Connecting system for connecting components in an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12241574-B2
Application number	US-202217902164-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2022
Priority date	Sep 30, 2021
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

A connecting system for connecting components in a vehicle includes a first elongate element with a first connecting face at a first end, and a second elongate element with a second connecting face at a second end. The first and second elements each comprise holding devices distributed along an annular connecting line. The connecting faces are congruent. The connecting faces and holding devices are configured to be brought into a flush superficial contact when the orientations of the elongate elements coincide, and the mutually opposing holding devices then connect with one another. One of the elements has a length adjustment component configured to change a position of the respective connecting face in a longitudinal direction of the respective element. The connecting faces comprise at least one pair of connectable interfaces which correlate with one another in pairs for transfer of a fluid, electrical or optical signals or electrical current.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connecting system for connecting components in a vehicle, comprising
a first elongate element with a first connecting face at a first end, and
a second elongate element with a second connecting face at a second end,
wherein the first elongate element and the second elongate element each comprise several holding devices which are distributed along an annular connecting line of the respective connecting face,
wherein the connecting faces and the connecting lines of the first elongate element and second elongate element are congruent,
wherein the connecting faces and holding devices are configured such that the connecting faces can be brought into a flush superficial contact when orientations of the first elongate element and second elongate element coincide, and the then mutually opposite holding devices of the connecting faces brought into superficial contact connect with one another,
wherein at least one of the first elongate element and second elongate element has a respective length adjustment component which adjoins the respective connecting face and is configured to change a position of the respective connecting face in a longitudinal direction of the respective element, and
wherein the connecting faces comprise at least one pair of interfaces which correlate with one another in pairs for transfer of a fluid, electrical or optical signals or an electrical current, which interfaces are configured to be brought into connection when the connecting faces are brought into superficial contact with one another.

2. The connecting system according to claim 1 , wherein a respective surface normal of the connecting faces stands obliquely to an extent axis of the respective elongate element.

3. The connecting system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first and second elongate elements comprise an at least largely cylindrical portion with an outer diameter,
wherein the respective connecting face adjoins the respective cylindrical portion, and
wherein the holding devices are arranged outside the outer diameter.

4. The connecting system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second connecting faces each comprise a cutout as an interface.

5. The connecting system according to claim 1 , wherein the holding devices comprise magnets.

6. The connecting system according to claim 5 , wherein the magnets comprise neodymium magnets.

7. The connecting system according to claim 1 , wherein the holding devices comprise adhesive elements, rip tape elements, snap connectors, weld connectors, solder connectors, clamp connectors, or vacuum connectors.

8. The connecting system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first elongate element and the second elongate element each comprise at least one pipe portion,
wherein at least one of the pipe portion comprises a seal, and
wherein the pipe portions are configured such that they are connected together fluid-tightly when the first and second connecting faces are brought into superficial contact.

9. The connecting system according to claim 8 , wherein the electrical connectors are arranged on the respective connecting line.

10. The connecting system according to claim 8 , wherein the electrical connectors are each connected to an electrical line which is guided away from the respective connecting face outside the respective elongate element.

11. The connecting system according to claim 1 , wherein the first elongate element and the second elongate element comprise at least one pair of electrical connectors as interfaces which are arranged such that they are electrically connected together when the first and second connecting faces are brought into superficial contact.

12. The connecting system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the length adjustment component comprises an elastic member which is integrated in the respective elongate element and allows a shape variability of the respective elongate element.

13. A structural and equipment system, comprising
an assembly for installation on a structure of a vehicle, and
a connecting system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first elongate element can be arranged on the structure and the second elongate element on the assembly,
wherein the second elongate element is coupled to a component arranged on the assembly.

14. A vehicle, comprising a structure and at least one structural and equipment system according to claim 13 .

15. The vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Hegenbart Matthias
• Zahlen Pierre

Classifications

• F16B2200/83

  Use of a magnetic material · CPC title

• F16B1/00

  Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts · CPC title

• F16L23/036

  characterised by the tensioning members, e.g. specially adapted bolts or C-clamps · CPC title

• F16L23/032

  characterised by the shape or composition of the flanges · CPC title

• F16L51/03

  comprising two or more bellows · CPC title