Device for joining composite structure elements with metallic structure elements
View Patent ↗A device for joining, in particular, composite structure elements with metallic structure elements of an aircraft. The device includes a junction element, provided with a first longitudinal partition wall fastened to a metallic panel, integral with a stiffener comprising a vertical core and at least one baseplate, with a second longitudinal partition wall, fastened to a composite panel, and with a lower branch to which are connected the proximal extremities of the said first and second longitudinal partition walls. The device further includes a first fitting element, provided with a first pick-up fitting body on the said stiffener and with a first heel and a second fitting element, provided with a second pick-up fitting body on the composite panel, and with a second heel, the heels of the fitting elements being fastened to the lower branch, on both sides of the lower branch, opposite each other.
1. A joining assembly, comprising:
a junction element including:
a first longitudinal partition wall fastened to a metallic panel, the metallic panel integral with a stiffener and comprising a vertical core and at least one baseplate,
a second longitudinal partition wall fastened to a composite panel, and
a lower branch coupled to a proximal portion of an extension of each of the first and second longitudinal partition walls;
a first fitting element including a first strain relief body fitting fastened to the stiffener and having a first heel; and
a second fitting element including a second strain relief body fitting on the composite panel and having a second heel,
wherein the first and second heels of the first and second fitting elements, respectively, are fastened to opposing sides of the lower branch of the junction element, wherein a lower rib is disposed directly adjacent the lower branch and interposed between one of the first and second heels and the lower branch, and wherein the lower rib, the lower branch, and the first and second heels are fastened together by a fastener that passes through the lower rib, the lower branch, and the first and second heels, thereby reducing compression stress on the junction element.
2. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second strain relief body fittings comprise means for fastening the metallic stiffener and composite panel oriented on different planes.
3. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first strain relief body fitting is fastened onto the stiffener by a rib joined to the vertical core of the stiffener.
4. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal partition wall is fastened onto an upper surface of the metallic panel and the second longitudinal partition wall is fastened onto an upper surface of the composite panel.
5. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second strain relief body fitting comprises a web fastened onto a lower surface of the composite panel.
6. A joining assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the second longitudinal partition wall and the web are joined together to the composite panel.
7. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second heels of the first and second fitting elements are bolted onto the lower rib and the lower branch.
8. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the junction element has a cross shape and comprises an upper branch bolted to a fuselage panel of the aircraft.
9. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the composite panel comprises an additional thickness in a stress field.
10. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the junction element comprises an upper branch bolted to a fuselage panel of the aircraft, wherein the junction element provides a junction between the fuselage panel and the lower rib and completes a link between the central box, the fuselage panel, and a wing of the aircraft, and wherein the first and second fitting elements, the central box, the fuselage panel, and the wing are each attached to the junction element.
11. A joining assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one pair of the first and second fitting elements and the first and second longitudinal partition walls sandwich one of the composite panel and the metallic panel.