A Superior Method of Installing Aircraft Fittings and Hardware

Typical aerospace hardware and fittings; especially those that penetrate bulkheads, are usually large and heavily flanged, requiring a thick or large diameter pad-up around the penetration hole. The assembly is often complex with multiple holes to accept satellite fasteners to attach the fitting to the structure. This process adds weight to the structure, limits design flexibility, is labor intensive and often time consuming to install. This paper introduces an innovative method of installing aerospace fittings and hardware using proven cold expansion technology. This advanced bulkhead fitting system provides a fast and robust installation process that reduces both cost and assembly complexity compared to traditional methods, while providing a lighter weight installation, increased structural design options and improved fatigue life.