Pipe joint with conductive seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11846374-B2
Application number	US-201917286265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2019
Priority date	Oct 19, 2018
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

A pipe joint with a socket, and a pipe fitted into the socket. An annular seal is compressed between the socket and the pipe. The seal is electrically conductive and resiliently flexible. The socket or the pipe has a recess which houses the seal. The recess has a ridge in a base of the recess and the seal has a groove which extends around a radial periphery of the seal. The ridge fits into the groove to fool proof the installation, such that a standard non-conductive O-ring seal is more difficult to install in error.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pipe joint comprising:
a socket;
a pipe fitted into the socket; and
a seal compressed between the socket and the pipe, wherein the seal is electrically conductive and resiliently flexible, the socket or the pipe has a recess which houses the seal, the recess has a ridge in a base of the recess, the seal has a groove which extends around a radial periphery of the seal, the ridge fits into the groove, the seal comprises a seal material mixed with a fill material,
wherein the fill material has a higher electrical conductivity than the seal material and the fill material is a particulate fill material.

2. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the pipe has the recess and the groove extends around an inner radial periphery of the seal.

3. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the socket has the recess and the groove extends around an outer radial periphery of the seal.

4. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises a pair of side walls; and the base of the recess has a pair of channels between the ridge and the side walls.

5. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the groove has a transverse cross-section which is curved over a majority of a width of the groove.

6. The pipe joint according to claim 5 , wherein the transverse cross-section of the groove has a substantially constant radius of curvature over a majority of a width of the groove.

7. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the ridge and the groove have complementary shapes so that they are in contact over a majority of their respective widths.

8. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the ridge and the groove have complementary partially-toroidal shapes.

9. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the seal provides a conductive path between the socket and the pipe with an electrical resistance which is less than 3 M Ohm.

10. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the pipe is a fuel pipe.

11. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the seal is compressed between the socket and the pipe with a compression ratio greater than 10%.

12. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the seal has a plane of symmetry which bisects the groove.

13. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the seal provides a conductive path between the socket and the pipe with an electrical resistance which is greater than 1 Ohm.

14. The pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the seal has a pair of lobes which extend around a radial periphery of the seal opposite the groove, and the lobes contact the pipe or the socket at two separate contact regions.

15. Pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the seal material is an elastomeric or thermoplastic material.

16. Pipe joint according to claim 1 , wherein the seal material is an elastomeric material.

17. An aircraft comprising a pipe joint according to claim 1 .

18. A pipe joint comprising:
a socket;
a pipe fitted into the socket; and
a seal compressed between the socket and the pipe, wherein the seal is electrically conductive and resiliently flexible, the socket or the pipe has a recess which houses the seal, the recess has a ridge in a base of the recess, the seal has a groove which extends around a radial periphery of the seal, the ridge fits into the groove, the seal has a pair of lobes which extend around a radial periphery of the seal opposite the groove, and the lobes contact the pipe or the socket at two separate contact regions.

19. A pipe joint comprising:
a socket;
a pipe fitted into the socket;
a seal compressed between the socket and the pipe, wherein the seal is electrically conductive and resiliently flexible, and
a recess in the socket or pipe configured to house the seal, and the recess has a ridge in a base of the recess,
wherein the seal has a groove which extends around a radial periphery of the seal, the ridge of the recess fits into the groove, and
wherein the seal comprises a seal material mixed with a fill material, and the fill material has a higher electrical conductivity than the seal material and the seal material is an elastomeric or thermoplastic material.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Ltd

Inventors

• Peachey Daniel
• Bryant Anthony
• Bonte Eric
• Campos Diez Sergio

Classifications

• F16L25/01 Primary

  specially adapted for realising electrical conduction between the two pipe ends of the joint or between parts thereof · CPC title

• B64D37/005

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

• B64D45/02

  Lightning protectors; Static dischargers · CPC title

• F16L21/035

  placed around the spigot end before connection ({F16L21/022,} F16L21/025 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16L21/02 Primary

  with elastic sealing rings between pipe and sleeve or between pipe and socket, e.g. with rolling or other prefabricated profiled rings (F16L21/06, F16L21/08 take precedence; if adjustability is essential F16L27/00) · CPC title