Support for routing conduits in an aircraft wing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630722-B2
Application number	US-201313895731-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2013
Priority date	May 16, 2012
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A routing support ( 64 ) for a conduit line fastened in openings and the line includes a plurality of conduits connected end-to-end along a longitudinal axis. The routing support ( 64 ) incorporates an outer body ( 66 ) with a structure ( 68 ) for fastening the body in an opening. The routing support also includes a housing structure to accommodate the ends of two conduits in an end-to-end arrangement and the structure may include two separate structures (one for each conduit end ( 72 )) or a single common structure (accommodating respective ends of the two conduits). The routing support also includes a flexible interface ( 74 ) connecting the housing structure ( 70 ) to the outer body ( 66 ). In addition, the flexible interface ( 74 ) and the outer body ( 66 ) and the housing structure ( 70 ) are integral. Embodiments include a line for transporting fuel with this routing support, and an aircraft wing in which such a line/support transports fuel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A routing support for a line fastened in an opening in a structural component of an aircraft, the line comprised of two conduits connected end-to-end along a longitudinal axis, the routing support comprising:
an outer body cooperating with a fastener configured to fasten the outer body in the aircraft structural component opening;
a housing structure comprised of two accommodating parts for accommodating respective ends of the two conduits placed end-to-end; and
a flexible interface resiliently connecting the housing structure to the outer body, wherein the flexible interface is integral and a single piece with the outer body and the housing structure, the flexible interface being attached to the two accommodating parts so as to physically distance them from the outer body and being comprised of a material having a bending capability so as to permit by bending limited translation and limited rotation of each of the two accommodating parts, and thus each of the two respective conduits with respect to the outer body,
wherein the outer body and the housing structure are created by simultaneous or sequential bi-material injection with the flexible interface, and
wherein the flexible interface is a different material from the material of the outer body and the housing structure.

2. The routing support according to claim 1 , wherein the outer body and the housing structure are comprised of a material having a rigidity sufficient to firmly fasten the routing support in the opening and for firmly holding the ends of said conduits in an end-to-end arrangement, while the flexible interface is formed of a flexible material configured to permit movement of the housing structure in relation to the outer body.

3. The routing support according to claim 2 , wherein the outer body and the housing structure are comprised of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material and the flexible interface comprise an elastomer.

4. The routing support according to claim 1 , wherein the housing structure comprises the two accommodating parts, mounted back-to-back, with each accommodating part incorporating a housing for accommodating the end of a conduit.

5. The routing support according to claim 4 , in which the flexible interface has two flexible parts, distinct and distant, wherein each flexible part connecting only one of said two accommodating parts to the outer body, and providing an installation clearance between said two accommodating parts.

6. The routing support according to claim 4 , wherein the housing structure includes a stop separating the two accommodating parts.

7. An aircraft fuel line for transporting fuel in an aircraft wing, said line comprised of:
a plurality of conduits connected end-to-end along a longitudinal axis, at least one routing support, the routing support comprising:
an outer body cooperating with a fastener configured to fasten the outer body in the aircraft structural component opening;
a housing structure comprised of two accommodating parts for accommodating respective ends of the two conduits placed end-to-end; and
a flexible interface resiliently connecting the housing structure to the outer body, wherein the flexible interface is integral and a single piece with the outer body and the housing structure, the flexible interface being attached to the two accommodating parts so as to physically distance them from the outer body and being comprised of a material having a bending capability so as to permit by bending limited translation and limited rotation of each of the two accommodating parts, and thus each of the two respective conduits with respect to the outer body,
wherein the outer body and the housing structure are created by simultaneous or sequential bi-material injection with the flexible interface,
wherein the flexible interface is a different material from the material of the outer body and the housing structure and,

wherein said end-to-end connected conduit ends are bonded into the housing structure of the routing support that supports the line.

8. An aircraft wing having at least one aircraft fuel line for transporting fuel in the aircraft wing, the line being comprised of:
a plurality of conduits connected end-to-end along a longitudinal axis, and
at least one routing support for fastening the line in an opening, the line fastened in the opening being comprised of two conduits placed end-to-end along the longitudinal axis, the routing support comprising:
an outer body cooperating with a fastener configured to fasten the outer body in the opening:
a housing structure comprised of two accommodating parts for accommodating respective ends of the two conduits placed end-to-end; and
a flexible interface resiliently connecting the housing structure to the outer body, wherein the flexible interface is integral and a single piece with the outer body and the housing structure, the flexible interface being attached to the two accommodating parts so as to physically distance them from the outer body and being comprised of a material having a bending capability so as to permit by bending limited translation and limited rotation of each of the two accommodating parts, and thus each of the two respective conduits with respect to the outer body,
wherein the outer body and the housing structure are created by simultaneous or sequential bi-material injection with the flexible interface, and
wherein the flexible interface is a different material from the material of the outer body and the housing structure,

wherein respective ends of the two end-to-end placed conduits are bonded into the housing structure of the routing support, and
wherein the wing has a neutral bending axis in which the length of the fuel line along the neutral bending axis does not vary during flexing of the wing.

9. A routing support for a line fastened in an opening in a structural component of an aircraft, the line being comprised of at least two conduits connected end-to-end along a longitudinal axis, the routing support comprising:
an outer body configured for being mounted in the aircraft structural component opening;
two housings, each housing configured to encompass a corresponding end of one of the at least two conduits, the housings being in an end-to-end arrangement; and
a flexible interface resiliently connecting each of the two housings to the outer body, wherein the flexible interface is integral and a single piece with the outer body and the two housings, and the flexible interface being attached to the two housings so as to physically distance them from the outer body and being comprised of a material having a bending capability so as to permit by bending limited translation and limited rotation of each of the two housings, and thus each of the two conduits with respect to the outer body,
wherein the outer body and the housing structure are created by simultaneous or sequential bi-material injection with the flexible interface, and
wherein the flexible interface is a different material from the material of the outer body and the housing structure.

10. The routing support according to claim 9 , wherein the outer body and the two housings are comprised of a relatively rigid material configured to firmly fasten the routing support in the opening and for firmly holding the ends of said conduits in an end-to-end arrangement, while the flexible interface is a relatively flexible material which permits the translation and rotation of the housings in relation to the outer body.

11. The routing support according to claim 10 , wherein the outer body and the two housings are comprised of a fibre-reinforced thermoplastic material and the flexible interface is made of elast

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas
• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Fraysse Damien
• Casse Christophe

Classifications

• F16L5/12

  the pipe being cut in two pieces · CPC title

• B64D37/005 Primary

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

• F16L27/113

  the ends of the pipe being interconnected by a rigid sleeve · CPC title

• B64C3/34

  Tanks constructed integrally with wings, e.g. for fuel or water · CPC title

• B64D37/00 Primary

  Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant (refuelling during flight B64D39/00) · CPC title