Pressure sleeve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085566-B2
Application number	US-201715852601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a sleeve that comprises a tubular portion, a receiving portion, and a coupling portion. The tubular portion has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to an inner diameter of a flexible hose such that the tubular portion is capable of being inserted within the flexible hose. The receiving portion extends outward from the tubular portion to thereby define a channel between the receiving portion and the tubular portion for receiving an end portion of a flexible hose. The coupling portion is for coupling the sleeve, and thereby, the flexible hose, to a component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a sleeve comprising a tubular portion, a receiving portion, and a coupling portion that are monolithically formed, wherein:
the tubular portion has an outer diameter that is substantially equal along a length of the tubular portion and that is substantially equal to an inner diameter of a flexible hose;
the receiving portion comprises:
a flange section that extends radially outward from the tubular portion; and
an extension that extends from the flange section in a direction substantially concentrically aligned with the tubular portion to thereby define a channel between the extension and the tubular portion, the channel having a uniform radial width substantially equal to a thickness of the flexible hose to receive the flexible hose when the tubular portion is inserted within the flexible hose, and the extension including first outer threads for engaging a fitting; the coupling portion is configured for coupling the sleeve to a component; and the coupling portion extends out from the receiving portion in an opposite direction from the tubular portion and includes second outer threads for engaging with the component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
the fitting engaged with the first outer threads of the extension of the sleeve, wherein the fitting comprises clamping feet that apply pressure to the flexible hose when the fitting is engaged with the sleeve and the flexible hose has been received within the channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the extension ends before the clamping feet when the fitting is engaged with the sleeve and wherein the tubular portion of the sleeve extends past the clamping feet of the fitting such that the sleeve counteracts a deflection of the flexible hose into a flow path through the flexible hose and the sleeve in response to the pressure being applied by the fitting.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a groove extending at least partially around a circumference of the sleeve and further comprising:
a fastener device positioned within the groove to secure the component to the sleeve.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the fastener device is a locking pin and wherein the component is selected from one of a nut, a B-type nut, a union, a bulkhead, and a flareless fitting.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion comprises:
an end section having the second outer threads and that is shaped to substantially match a corresponding shape of the component to which the sleeve is to be coupled.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the coupling portion that extends away from the flange section of the receiving portion has a same outer diameter as the tubular portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving portion includes a tool feature that allows a tool to engage with the receiving portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the tool feature has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the flexible hose coupled with the tubular portion, wherein the flexible hose is comprised of a flexible material and is coated with a conductive pigment.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the flexible hose contacts the extension, the tubular portion, and the flange section when the end portion of the flexible hose is received within the channel.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion, the receiving portion, and the coupling portion of the sleeve are machined from a metal structure; and wherein an inner surface of a channel that extends through the tubular portion, the receiving portion, and the coupling portion is a continuous surface.

13. A method for coupling a flexible hose to a component, the method comprising: inserting a tubular portion of a sleeve within the flexible hose such that an end portion of the flexible hose is received within a channel defined by the tubular portion, a flange section that extends radially outward from the tubular portion, and an extension that extends from the flange section in a direction substantially concentrically aligned with the tubular portion, the channel having a uniform radial width substantially equal to a thickness of the flexible hose; securing the sleeve to the flexible hose using a fitting and first outer threads of the extension; and coupling the sleeve and the flexible hose to the component using second outer threads on a coupling portion of the sleeve that extends out from a receiving portion of the sleeve in an opposite direction from the tubular portion, the tubular portion, the receiving portion, and the coupling portion being monolithically formed such that an inner surface of the channel, which extends through the tubular portion, the receiving portion, and the coupling portion, is a continuous surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
counteracting a deflection of the flexible hose into a flow path created through the flexible hose and the sleeve using the sleeve.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein securing the sleeve to the flexible hose comprises:
securing the fitting to the sleeve by engaging the first outer threads of the extension; and
clamping down on the flexible hose using clamping feet of the fitting, thereby applying pressure on the flexible hose; and
counteracting the pressure being applied by the fitting using the tubular portion of the sleeve, the tubular portion extending past the clamping feet of the fitting.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein coupling the sleeve and the flexible hose, to the component comprises:
coupling an end section of the coupling portion to the component, wherein the end section is machined to substantially match a corresponding shape of the component, and wherein the component is selected from one of a nut, a B-type nut, a union, a bulkhead, and a flareless fitting.

17. A fuel system in an aircraft, the fuel system comprising:
a flexible fuel hose;
a sleeve comprising:
a tubular portion, wherein the sleeve has an outer diameter that is substantially equal along a length of the tubular portion and that is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the flexible fuel hose such that the tubular portion positively locks the flexible fuel hose;
a receiving portion comprising:
a flange section that extends radially outward from the tubular portion; and
an extension that extends from the flange section in a direction substantially concentrically aligned with the tubular portion to thereby define a channel between the extension and the tubular portion, the channel having a uniform radial width substantially equal to a thickness of the flexible hose, and the extension including first outer threads for engaging a fitting; and
a coupling portion for coupling the sleeve and flexible fuel hose to a component,
wherein the coupling portion extends out from the receiving portion in an opposite direction from the tubular portion and includes second outer threads for engaging with the component; and
wherein the coupling portion comprises a groove extending at least partially around a circumference of the sleeve;

a fastener device positioned within the groove to secure the component to the sleeve; and
the fitting, wherein the fitting is clamped down on the receiving portion of the sleeve and the flexible fuel hose to secure the sleeve to the flexible fuel hose.

18. The fuel system of claim 17 , wherein the flexible fuel hose is comprised of a flexible polymer and is coated with a conductiv

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Shamkhi Munir David

Classifications

• F16L11/04

  made of rubber or flexible plastics · CPC title

• B64D37/005

  Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28 · CPC title

• F16L33/224

  a clamping ring being arranged between the threaded member and the connecting member · CPC title

• F16L19/075 Primary

  specially adapted for spigot-and-socket joints {for pipes of the same diameter} · CPC title

• F16L33/223 Primary

  the sealing surfaces being pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on or into one of the joint parts · CPC title