Pipe installation
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsDylan James, Alan Pout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe installation including conductive first and second pipes installed in a fuel tank; and a fitting which connects the first and second pipes and enables fluid to flow through the pipes via a conduit in the fitting. The fitting is attached to the first or second pipe by a flexible joint which permits relative movement between the fitting and the first or second pipe. The fitting is attached to a structure of the fuel tank. The fitting provides a path of least electrical resistance between the first or second pipe and the structure, and the path of least electrical resistance has a resistance between 50Ω and 100MΩ.
Claims31
A pipe installation comprising:
- conductive first and second pipes installed in a fuel tank;
- and
- a fitting which connects the first and second pipes and enables fluid to flow through the pipes via a conduit in the fitting,
- wherein the fitting is attached to the first or second pipe by a flexible joint which permits relative movement between the fitting and the first or second pipe,
- the fitting is attached to a structure of the fuel tank,
- the fitting provides a path of least electrical resistance between the first or second pipe and the structure, and
- the path of least electrical resistance through the fitting and to the structure has a resistance between 50Ω and 100 MΩ.
A fuel tank assembly comprising:
- a fuel tank in a vehicle;
- first and second conductive pipes in the fuel tank;
- a fitting attached to a structure of the fuel tank and coupling the first and second conductive pipes, wherein a fluid flow path extends through the first and second conductive pipes and a passage in the fitting;
- and
- a flexible joint between the fitting and at least one of the first and second conductive pipes, wherein the flexible joint is configured to enable relative movement between the fitting and the at least one of the first and second conductive pipes;
- wherein the fitting is in a path of least electrical resistance between the structure of the fuel tank and at least one of the first and second conductive pipes, wherein a portion of the path of least electrical resistance through the fitting and to the structure has an electrical resistance in a range of 50Ω to 100 MΩ.
A fuel tank assembly comprising:
- a fuel tank in a vehicle;
- first and second conductive pipes in the fuel tank;
- a fitting attached to a structure of the fuel tank and coupling the first and second conductive pipes, wherein a fluid flow path extends through the first and second conductive pipes and a passage in the fitting;
- a flexible joint between the fitting and at least one of the first and second conductive pipes, wherein the flexible joint is configured to enable relative movement between the fitting and the at least one of the first and second conductive pipes;
- a path of least electrical resistance between the structure of the fuel tank and at least one of the first and second conductive pipes, wherein the path of least electrical resistance includes a path through the fitting and the path of least electrical resistance in a range of 50Ω to 100 MΩ, and
- a gasket between the flange surface and the fuel tank surface, wherein the gasket is in the path of least electrical resistance and the gasket is formed of a polymer with conductive filler particles;
- wherein the fitting includes a conduit defining the passage through the fitting and a flange extending outward from the conduit, wherein the flange has a flange surface configured to abut a fuel tank surface of the structure of the fuel tank, and the conduit includes a first open end configured to connect to an end of the first conductive pipe and a second open end configured to connect to an end of the second conductive pipe, and
- wherein the gasket includes an opening and a flange on the opening, and the flange of the gasket abuts an outer surface of the conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.