Gimbal expansion joint
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorMichael Yeandel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gimbal expansion joint includes a first clevis adapted to be secured to one end of a first piece of ducting, a second clevis adapted to be secured to an end of a second piece of ducting, and a gimbal arrangement to which the first and second clevises are pivotably connected to form a universal joint between the ends of the pieces of ducting. A flexible duct extends between the first and second clevises to form a passage for fluid communication between the ends of the first and second pieces of ducting. The flexible duct has a respective flange at each end, each flange providing an axially-directed face across which a clamping load is applied to affix the flange to a corresponding axially-directed face of the respective clevis.
Claims17
A gimbal expansion joint for use in joining ducting, the gimbal expansion joint having:
- a first clevis adapted to be secured to one end of a first piece of ducting, a second clevis adapted to be secured to an end of a second piece of ducting, and a gimbal arrangement to which the first and second clevises are pivotably connected to form a universal joint between the ends of the pieces of ducting;
- and
- a flexible duct extending between the first and second clevises to form a passage for fluid communication between the ends of the first and second pieces of ducting;
- wherein the flexible duct has a respective flange at each end, each flange providing an axially-directed face across which a clamping load is applied to affix the flange to a corresponding axially-directed face of the respective clevis, and
- the axially-directed face of each of the first and second clevises is an inward-facing surface that faces, in an axial direction, toward the gimbal arrangement, and the clamping load presses the respective flange against the respective inward-facing surface.
A gimbal expansion joint for use in joining ducting, the gimbal expansion joint having:
- a first clevis adapted to be secured to one end of a first piece of ducting, a second clevis adapted to be secured to an end of a second piece of ducting, and a gimbal arrangement to which the first and second clevises are pivotably connected to form a universal joint between the ends of the pieces of ducting;
- and
- a flexible duct extending between the first and second clevises to form a passage for fluid communication between the ends of the first and second pieces of ducting;
- wherein the flexible duct has a respective flange at each end, each flange providing an axially-directed face across which a clamping load is applied to affix the flange to a corresponding axially-directed face of the respective clevis, and
- wherein each clamping load is applied by a respective circumferential row of mechanical fasteners, each mechanical fastener passing through one of the respective flanges of the flexible duct.
A gimbal expansion joint for use in joining ducting, the gimbal expansion joint having:
- a first clevis adapted to be secured to one end of a first piece of ducting, a second clevis adapted to be secured to an end of a second piece of ducting, and a gimbal arrangement to which the first and second clevises are pivotably connected to form a universal joint between the ends of the pieces of ducting;
- and
- a flexible duct extending between the first and second clevises to form a passage for fluid communication between the ends of the first and second pieces of ducting;
- wherein the flexible duct has a respective flange at each end, each flange providing an axially-directed face across which a clamping load is applied to affix the flange to a corresponding axially-directed face of the respective clevis, the clamping load being applied by a load spreading member engaged by interference fit with the respective clevis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.