured to be threadingly coupled to the fastening feature (32).
  5. The fastener aligning joint arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the fastener (26) is configured to be tightened to compress the first head flange (58), the second head flange (54), and the first component (10) between the fastener and the second component (30).
  6. The fastener aligning joint arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the first head flange (58) of the first eccentric bushing (22) comprises a pair of parallel opposing surfaces configured to receive a first tool for at least one of securing the first eccentric bushing in a first given rotational position or rotating the first eccentric bushing between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, optionally wherein the second head flange (54) of the second eccentric bushing (24) comprises a slot configured to receive a second tool for at least one of securing the second eccentric bushing in a second given rotational position or rotating the second eccentric bushing between a third rotational position and a fourth rotational position.
  7. The fastener aligning joint arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the second shaft portion comprises a circumferential groove configured to receive the snap ring.
  8. A method (400) for installing a first component (10), comprising: disposing (410) a first eccentric bushing comprising a first eccentric aperture into a first aperture disposed in the component; disposing (420) a second eccentric bushing comprising a second eccentric aperture into the first eccentric aperture; disposing (430) a washer around the second eccentric bushing; disposing (440) a snap ring around the second eccentric bushing to lock the washer in an installed position; rotating (450) the first eccentric bushing with respect to the second eccentric bushing to align the second eccentric aperture with a fastening feature of a second component (30); and disposing (460) a fastener through the second eccentric aperture to couple the fastener to the second component (30) via the fastening feature; wherein the first component (10) comprises a depression (14) configured to receive the washer (62) so that the washer (62) and the second eccentric bushing (24) are recessed within the first component..
  9. The method of claim 8, wherein rotating the first eccentric bushing with respect to the second eccentric bushing comprises: moving a first tool around a first head flange of the first eccentric bushing; and moving a second tool into a slot disposed in a second head flange of the second eccentric bushing, optionally wherein the first head flange comprises a pair of opposing parallel surfaces configured to engage the first tool.

Description

FIELD In general, the arrangements disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for mounting components. More specifically, they relate to systems and methods for attaching multi-hole components. BACKGROUND Multi-hole components are coupled to adjacent structures using various methods. Typically, a first hole of the component is aligned with a first bolt and a second hole of the component is aligned with a second bolt. Therefore, it is desirable to manufacture corresponding holes to align with each other to ensure the parts fit together. Such arrangements may need tight tolerances to ensure that the holes align. One way around tight tolerances is to manufacture over-sized bolt holes to ensure sufficient clearance to compensate for misalignment of bolt axes; bolts are then inserted and tightened with the component in the correct position. Another way, which also provides adjustment of a part, is to manufacture elongated slots into which bolts are inserted and tightened with the component at the correct position. Both these arrangements are vulnerable to potentially-undesirable free-play in the event that bolt preload is not properly achieved during installation, or is lost during service. US4420272A relates generally to a bushing which may be adjusted such that the inner bore eccentricity relative to the outer bushing surface is infinitely variable within a given range. US2002133950A1 relates generally to the field of structural joining and to a hole misalignment compensation system and method. SUMMARY A fastener aligning joint arrangement is claimed as claimed in claim 1, comprising a first component comprising an oversized aperture, a first eccentric bushing comprising a first eccentric aperture, the first component is configured to receive the first eccentric bushing in the oversized aperture, a second eccentric bushing comprising a second eccentric aperture, the first eccentric bushing is configured to receive the second eccentric bushing in the first eccentric aperture, a fastener, the second eccentric bushing is configured to receive the fastener in the second eccentric aperture, a washer configured to be received around a portion of the second eccentric bushing, and a snap ring configured to be received around the portion of the second eccentric bushing to secure the washer in an installed position. In various embodiments, rotation of at least one of the first eccentric bushing with respect to the first component or the second eccentric bushing with respect to the first eccentric bushing is configured to align the fastener within the oversized aperture. In various embodiments, the first eccentric bushing comprises a first head flange and a first shaft portion extending from the first head flange, wherein the first eccentric aperture extends through the first head flange and the first shaft portion. The second eccentric bushing comprises a second head flange and a second shaft portion extending from the second head flange, wherein the second eccentric aperture extends through the second head flange and the second shaft portion. The fastener aligning joint arrangement further comprises a second component comprising a fastening feature, wherein rotation of at least one of the first eccentric bushing with respect to the first component or the second eccentric bushing with respect to the first eccentric bushing is configured to align the fastener with the fastening feature. In various embodiments, the second component comprises a depression and the snap ring and the washer are disposed in the depression. In various embodiments, the fastener is configured to be threadingly coupled to the fastening feature. In various embodiments, the fastener is configured to be tightened to compress the first head flange, the second head flange, and the first component between the fastener and the second component. In various embodiments, the first head flange of the first eccentric bushing comprises a pair of parallel opposing surfaces configured to receive a first tool for at least one of securing the first eccentric bushing in a first given rotational position or rotating the first eccentric bushing between a first rotational position and a second rotational position. In various embodiments, the second head flange of the second eccentric bushing comprises a slot configured to receive a second tool for at least one of securing the second eccentric bushing in a second given rotational position or rotating the second eccentric bushing between a third rotational position and a fourth rotational position. A double eccentric bushing arrangement is disclosed, comprising a first eccentric bushing comprising a first eccentric aperture, a second eccentric bushing comprising a second eccentric aperture, the first eccentric bushing is configured to receive the second eccentric bushing in the first eccentric aperture, a fastener, the second eccentric bushing is configured to receive the fastener in the second eccentric aperture, a