Aircraft fuel line couplings in compliance with survivable crash and lightning strike requirements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016153597-A1
Application number	US-201414556010-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 28, 2014
Priority date	Nov 28, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Fuel line coupling components couple together coaxially aligned fuel lines (e.g., single wall metal aircraft fuel lines) and allow for relative longitudinal movements therebetween. The fuel line coupling component may include an outer tubular housing member, an inner tubular coupling member, a tubular collar member and a coupler. The inner tubular coupling member is adapted to being attached to a terminal end of one of the fuel lines and is received within an interior space of the outer tubular housing member for slidable movements therewithin to allow the fuel line attached thereto to be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the outer tubular housing. The tubular collar member is coaxially aligned with the outer tubular member and is adapted to being attached to a terminal end of the second fuel line in coaxial opposition to the first fuel line. The coupler is provided so as to couple the coaxially aligned outer tubular member and the tubular collar member, whereby the fuel lines are fluid-connected to one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel line coupling component for coupling coaxially aligned first and second fuel lines to allow longitudinal movement therebetween, wherein the fuel line coupling component comprises:
an outer tubular housing member; an inner tubular coupling member adapted to being attached to a terminal end of the first fuel line, the inner tubular member being received within an interior space of the outer tubular housing member for slidable movements therewithin to allow the first fuel line attached thereto to be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the outer tubular housing; a tubular collar member coaxially aligned with the outer tubular member and adapted to being attached to a terminal end of the second fuel line in coaxial opposition to the first fuel line; and a coupler which couples the coaxially aligned outer tubular member and the tubular collar member, whereby the fuel lines are fluid-connected to one another.

2 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 1 , wherein the inner tubular coupling member includes an O-ring seal for establishing a fluid-tight seal with an interior surface of the outer tubular housing member.

3 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 1 , wherein the outer tubular housing member includes at least one vent aperture establishing communication between the interior space thereof and an exterior atmosphere.

4 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 3 , wherein the outer tubular housing member includes a distal end which includes the at least one vent aperture.

5 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 4 , wherein the distal end of the outer tubular housing member includes an O-ring seal to provide a fluid-tight seal with an exterior surface of the first fuel line when connected to the inner tubular coupling member.

6 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrical bonding blade having one end connected to the outer tubular housing member and an opposite end in electrical contact with an exterior surface of the first fuel line when connected to the inner tubular coupling member.

7 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 6 , wherein the at least one electrical bonding blade is a one-piece bent metal spring contact structure having a proximal end establishing an attachment pad attached to the outer tubular housing member and a distal end establishing a contact pad.

8 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 7 , wherein the at least one electrical bonding blade includes a V-shaped or U-shaped contact pad at the distal end thereof.

9 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 8 , wherein the contact pad includes a carbon or graphite brush.

10 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of electrical bonding blades each having one end connected to the outer tubular housing member and an opposite end in electrical contact with an exterior surface of the first fuel line when connected to the inner tubular coupling member.

11 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 10 , wherein the plurality of electrical bonding blades are circumferentially spaced apart relative to one another.

12 . An aircraft fuel line assembly comprising:
first and second coaxially aligned metal fuel lines; and a fuel line coupling component for coupling the coaxially aligned first and second fuel lines to allow longitudinal movement therebetween, wherein the fuel line coupling component comprises,
an outer tubular housing member;
an inner tubular coupling member adapted to being attached to a terminal end of the first fuel line, the inner tubular member being received within an interior space of the outer tubular housing member for slidable movements therewithin to allow the first fuel line attached thereto to be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the outer tubular housing;
a tubular collar member coaxially aligned with the outer tubular member and adapted to being attached to a terminal end of the second fuel line in coaxial opposition to the first fuel line; and
a coupler which couples the coaxially aligned outer tubular member and the tubular collar member, whereby the fuel lines are fluid-connected to one another.

13 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the inner tubular coupling member includes an O-ring seal for establishing a fluid-tight seal with an interior surface of the outer tubular housing member.

14 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 12 , wherein the outer tubular housing member includes at least one vent aperture establishing communication between the interior space thereof and an exterior atmosphere.

15 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 14 , wherein the outer tubular housing member includes a distal end which includes the at least one vent aperture.

16 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 15 , wherein the distal end of the outer tubular housing member includes an O-ring seal to provide a fluid-tight seal with an exterior surface of the first fuel line when connected to the inner tubular coupling member.

17 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the fuel coupling component further comprises at least one electrical bonding blade having one end connected to the outer tubular housing member and an opposite end in electrical contact with an exterior surface of the first fuel line when connected to the inner tubular coupling member.

18 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 17 , wherein the at least one electrical bonding blade is a one-piece bent metal spring contact structure having a proximal end establishing an attachment pad attached to the outer tubular housing member and a distal end establishing a contact pad.

19 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 18 , wherein the at least one electrical bonding blade includes a V-shaped or U-shaped contact pad at the distal end thereof.

20 . The fuel line coupling component as in claim 19 , wherein the contact pad includes a carbon or graphite brush.

21 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of electrical bonding blades each having one end connected to the outer tubular housing member and an opposite end in electrical contact with an exterior surface of the first fuel line when connected to the inner tubular coupling member.

22 . The aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 21 , wherein the plurality of electrical bonding blades are circumferentially spaced apart relative to one another.

23 . An aircraft which comprises an aircraft fuel line assembly as in claim 12 .

Assignees

• Embraer Sa

Inventors

• Corrêa Luis Gustavo D Andrea Demétrio
• Rezende Eduardo

Classifications

• F16L23/06

  connected by toggle-action levers (quick acting couplings tightened by toggle-action levers F16L37/20) · CPC title

• B64D37/005

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

• F16L25/01

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

• F16L23/08

  connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut · CPC title

• F16L27/12 Primary

  allowing substantial longitudinal adjustment or movement (by use of screw-thread F16L15/02) · CPC title