Apparatus for positioning a cable behind a fixed structure

Abstract

An apparatus for positioning a cable in a recess behind a fixed structure, e.g. a storage bin, in an aircraft. A portion of the cable is enclosed in a conduit. Panels adjacent the structure are removed to partially expose the recess and at least one stringer. The conduit is directed into the recess from adjacent one end of the structure until the conduit passes another end of the structure, and the conduit is fastened to the stringer(s). The apparatus provides an easy way to route cable behind a fixed structure without removing the structure and without having to make holes in the aircraft.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application No. 09/944,340 filed on Aug. 31, 2001. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for installing cabling in aircraft and, more particularly, to apparatus for positioning cabling behind a fixed structure in an aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seated aircraft passengers typically are provided with lighting and equipment such as seat-based phones and in-flight video services. For passenger convenience and safety, cabling for lighting and equipment typically is hidden under floors and behind sidewalls and other covered recesses in the aircraft cabin. Sidewall panels can be removed to allow cabling to be routed, for example, along stringers secured to the aircraft skin. After the cabling is installed, the panels are repositioned over the cabling. It can be difficult, however, to install cabling behind a cabin sidewall where a fixed structure, for example, a stow bin, is located. Installing cabling in such a location can involve drilling holes through the structure and can be particularly difficult when the cabling is highly flexible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for positioning a cable in an aircraft, in a space between the aircraft outer frame and an inner shell and behind a structure mounted to the inner shell. The aircraft frame has a plurality of stringers affixed to an interior surface of the frame. The inner shell includes one or more panels removable to partially expose the space and at least one of the stringers. The apparatus includes a flexible conduit configured to be directed into and through the space behind the structure while enclosing a portion of the cable and after at least one of the panels has been removed. The conduit has a length sufficient at least to span the structure. The apparatus includes at least one fastener for attaching an end of the conduit to one of the stringers. The above-described apparatus provides an easy way to route cable behind a fixed structure without removing the structure and without having to make holes in the aircraft.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of an aircraft, shown looking in a fore or aft direction; and

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view, shown looking in a fore or aft direction, of a portion of an aircraft in which is implemented an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. Although the present invention is described in connection with a stow bin attached to an aircraft cabin wall, the invention is not so limited. Embodiments of the present invention can be practiced in connection with other structures mounted on a ceiling or other aircraft surface that can be described as an inner shell. It also should be understood that references herein to an aircraft cabin wall include an aircraft cabin ceiling.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a fuselage 12 of an aircraft 10, shown looking in a fore or aft direction. An outer frame 14 of the aircraft 10 includes a skin 16 and a plurality of stringers 18 affixed to an interior surface 22 of the skin 16 and extending fore-to-aft. A stow bin 26 is fixedly mounted to an interior cabin wall 30 curving upwardly and horizontally into a cabin ceiling 32. The interior cabin wall 30 and ceiling 32 include a plurality of removable panels 34. Two panels 34a and 34b shown in FIG. 1 are adjacent upper and lower ends 36a and 36b, respectively, of the bin 26. A space or recess 38 behind the bin 26 extends between the wall 30 and the frame 14.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the aircraft 10 after implementation of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A cable 42 is positioned in the recess 38 behind the bin 26. A portion of the cable 42 is enclosed in a conduit 46 having a length that spans the bin 26. The conduit 46 is constrained around the cable 42 by a plurality of tie wraps 48. Each end 50 of the conduit 46 is fastened to a stringer 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each conduit end 50 is held by a C-clamp 54. Each C-clamp 54 is attached via a suitable stringer attachment device 58 mounted on the associated stringer 18. One such attachment device is a stringer attachment device having part number BACS38J4 by The Boeing Company of Seattle, Wash. It will be appreciated, however, that any suitable alternative method or device for attaching the conduit 46 to the stringers 18 could be used. The cable 42 extends to connectors 62 located under the cabin floor (not shown), above the ceiling 30, or in an alternative location.

A method shall now be described for positioning a cable such as the cable 42 behind the bin 26, as shown in FIG. 2, without having to remove the bin 26 from the wall 30. The conduit 46, although less flexible than cable 42, is sufficiently flexible to be directed into the recess 38, as further described below, and to assume a curvature generally similar to the contour of the fuselage frame 14 so that it fits behind the bin 26. The conduit 46 is fabricated, for example, of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing manufactured by Panduit Corporation, Tinley Park, Ill. The conduit 46 is slit lengthwise and a portion of the cable 42 is enclosed lengthwise in the conduit 46. After the cable 42 is inserted into the conduit, the conduit 46 is tie-wrapped at a plurality of preferably equally spaced-apart locations to constrain the conduit around the cable 42 while allowing movement of the cable 42 through the conduit 46. Where a slit conduit 46 is used as previously described, the cable 42 can be inserted in the conduit 46 without removing one of the connectors 62. Where a connector 62 is small enough to fit with the cable through the conduit 46, the cable 42 and attached connector 62 can be threaded through the conduit ends 50, and the slitting and tie-wrapping steps can be omitted.

Panels 34a and 34b are removed to partially expose the recess 38 and the stringers 18a and 18b. The conduit 46 is directed into the recess 38 from adjacent the bin 26, for example, where the recess 38 is exposed near the upper end 36a, until the conduit 46 passes the end 36b of the bin 26. The conduit 46 then is fastened to the stringers 18a and 18b. The cable 42 can be pulled through the conduit 46 to adjust the cable relative to the conduit and for connection to the connectors 62, and the panels 34a and 34b can be repositioned.

The above-described method and apparatus provide an easy way to route aircraft cabling behind a storage bin or other fixed structure without having to remove the structure. Additionally, the present invention makes it unnecessary to drill holes through the structure or in other locations to route cabling behind such a structure.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for positioning a cable in an aircraft, in a space between the aircraft outer frame and an inner shell and behind a structure mounted to the inner shell, the aircraft frame having a plurality of stringers affixed to an interior surface of the frame, the inner shell including one or more panels removable to partially expose the space and at least one of the stringers, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible conduit configured to be directed into and through the space behind the structure while enclosing a portion of the cable and after at least one of the panels has been removed, the conduit comprising a length sufficient at least to span the structure; and

at least one fastener for attaching an end of the conduit to one of the stringers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conduit comprises:

a lengthwise slit through which the cable portion is inserted; and

at least one wrap configured to constrain the conduit around the cable while allowing movement of the cable through the conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one wrap comprises a plurality of wraps spaced along the conduit.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one fastener comprises a C-clamp attached to the at least one stringer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conduit comprises a flexibility less than a flexibility of the cable.

6. An apparatus for positioning a cable in an aircraft, in a space between the aircraft outer frame and an inner shell and behind a structure mounted to the inner shell, the aircraft frame having a plurality of stringers affixed to an interior surface of the frame, the inner shell including one or more panels removable to partially expose the space and at least one of the stringers, the apparatus comprising:

means for enclosing and guiding a portion of the cable behind the structure through a portion of the space exposed by removing one or more of the panels adjacent the structure; and

means for fastening the enclosing means to at least one stringer exposed in the space.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the enclosing and guiding means is less flexible than the cable.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the enclosing and guiding means spans the structure.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for constraining the enclosing and guiding means around the cable while allowing movement of the cable relative to the enclosing and guiding means.

10. An apparatus for positioning a cable in an aircraft, in a space between the aircraft outer frame and an inner shell and behind a structure mounted to the inner shell, the aircraft frame including a plurality of stringers affixed to an interior surface of the frame, the inner shell including one or more panels removable to partially expose the space and at least one of the stringers, the apparatus comprising:

a conduit that is split to receive a length of the cable and configured to be inserted behind the structure while one or more portions of the space adjacent the structure are exposed; and

one or more fasteners for attaching one or more ends of the conduit to one or more stringers exposed in the space.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the conduit comprises a length sufficient to span the structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the conduit is constrained around the cable while allowing the cable to move within the conduit.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising at least one tie-wrap for constraining the conduit around the cable.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein one of the one or more fasteners comprises:

a stringer attachment device mounted on one of the one or more stringers; and

a C-clamp configured to hold one of the one or more conduit ends and to be attached to the stringer attachment device.

15. An apparatus for positioning a cable in an aircraft, in a space between the aircraft outer frame and an inner shell and behind a structure mounted to the inner shell, the aircraft frame including a plurality of stringers affixed to an interior surface of the frame, the inner shell including one or more panels removable to partially expose the space and at least one of the stringers, the apparatus comprising:

a conduit having a lengthwise split to receive a length of the cable and configured to be inserted behind the structure while one or more portions of the space adjacent the structure are exposed;

one or more fasteners for attaching one or more ends of the conduit to at least one stringer exposed in the space; and

one or more tie wraps for constraining the conduit around the cable while allowing movement of the cable through the conduit.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the conduit comprises a flexibility less than a flexibility of the cable.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one of the one or more fasteners comprises:

a stringer attachment device mounted on one of the one or more stringers; and

a C-clamp configured to hold one of the one or more conduit ends and to be attached to the stringer attachment device.