Coupling systems and methods of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12285808-B2
Application number	US-202117378292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2021
Priority date	Aug 20, 2020
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure provides coupling systems for use in industrial systems to removably couple one or more components to the industrial system. The coupling systems discussed herein employ a flexible sleeve in addition to one or more components. The flexible sleeve can have a component disposed therein. When pressure is applied to the flexible sleeve, the flexible sleeve constricts around the component, securing the component in the coupling system and thus to the industrial system. Once the component is secured, the industrial system executes one or more processes on the component. The coupling systems discussed herein can accommodate components of varying internal and external geometries as well as internal and/or external coatings and surface finishes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling system, that comprises:
a housing that comprises:
a first end;
a second end opposite the first end; and
an inside surface that defines a housing cavity, wherein the first end comprises a first recess and the second end comprises a second recess;

a first coupling mechanism positioned in the first recess, wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises:
a first connector body in contact with the first recess, wherein the first connector body comprises:
a first cavity;
a first open end;
a second open end;
a first inside wall, wherein the first cavity extends from the first open end to the second open end and configured to receive a first end of a component; and
a first aperture;

a first flexible pad disposed concentrically in the first cavity and separated from an inside surface of the first connector body by a first gap, the first gap formed concentrically in and including the inside surface of the first connector body; and
a first flexible sleeve disposed concentrically in the first cavity adjacent to the first flexible pad;

a second coupling mechanism positioned in the second recess, wherein the second coupling mechanism comprises:
a second connector body in contact with the second recess, wherein the second connector body comprises:
a second cavity;
a second flexible pad disposed concentrically in the second cavity; and
a second flexible sleeve disposed concentrically in the second cavity adjacent to the second flexible pad

a first open end;
a second open end;
a second inside surface, wherein the second cavity extends from the first open end to the second open end and is configured to receive a second end of a component; and
a second aperture; and

the second flexible pad separated from an inside surface of the second connector body by a second gap, the second gap formed concentrically in and including the inside surface of the second connector body.

2. The coupling system of claim 1 , further comprising the coupling system removably coupled to an aperture configured as an inlet configured to define a fluid path through a chamber.

3. The coupling system of claim 2 , wherein the first coupling mechanism is configured to accept a component and is positioned in the aperture.

4. The coupling system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a component positioned in the chamber.

5. The coupling system of claim 4 , wherein the coupling system is configured to clean the component positioned within-said chamber.

6. The coupling system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to accept:
a component,
an attachment fixture removably coupled to the first coupling mechanism, and
a rotational element removably coupled to the attachment fixture.

7. The coupling system of claim 1 , further comprising: a chamber alignment mechanism.

8. A coupling system, that comprises:
a housing that comprises:
a first end;
a second end opposite the first end; and
an inside surface that defines a housing cavity, wherein the first end comprises a first recess and the second end comprises a second recess;

a first coupling mechanism positioned in the first recess, wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises:
a first connector body in contact with the first recess, wherein the first connector body comprises:
a first cavity;
a first open end;
a second open end;
a first inside wall, wherein the first cavity extends from the first open end to the second open end and configured to receive a first end of a component; and
a first aperture;

a first flexible pad disposed concentrically in the first cavity and separated from an inside surface of the first connector body by a first gap, the first gap formed concentrically in and including the inside surface of the first connector body; and
a first flexible sleeve disposed concentrically in the first cavity adjacent to the first flexible pad;

coupling mechanism positioned in the second recess, wherein the second coupling mechanism comprises:
a second connector body in contact with the second recess, wherein the second connector body comprises a second cavity;
a second flexible pad disposed concentrically in the second cavity; and
a second flexible sleeve disposed concentrically in the second cavity adjacent to the second flexible pad.

9. The coupling system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the first flexible pad being-configured to contact and apply pressure to the first flexible sleeve.

10. The coupling system of claim 9 , further comprising the first aperture being configured to couple to a first pneumatic system, wherein the first pneumatic system is configured to dispose a first pneumatic media in the first gap to cause the first flexible pad to expand against the first flexible sleeve and cause the first flexible sleeve to apply pressure to the first end of the component to secure the first end of the component in the first coupling mechanism.

11. The coupling system of claim 8 , further comprising:
the second connector body that comprises:
a first open end;
a second open end;
a second inside surface, wherein the second cavity extends from the first open end to the second open end and is configured to receive a second end of a component; and
a second aperture; and

the second flexible pad separated from an inside surface of the second connector body by a second gap, the second gap formed concentrically in and including the inside surface of the second connector body.

12. The coupling system of claim 11 , further comprising the second aperture being configured to couple to a second pneumatic system wherein the second pneumatic system is configured to dispose a second pneumatic media in the second gap to cause the second flexible pad to expand against the second flexible sleeve and to cause the second flexible sleeve to apply pressure to the second end of the component to secure the second end of the component in the second coupling mechanism.

13. The coupling system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first gasket being positioned in the first recess of the housing, the first connector body being in contact with the first gasket; and
a second gasket being positioned in the second recess of the housing, the second connector body being in contact with the second gasket.

14. The coupling system of claim 8 , further including a first system connection mechanism and a second system connection mechanism, wherein the first system connection mechanism is coupled to the first end of the housing and the second system connection mechanism is coupled to the second end of the housing, wherein each of the first system connection mechanism and the second system connection mechanism is configured to be removably coupled to a different portion of the coupling system.

15. The coupling system of claim 8 , wherein the housing is formed from a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, nickel, copper, brass, titanium and combinations thereof, and wherein each of the first connector body and the second connector body is formed from a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, nickel, copper, titanium, brass and combinations and alloys thereof.

16. The coupling system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first flexible pad and the second flexible pad are formed from a flexible material selected from the group consisting of polymers, elastomers, and combinations thereof, and wherein each of the first flexible sleeve and the second flexible sleeve are formed from a flexible material selected from the group consisting of polymers, elastomers, and combi

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Prakash Om
• Tripathi Sandeep
• Sahu Megha
• Kandhasamy Kamaraj
• Kupper Carolyn L

Classifications

• B23Q3/064

  for holding elongated workpieces, e.g. pipes, bars or profiles · CPC title

• B23B2270/027

  Pneumatics · CPC title

• B08B9/032

  by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing (B08B9/04 takes precedence {; by fluid jets mounted on cleaning devices B08B9/0433}) · CPC title

• B08B9/027 Primary

  Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages · CPC title

• F16L17/10

  the packing being sealed by the pressure of a fluid other than the fluid in or surrounding the pipe · CPC title