Apparatus for coupling tubular components and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191591-A1
Application number	US-201614988454-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2016
Priority date	Jan 5, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for coupling together tubular components is described herein. The apparatus includes a coupling assembly with a coupling device having threads and an internal groove. The coupling assembly also includes a retainer clip positionable in the internal groove. The retainer clip is biased to apply a radially outward force against the internal groove when the retainer clip is positioned in the internal groove. The coupling assembly includes a ferrule, coupleable to the coupling device, in contact with the retainer clip when coupled to the coupling device to form an electrically conductive path through the coupling device, the retainer clip, and the ferrule. The retainer clip is configured to prevent movement of the coupling device relative to the ferrule when the retainer clip has an unbiased inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the ferrule or the retainer clip is not properly inserted into the internal groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for coupling together first and second tubular components of a duct assembly, comprising:
a first coupling assembly comprising:
a nut assembly comprising internal threads and a first internal groove;
a first retainer clip positionable in the first internal groove of the nut assembly, wherein the first retainer clip is biased to apply a radially outward force against the first internal groove when the first retainer clip is positioned in the first internal groove;
a first ferrule, coupleable to the nut assembly, in contact with the first retainer clip when coupled to the nut assembly to form a first electrically conductive path through the nut assembly, the first retainer clip, and the first ferrule, wherein the first ferrule is configured to be coupled to a first end of the first tubular component; and
a spring positionable within the nut assembly adjacent to the first retainer clip, wherein the spring comprises at least one lateral extension extending parallel to a central axis of the nut assembly; and
a second coupling assembly comprising:
a coupling body comprising external threads, a second internal groove, and at least one notch on a first end of the coupling body configured to mate with the nut assembly, wherein the external threads of the coupling body are configured to mate with the internal threads of the nut assembly, and the at least one notch is configured to receive the at least one lateral extension of the spring to prevent rotation of the coupling body relative to the nut assembly;
a second retainer clip positionable in the second internal groove of the coupling body, wherein the second retainer clip is biased to apply a radially outward force against the second internal groove when the second retainer clip is positioned in the second internal groove; and
a second ferrule, coupleable to the coupling body, in contact with the second retainer clip when coupled to the coupling body to form a second electrically conductive path through the coupling body, the second retainer clip, and the second ferrule, wherein the second ferrule is configured to be coupled to a second end of the second tubular component;
wherein one or more of:
the first retainer clip is configured to prevent movement of the nut assembly relative to the first ferrule when the first retainer clip has an unbiased inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first ferrule or the first retainer clip is not properly inserted into the first internal groove of the nut assembly; and
the second retainer clip is configured to prevent movement of the coupling body relative to the second ferrule when the second retainer clip has an unbiased inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the second ferrule or the second retainer clip is not properly inserted into the second internal groove of the coupling body.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second retainer clips are substantially c-shaped.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second retainer clips comprise gripping portions adjacent to first and second ends of the c-shape to facilitate installation and removal of the first and second retainer clips.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the nut assembly comprises a first end configured to mate with the coupling body and a second end opposite the first end; and the second end comprises features for matingly engaging a torque-application tool, configured to apply torque to the nut assembly for coupling together the nut assembly and the coupling body.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the coupling body comprises a second end opposite the first end; and the second end comprises features for matingly engaging a torque-application tool, configured to apply torque to the coupling body for coupling together the coupling body and the nut assembly.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second retainer clip is configured to prevent movement of the coupling body relative to the second ferrule when the second retainer clip has an unbiased inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the second ferrule or the second retainer clip is not properly inserted into the second internal groove of the coupling body.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first retainer clip is configured to prevent movement of the nut assembly relative to the first ferrule when the first retainer clip has an unbiased inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first ferrule or the first retainer clip is not properly inserted into the first internal groove of the nut assembly.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling body is rigid.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling body is flexible.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the spring is annular shaped; and the at least one lateral extension comprises a plurality of bumps on the spring, the plurality of bumps extending parallel to the central axis of the nut assembly.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch of the coupling body comprises a plurality of notches for receiving a plurality of lateral extensions protruding from the spring.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tube, wherein the first coupling assembly is coupled to a first end of the tube and the second coupling assembly is coupled to a second end of the tube.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tube is flexible.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the tube is rigid.

15 . A method of coupling together first and second tubular components, comprising:
inserting a retainer clip into an internal groove of a first coupling device, the retainer clip configured to apply a radially outward force to the internal groove when inserted in the internal groove; and sliding the first coupling device with the retainer clip over a ferrule, wherein the retainer clip is configured to prevent movement of the first coupling device relative to the ferrule when the retainer clip has an unbiased inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the ferrule or the retainer clip is not properly inserted into the internal groove of the first coupling device, and wherein the first coupling device, the retainer clip, and the ferrule are in contact with one another to form an electrically conductive path through the first coupling device, the retainer clip, and the ferrule.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising coupling the ferrule to a tube to form a first tubular component.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising coupling a second tubular component comprising a second coupling device to the first coupling device, wherein a spring is positionable within one of the first and second coupling devices and another of the first and second coupling devices comprises at least one notch, the spring comprises at least one lateral extension extending parallel to a central axis of the first and second coupling devices, and the at least one notch is configured to receive the at least one lateral extension of the spring to prevent rotation of the first coupling device relative to the second coupling device.

18 . An apparatus for coupling together first and second tubular components of a duct assembly, comprising:
a first coupling assembly, comprising:
a first coupling device comprising first threads and a first internal groove;
a first retainer clip positionable in the first internal groove, wherein the first retainer clip is biased to apply a radially outward force against the first internal g

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Waugh Gregory M

Classifications

• F16L25/023 Primary

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

• F16L19/041

  the ring being an insert (F16L19/043 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L25/01

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

• F16L19/0231

  with specially adapted means for positioning the threaded member behind the collar · CPC title

• F16L19/005 Primary

  comprising locking means for the threaded member · CPC title