Ferrule coupling for joining ducts together

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020003344-A1
Application number	US-201816020402-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2018
Priority date	Jun 27, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus comprising an inner ferrule and an outer ferrule. The inner ferrule comprises a plurality of engagement sections that define a plurality of gaps between the plurality of engagement sections. The outer ferrule is disposed around at least a portion of the inner ferrule. The outer ferrule comprises an engagement area mechanically joined to the plurality of engagement sections to join the inner ferrule to the outer ferrule.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
an inner ferrule comprising a plurality of engagement sections that define a plurality of gaps between the plurality of engagement sections; and an outer ferrule disposed around at least a portion of the inner ferrule and comprising an engagement area mechanically joined to the plurality of engagement sections to join the inner ferrule to the outer ferrule.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement sections has threads, the engagement area comprises corresponding threads, and the plurality of engagement sections and the engagement area are threaded together.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of engagement sections comprises first threads and the engagement area comprises second threads corresponding to the first threads.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inner duct joined to the inner ferrule; and an outer duct disposed around at least a portion of the inner duct and joined to the outer ferrule.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the inner ferrule or the inner duct define an outer circumference of a first fluid volume.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the outer ferrule or the outer duct define an outer circumference of a second fluid volume.

7 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the inner ferrule comprises:
a swage groove, wherein the inner duct is joined to the inner ferrule by swaging a portion of the inner duct into the swage groove.

8 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the outer duct is joined to the outer ferrule by welding.

9 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the inner ferrule, the outer ferrule, the inner duct, and the outer duct are substantially cylindrical, the outer ferrule is disposed circumferentially around the inner ferrule, and the outer duct is disposed circumferentially around the inner duct.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner ferrule is a first inner ferrule and further comprising:
a second inner ferrule joined to the first inner ferrule, wherein the first inner ferrule is disposed around at least a portion of the second inner ferrule.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inner duct joined to the inner ferrule; and an outer duct disposed around at least a portion of the inner duct and joined to the outer ferrule, wherein the plurality of engagement sections protrude from the inner ferrule such that a region is formed between the inner duct and the outer duct.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a leakage of vapors is collected within the region between the inner duct and the outer duct when fuel is transferred through the inner duct.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the vapors move through the plurality of gaps between the plurality of engagement sections.

14 . An apparatus comprising:
an inner ferrule; an intermediate ferrule mechanically joined to the inner ferrule such that the intermediate ferrule is disposed around at least a portion of the inner ferrule, the intermediate ferrule comprising a plurality of engagement sections; and an outer ferrule comprising an engagement area mechanically joined to the plurality of engagement sections such that the outer ferrule is disposed around at least a portion of the intermediate ferrule.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the engagement area comprises a groove and the plurality of engagement sections and the engagement area are joined via an interference fit with the plurality of engagement sections disposed within the groove.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the inner ferrule comprises a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of retaining areas between the plurality of protrusions, wherein the intermediate ferrule comprises a plurality of tab elements, and wherein the inner ferrule is mechanically joined to the intermediate ferrule via an interference fit with the plurality of tab elements disposed within the plurality of retaining areas.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
an inner duct joined to the inner ferrule; and an outer duct joined to the outer ferrule.

18 . A method comprising:
joining an outer duct to an outer ferrule; and joining, mechanically, a plurality of engagement sections of an inner ferrule to an engagement area of the outer ferrule such that the outer ferrule is disposed around at least a portion of the inner ferrule.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein joining, mechanically, the plurality of engagement sections of the inner ferrule to the engagement area of the outer ferrule comprises:
joining, mechanically, a first inner ferrule comprising the plurality of engagement sections with a second inner ferrule; and joining the first inner ferrule to an engagement area of the outer ferrule such that the outer ferrule is disposed around at least a portion of the first inner ferrule.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
joining the second inner ferrule to an inner duct.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein joining, mechanically, the first inner ferrule comprising the plurality of engagement sections with the second inner ferrule comprises:
joining the first inner ferrule with the second inner ferrule via an interference fit such that the plurality of engagement sections is disposed around at least a portion of the second inner ferrule and such that a plurality of tab elements of the first inner ferrule is disposed within a plurality of retaining areas of the second inner ferrule.

22 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
joining the inner ferrule to an inner duct.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein joining the inner ferrule to the inner duct comprises:
swaging the inner duct into grooves of the inner ferrule.

24 . A method for moving fuel through a duct system in an aircraft, the method comprising:
moving the fuel through an inner duct that is joined with an outer duct through a joining of an inner ferrule attached to the inner duct and an outer ferrule attached to the outer duct; and capturing a leakage from the fuel flowing through the inner duct within a region that is formed between the inner duct and the outer duct by a plurality of engagement sections of the inner ferrule that protrude radially outward from the inner ferrule and that define a plurality of gaps between the plurality of engagement sections.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein capturing the leakage comprises:
capturing vapors within the region formed between the inner duct and the outer duct; and allowing the vapors to flow through the plurality of gaps between the plurality of engagement sections.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Waugh Gregory M
• Clements Ronald Lawrence

Classifications

• F16L39/005 Primary

  for concentric pipes · CPC title

• F16L37/565

  Concentric pipes · CPC title

• F16L15/06

  characterised by the shape of the screw-thread · CPC title

• F16L5/14

  for double-walled or multi-channel pipes · CPC title

• F16L39/00

  Joints or fittings for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies {(quick-acting joints for double-walled or multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies F16L37/56)} · CPC title