# US 10,767,565 B2 · System and method for sealing a fluid system in a safety condition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,565 B2 - Document ID: US10767565B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/240,418 - Filed: 2016-08-18 - Published: 2018-02-22 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-18 - Assignees: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. - Applicants: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. - Inventors: Domenico Di Florio; Eric Hosking - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767565B2 ## CPC - F02C 7/28: Arrangement of seals - F01D 11/005: {Sealing means between non relatively rotating elements} - F01D 25/183: {Sealing means} - F02C 7/06: Arrangements of bearings (bearings F16C); Lubricating ({of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or} engines in general F01M) - F02C 7/222: {Fuel flow conduits, e.g. manifolds} - F02C 7/25: Fire protection or prevention (in general A62) - F16J 15/021: {with elastic packing (F16J15/08 takes precedence)} - F16L 21/035: placed around the spigot end before connection ({F16L21/022,} F16L21/025 take precedence) - F16L 57/04: against fire or other external sources of extreme heat - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - F05D 2230/60: Assembly methods - F05D 2300/10: Metals, alloys or intermetallic compounds - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A system comprises a pipe defining a fluid passage, the pipe having a first rate of thermal expansion. A housing defines an opening for receiving an end of the pipe for fluid circulation between the fluid passage and an interior of the housing, the housing having a second rate of thermal expansion lesser than the first rate of thermal expansion, at least one annular gap defined between a periphery of the opening and the end of the pipe when the system is below a safety condition threshold temperature. Seal(s) seal the annular gap, wherein the pipe and the housing are configured and the first and second rates of thermal expansion are selected so that, when the system exceeds the safety condition threshold temperature, the end of the pipe contacts the periphery of the opening by thermal expansion to seal the annular gap independent of the at least one seal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a pipe defining a fluid passage, the pipe having a first rate of thermal expansion, a housing defining an opening for receiving an end of the pipe for fluid circulation between the fluid passage and an interior of the housing, the housing having a second rate of thermal expansion lesser than the first rate of thermal expansion, at least one annular gap defined between a periphery of the opening and the end of the pipe when the system is below a safety condition threshold temperature, and at least one seal sealing the annular gap, wherein the pipe and the housing are configured and the first and second rates of thermal expansion are selected so that, when the system exceeds the safety condition threshold temperature, the end of the pipe contacts the periphery of the opening by thermal expansion to seal the annular gap independent of the at least one seal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the annular gap is defined between an outer circumference of the pipe and an inner circumference of the opening, and/or between an axial end of the pipe and a counterbore surface of the opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the pipe and the periphery of the housing are made of metal, for metal to metal contact in the safety condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a layer of sacrificial material provided on at least one of the periphery of the opening and of the periphery of the end of the pipe and configured to form a sacrificial liquid-tight seal when the system exceeds the safety condition threshold temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein the sacrificial material is at least one of an intumescent paint and intumescent dry coating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein the sacrificial material is located inward of the at least one seal relative to an interior of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system according to claim 6, wherein the layer of sacrificial material is provided on an annular clearance in the periphery of the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one seal is partially received in an annular groove in the periphery of one of the pipe and the opening of the housing. ### Claim 9 A method of sealing a fluid system in a safety condition comprising: sealing an annular gap defined between a periphery of a pipe and a periphery of an opening of a housing with at least one seal when a temperature surrounding the system is below a safety condition threshold temperature; thermally expanding the pipe at a first rate; thermally expanding the housing at a second rate, the second rate being lesser than the first rate; and closing the gap by thermal expansion of the pipe into sealing contact with the periphery of the pipe when the temperature surrounding the system reaches the safety condition threshold temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein closing the gap comprises forming a metal-to-metal seal between the pipe and the periphery of the opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein closing the gap comprises compressing a sacrificial material between the pipe and the periphery of the opening to form a liquid-tight joint. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein closing the gap comprises swelling a sacrificial material being at least one of an intumescent paint and intumescent dry coating. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein compressing the sacrificial material comprises compressing the sacrificial material inwardly of the at least one seal relative to an interior of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein closing the gap comprises closing the gap by at least one of a radial contact and an axial contact between the periphery of the pipe and the periphery of the opening of the housing. ### Claim 15 A gas turbine engine comprising: a transfer pipe defining a fluid passage, the pipe having a first rate of thermal expansion, a housing defining an opening for receiving an end of the pipe for fluid circulation between the fluid passage and an interior of the housing, the housing having a second rate of thermal expansion lesser than the first rate of thermal expansion, at least one annular gap being defined between a periphery of the opening and the end of the pipe when a temperature surrounding the system is below a safety condition threshold temperature, and at least one seal in the annular gap, wherein the pipe and the housing are configured and the first and second rates of thermal expansion are selected so that, when the system exceeds the safety condition threshold temperature, the end of the pipe contacts the periphery of the opening by thermal expansion to seal the annular gap independent of the at least one seal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The gas turbine engine according to claim 15, wherein the pipe and the periphery of the housing are made of metal, for metal to metal contact in the safety condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The gas turbine engine according to claim 15, further comprising a layer of sacrificial material provided on at least one of the periphery of the opening and of the periphery of the end of the pipe and configured to form a sacrificial liquid-tight seal in the safety condition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The gas turbine engine according to claim 17, wherein the sacrificial material is located inward of the at least one seal relative to an interior of the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The gas turbine engine according to claim 18, wherein the layer of sacrificial material is provided on an annular clearance in the periphery of the opening. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the end of the pipe contacts the periphery of the opening by thermal expansion to seal the annular gap independent of the at least one seal, and a layer of sacrificial material forms a sacrificial liquid-tight seal between the end of the pipe contacts the periphery of the opening.