Multi-dimensional extending protective arm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9359063-B2
Application number	US-201213716576-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2012
Priority date	Dec 17, 2012
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

An extendable protective arm is disclosed. The arm may protect an air, fuel, oil, or electrical conduit from harsh environments or the atmosphere during use. The arm may also connect the conduit between a moveable structure adapted to reciprocate relative to a fixed structure. The arm may extend in any number of dimensions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An extendable arm assembly configured for use with an aircraft wing, comprising:
a housing secured to the aircraft wing, the housing having a first curved guide, the first curved guide defining a first curved slide path inside the housing;
an intermediate arm nested inside the housing and including an second guide, the second guide defining a second slide path inside the intermediate arm, the intermediate arm including a distal arm nested inside, each guide including a roller catch positioned at each end of the guide and a roller disposed in each guide, each roller attached to one of the intermediate arm and the distal arm, the intermediate arm configured to reciprocate along the first curved slide path in at least two dimensions; and
a flexible conduit fully contained within and extending through the housing and intermediate arm to communicate a flow.

2. The extendable arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of intermediate arms, the distal arm is nested in a last intermediate arm, each intermediate arm is nested inside an adjacent intermediate arm from the last intermediate arm to a first intermediate arm, and the first intermediate arm is nested inside the housing.

3. The extendable arm assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible conduit is fully contained within and extending through the distal arm, intermediate arm, and housing, and a fluid outlet is provided at a distal end of the distal arm in communication with the flexible conduit.

4. The extendable arm assembly of claim 3 , wherein the flexible conduit is an electrical conductor.

5. The extendable arm assembly as in claim 1 , wherein flexible conduit communicates a flow to a structure moveable with respect to the aircraft wing.

6. The extendable arm assembly as in claim 5 , wherein structure is a flap.

7. The extendable arm assembly as in claim 5 , wherein structure is a deicer.

8. The extendable arm assembly as in claim 5 , wherein the flow is one of: air; fuel; oil; and electricity.

9. The extendable arm assembly as in claim 8 , wherein the structure is one of: a flap; and a deicer.

10. An extendable arm assembly configured for use with an aircraft wing, comprising:
a housing secured to the aircraft wing, having a first curved guide, the first curved guide defining a first curved slide path inside the housing;
an intermediate arm nested inside the housing and including an second guide, the second guide defining a second slide path inside the intermediate arm, the intermediate arm including a distal arm nested inside, each guide including a roller catch positioned at each end of the guide and a roller disposed in each guide, each roller attached to one of the intermediate arm and the distal arm, the intermediate arm configured to reciprocate along the first curved slide path in at least two dimensions; and
a flexible conduit fully contained within and extending through the housing and intermediate arm to communicate a flow, wherein each guide is a bearing recess containing at least one roller, wherein each roller is a ball bearing for smooth movement of the intermediate arm and distal arms, each ball bearing retained in the bearing recess by a bearing panel.

11. An extendable arm assembly configured for use with an aircraft wing, comprising:
a housing having an opening and a first guide, the guide defining a curved slide path inside the housing and the curved slide path following at least two dimensions;
an intermediate arm nested inside the housing and including an opening and a second guide, the second guide defining a curved slide path inside the intermediate arm; and
a flexible hose fully contained with and extending through the housing and intermediate arm to direct a flow from the aircraft wing through the extendable arm assembly and into a movable structure associated with the aircraft wing.

12. The extendable arm assembly of claim 11 , further including a distal arm nested inside the intermediate arm.

13. The extendable arm assembly of claim 12 , wherein there are a plurality of intermediate arms, the distal arm is nested in a last intermediate arm, each intermediate arm is nested inside an adjacent intermediate arm from the last intermediate arm to a first intermediate arm, and the first intermediate arm is nested inside the housing.

14. The extendable arm assembly as in claim 11 , wherein the flow is one of: air; fuel; oil; and electricity.

15. The extendable arm assembly as in claim 14 , wherein the moveable structure is one of: a flap; and a deicer.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Pisacreta Pellegrino J

Classifications

• F02C7/222

  Fuel flow conduits, e.g. manifolds · CPC title

• B64C13/00

  Control systems or transmitting systems for actuating flying-control surfaces, lift-increasing flaps, air brakes, or spoilers · CPC title

• F02C7/06

  Arrangements of bearings (bearings F16C); Lubricating ({of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or} engines in general F01M) · CPC title

• B64C9/22 Primary

  at the front of the wing · CPC title

• F05D2250/43

  with three degrees of freedom · CPC title