Dual walled tube flexible joint seal systems and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDaniel A. Hippe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for a segmented aircraft refueling tube with a tube interface include a plurality of seals configured to deform while allowing relative movement between tube segments. The systems include a tube interface that includes a first ring, a second ring, a first seal disposed between a first ferrule and the first ring, a second seal disposed between a second ferrule and the second ring, a third seal disposed between the first ring and a sleeve, and a fourth seal disposed between the second ring and the sleeve. The plurality of seals per ring allow for misalignment between the ferrules to be accommodated by two or more seals.
Claims22
An aircraft refueling tube system (200) comprising:
- a first refueling tube;
- a second refueling tube;
- a first ferrule coupled to the first refueling tube;
- a second ferrule coupled to the second refueling tube;
- and
- a tube interface comprising:
- a first seal coupled to the first ferrule;
- a first ring comprising a first ring first surface and a first ring second surface, wherein the first seal is coupled to the first ring on the first ring first surface;
- a second seal coupled to the first ring on the first ring second surface;
- a third seal coupled to the second ferrule;
- a second ring comprising a second ring first surface and a second ring second surface, wherein the third seal is coupled to the second ring on the second ring first surface;
- a fourth seal coupled to the second ring on the second ring second surface;
- and
- a sleeve coupled to the second seal and the fourth seal, wherein the second seal is disposed between the first ring and the sleeve, and wherein the fourth seal is disposed between the second ring and the sleeve.
An aircraft tube interface comprising:
- a first ferrule;
- a first seal configured to couple to the first ferrule;
- a first ring comprising a first ring first surface and a first ring second surface, wherein the first seal is coupled to the first ring on the first ring first surface, wherein the first seal is positioned between the first ring first surface and a portion of the first ferrule;
- a second seal coupled to the first ring on the first ring second surface;
- a second ferrule;
- a third seal configured to couple to the second ferrule;
- a second ring comprising a second ring first surface and a second ring second surface, wherein the third seal is coupled to the second ring on the second ring first surface, wherein the second seal is positioned between the second ring first surface and a portion of the second ferrule;
- a fourth seal coupled to the second ring on the second ring second surface;
- and
- a sleeve coupled to the second seal and the fourth seal, wherein the second seal is disposed between the first ring and the sleeve, and wherein the fourth seal is disposed between the second ring and the sleeve.
A method comprising:
- coupling a first seal to a first ferrule;
- coupling a third seal to a second ferrule;
- disposing a first ring around the first seal, wherein the first ring comprises a first ring first surface and a first ring second surface, wherein the first seal is positioned between the first ring first surface and a portion of the first ferrule;
- disposing a second ring around the third seal, wherein the second ring comprises a second ring first surface and a second ring second surface;
- coupling the third seal to the second ring on the second ring first surface;
- disposing a second seal around the first ring on the first ring second surface, wherein the second seal is positioned between the second ring first surface and a portion of the second ferrule;
- disposing a fourth seal around the second ring;
- and
- coupling a sleeve to the second seal and the fourth seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.