Device for the blind coupling of fluidic, electrical or similar supplies, to a receiving control mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9518687-B2
Application number	US-201313940772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2013
Priority date	Jul 18, 2012
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A device can be housed coaxially inside a sleeve in which the supplies are situated, and includes: a hollow cylindrical body that fits inside the sleeve and accepts the mechanism in the housing of the hollow body, with passages for respectively connecting the supplies to said mechanism; and a cover which is integrated or fixed, removably, on the front side of the cylindrical body and connects the hidden supplies to the respective passages of the body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for the blind coupling of fluidic, electrical or similar supplies to a receiving control mechanism for a pitch control system for a turbomachine fan, said supplies being situated inside a cylindrical sleeve, and said mechanism outside the cylindrical sleeve along an axis thereof, wherein the device is able to be housed coaxially inside the cylindrical sleeve and comprises:
a hollow cylindrical body designed to fit inside the cylindrical sleeve and accept the mechanism in a housing of the hollow cylindrical body, and having passages for respectively connecting the supplies to the control mechanism;
a cover which is integrated or fixed, removably, on a front side of the hollow cylindrical body and designed to connect the supplies to the respective passages of the hollow cylindrical body; and
a ring for collecting and distributing provided on a rear side of the hollow cylindrical body, around the hollow cylindrical body, and designed to connect the respective passages of the hollow cylindrical body to the control mechanism and to position the hollow cylindrical body, in axial abutment and in terms of rotation, relative to the cylindrical sleeve.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body comprises at least two lateral passages formed in a lateral wall of the hollow cylindrical body and opening respectively, at the front of the hollow cylindrical body, into distinct cavities in communication with couplings of the cover, and at the rear, into radial communication orifices of the hollow cylindrical body facing and in communication with couplings of the ring.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, in addition to the lateral passages, the hollow cylindrical body comprises an axial passage formed in a transverse wall of the hollow cylindrical body and opening, at the front, into a coupling of the cover and receiving, at the rear, inside the housing of the hollow cylindrical body, a tubular element for connection to the control mechanism.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises fluidic couplings and at least one electrical or similar connector being parallel to the hollow cylindrical body, able to engage coaxially with sealing and respectively with complementary receiving couplings and a complementary receiving connector which terminate the supplies secured to the cylindrical sleeve.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cover is fixed by screwing to the hollow cylindrical body using a clamping nut mounted around the hollow cylindrical body, and wherein a clamping piece is mounted around the control mechanism and able to press against a free end of the cylindrical sleeve and maintain axial positioning of the device connected to the various supplies of the cylindrical sleeve and to the mechanism.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises distinct internal cavities in connection with the passages of the hollow cylindrical body via holes made in an internal lateral wall of the ring, and with external fluidic couplings with which complementary couplings originating from the control mechanism can engage.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the ring is mounted in axial abutment on the hollow cylindrical body and is fixed thereto by a clamping nut, at an opposite end from a stop, and a rotational-connection and error-proofing means is provided between the ring and the hollow cylindrical body to immobilize the ring and the hollow cylindrical body in terms of rotation in a unique position for which the cavities of the ring communicate with the passages of the hollow cylindrical body.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the ring is mounted in axial abutment inside the cylindrical sleeve, after introduction of the device, by a rotational-connection and error-proofing means provided between the ring and the cylindrical sleeve to connect the ring and the cylindrical sleeve in terms of rotation in a unique position.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylindrical body, the cover and the ring are produced by at least one of molding, machining, and laser sintering.

10. A fluidic assembly for connection between fluidic, electrical or similar supplies situated inside a cylindrical sleeve and a receiving system, said assembly comprising:
a receiver control mechanism connected to the system; and
a coupling device as claimed in claim 1 , for coupling the supplies and the mechanism.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the coupling device and the control mechanism are made as one piece.

12. A system for controlling the pitch of the blades of a turbomachine fan comprising:
a receiving control mechanism based on an actuator;
a transmission mechanism for transmitting movement between the actuator and the blades;
fluidic, electrical or similar supplies situated inside a cylindrical sleeve; and
a device for the blind coupling of said supplies to said control mechanism, said device being as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Snecma

Inventors

• Curlier Augustin
• Charier Gilles Alain
• Belmonte Olivier

Classifications

• F01D7/02

  having adjustment responsive to speed · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• F16L21/00 Primary

  Joints with sleeve or socket (F16L13/00, {F16L15/00,} F16L17/00, F16L19/00 take precedence; {joints for pipes made of reinforced concrete F16L25/0027;} connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/00) · CPC title

• B64C11/38

  fluid, e.g. hydraulic · CPC title

• B64C11/385 Primary

  comprising feathering, braking or stopping systems · CPC title