Assembly method and assembly aid with magnetic element

{
  "publication_number": "US11826886B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Assembly method and assembly aid with magnetic element",
  "abstract": "The proposed solution relates in particular to a method for assembling an engine assembly having a first engine component and a second engine component, wherein at least one fastening element is first of all arranged on an assembly aid, the at least one fastening element is arranged on the first engine component via the assembly aid and is held in an assembly position under the action of at least one magnetic element of the assembly aid, the at least one fastening element is fixed to the second engine component, and the assembly aid is removed again from the first engine component.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for assembling an engine assembly having a first engine component and a second engine component, the method comprising: providing the first engine component and the second engine component, providing an assembly aid that includes a holding body, providing at least one fastening element with a threaded end section, engaging the at least one fastening element with the holding body to retain the at least one fastening element to the holding body, positioning and engaging the at least one fastening element on the first engine component via the holding body, holding the holding body in an assembly position on the first engine component with at least one magnetic element, fixing the at least one fastening element to the second engine component to connect the first engine component to the second engine component, and removing the holding body from the first engine component while leaving the at least one fastening element connected to the first engine component and the second engine component.",
    "2. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising providing that the first engine component and the second engine component are connected to each other only after the at least one fastening element has been positioned and engaged to the first engine component via the assembly aid.",
    "3. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: transferring the at least one fastening element from an assembly position into an intermediate position, in which the at least one fastening element is fixed to the second engine component, upon removing of the assembly aid from the first engine component, transferring the at least one fastening element from the intermediate position into a securing position, in which the first engine component and the second engine component are secured to each other via the at least one fastening element.",
    "4. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising providing that the at least one fastening element is plugged onto the holding body aid and/or is suspended on the holding body.",
    "5. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising removing the assembly aid from the first engine component by pulling the assembly aid from the first engine component.",
    "6. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: providing that the at least one fastening element includes two fastening elements engaging the holding body for securing the first and second engine components; positioning and engaging the two fastening elements with the first engine component via the holding body; holding the two fastening elements in an assembly position with the at least one magnetic element.",
    "7. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising arranging the at least one fastening element on a flange section of the first engine component via the assembly aid.",
    "8. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: providing that the at least one fastening element includes two fastening elements, providing two of the assembly aid, and using one each of the two fastening elements with each of the assembly aids for assembling the engine assembly.",
    "9. The method according to claim 1, and further comprising: providing that: the at least one fastening element includes: the threaded end section having an end diameter and configured for engaging a bore of the second engine component, a central stem section having a stem diameter smaller than the end diameter, a head section having a head diameter greater than the stem diameter, the holding body includes at least one holding opening configured for receiving the central stem section, the at least one holding opening having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the stem diameter but smaller than the end diameter and the head diameter, such that when the central stem section is positioned in the at least one holding opening, the at least one fastening element is retained to the holding body in an axial direction of the at least one fastening element.",
    "10. The method according to claim 9, and further comprising: providing that the central stem section has an axial length greater than a thickness of the holding body at the at least one holding opening such that the at least one fastening element is axially movable with respect to the holding body in a given range, while still being retained to the holding body in the axial direction.",
    "11. An assembly aid for assembling an engine assembly, comprising: at least one fastening element; a holding body configured for positioning the at least one fastening element with respect to an engine component of the engine assembly; at least one magnetic element attached to the holding body and configured for fixing the assembly aid to the engine component; the at least one fastening element including: a threaded end section, the threaded end section having an end diameter and configured for engaging a bore of the engine component, a central stem section having a stem diameter smaller than the end diameter, a head section having a head diameter greater than the stem diameter, the holding body including at least one holding opening configured for receiving the central stem section, the at least one holding opening having a cross-sectional dimension greater than the stem diameter but smaller than the end diameter and the head diameter, such that when the central stem section is positioned in the at least one holding opening, the at least one fastening element is retained to the holding body by the interaction between cross-sectional dimension and the stem diameter in both axial directions of the at least one fastening element; wherein the holding body is shaped as a partially circular ring segment; wherein the at least one holding opening includes two holding openings circumferentially spaced along an arc of the partially circular ring segment; wherein the at least one fastening element includes two fastening elements and the holding body is configured for positioning the two fastening elements in a position of engagement with respect to the engine component; wherein the two holding openings are each shaped as laterally open through openings, positioned in a radial direction open to a radially outer circumference of the holding body, and each of said two holding openings configured to be wider at the radially outer circumference of the holding body than at a radially intermediate position for holding the central stem section to provide both 1) engagement with the central stem section at the radially intermediate position to hold the respective fastening element in in the position of engagement and 2) clearance with respect to the central stem section at the radially outer circumference of the holding body to allow the holding body to be moved transversely with respect to the two fastening elements, to no longer engage the two fastening elements, when the two fastening elements are in the position of engagement with respect to the engine component.",
    "12. The assembly aid according to claim 11, wherein the holding body includes an intermediate section positioned between the two holding openings; wherein the at least one magnetic element is positioned on the intermediate section.",
    "13. The assembly aid according to claim 11, wherein the at least one magnetic element includes a plurality of magnetic elements attached to the holding body.",
    "14. The assembly aid according to claim 11, and further comprising: the central stem section having an axial length greater than a thickness of the holding body at the at least one holding opening such that the at least one fastening element is axially movable with respect to the holding body in a given range, while still being retained to the holding body in the axial direction.",
    "15. The assembly aid according to claim 11, wherein the at least one holding opening includes at least three holding openings circumferentially spaced along the arc of the partially circular ring segment.",
    "16. The assembly aid according to claim 11, wherein the arc of the partially circular ring segment is less than a quarter circle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application claims priority to German Patent Application DE102018220699.6 filed Nov. 30, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.\n\nThe proposed solution relates in particular to a method for assembling an engine assembly, in which first and second engine components have to be secured to each other via at least one fastening element.\n\nIn the region of an engine, engine components frequently have to be secured to one another manually since an automated assembly is impossible because of the complexity of the engine. Against this background, the engine parts frequently also to have to be mounted in a certain spatial position in order to make possible connecting points accessible at all for a fitter and/or a tool. It is also known in this connection in practice that fastening elements, such as, for example, screw bolts, are locked on a first engine component in holding elements, which are provided merely for the assembly and are formed integrally on the engine component, before the first engine component is arranged as specified on another, second engine component, since, after the two engine components are arranged on each other, the corresponding fastening elements would no longer be able to be readily placed at the fastening points provided for them. The corresponding fastening elements subsequently still have to be transferred into a securing position, in which the two engine components are secured to each other as specified via the fastening elements.",
  "cpc": [
    "B25B 23/12",
    "F01D 25/285",
    "F05D 2230/64",
    "F05D 2240/14",
    "F05D 2260/32"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 23/12",
    "F01D 25/28"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Rolls Royce Deutschland Ltd and Co KG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Stephan Koehler"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-12-02",
  "publication_date": "2023-11-28",
  "grant_date": "2023-11-28",
  "priority_date": "2018-11-30",
  "application_number": "US-201916700410-A",
  "family_id": "70680804",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US2367582A",
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    "US4989313A",
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    "US6279218B1",
    "US20140053388A1",
    "DE102014106658A1"
  ]
}