# US 11,998,778 B2 · Clamp for fire and overheat detection system

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- Number: US 11,998,778 B2
- Document ID: US11998778B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/180,578
- Filed: 2023-03-08
- Published: 2023-07-13
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-05
- Assignees: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Robin Jacob; Balasundar Kuppusamy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998778B2

## CPC

- A62C 3/08: in aircraft {(A62C3/0207 takes precedence)}
- B22F 7/08: with one or more parts not made from powder {(B22F7/062 takes precedence)}
- B22F 10/22: Direct deposition of molten metal
- B22F 10/25: Direct deposition of metal particles, e.g. direct metal deposition [DMD] or laser engineered net shaping [LENS]
- B23K 26/342: Build-up welding
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- B64C 1/00: Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like
- F16B 2/06: external, i.e. with contracting action (F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence)
- F16B 7/0433: {for rods or tubes being in parallel relationship}
- F16L 3/02: partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing (bands or chains F16L3/14)
- F16L 3/06: with supports for wires
- B64C 2001/0081: {from metallic materials}
- B64D 2045/009: {Fire detection or protection; Erosion protection, e.g. from airborne particles}
- F16B 21/02: Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation (with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08)
- H02G 3/32: using mounting clamps
- Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency
- Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction
- A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10)
- B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A method of additively manufacturing a fire and overheat detection system (FODS) clamp onto a rail tube is provided. The method includes building a base of a clamp body on the rail tube, sequentially building portions of a locking feature and holders of the clamp body on the base and sequentially building remaining portions of the holders and flanges forming grooves at each of the holders of the clamp body on the base.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clamp for a fire and overheat detection system (FODS) assembly, the clamp comprising:
a clamp body additively manufactured onto a rail tube, the clamp body comprising a locking feature, holders defined at opposite sides of the locking feature and flanges forming angular overhung grooves at each of the holders;
a grommet installed into each of the holders;
top clamp parts anchored in the annular overhung grooves and wrapped over the grommets; and
a locking pin locked in the locking feature to fasten the top clamp parts together to thereby secure the grommets in the holders,
wherein the top clamp parts each comprise:
L-shaped lip arrangements which are receivable in the angular overhung grooves;
a curved section from which the L-shaped lip arrangements extend in a first direction; and
an end section defining an aperture and extending from the curved section in a second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamp body comprises a metal or a metal alloy compatible with laser direct metal deposition (LMD).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the top clamp parts each comprise:
lip arrangements which are receivable in the angular overhung grooves;
a curved section from which the lip arrangements extend in a first direction; and
an end section defining an aperture and extending from the curved section in a second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The clamp according to claim 1, wherein the locking feature comprises an axial restraint for the locking pin.

### Claim 5

A clamp for a fire and overheat detection system (FODS) assembly, the clamp comprising:
a clamp body comprising a locking feature, holders defined at opposite sides of the locking feature and flanges forming angular overhung grooves at each of the holders;
grommets installed in the holders;
top clamp parts anchored in the angular overhung grooves and wrapped over the grommets; and
a locking pin locked in the locking feature to fasten the top clamp parts together for securing the grommets in the holders,
wherein the top clamp parts each comprise:
L-shaped lip arrangements receivable in the angular overhung grooves;
a curved section from which the L-shaped lip arrangements extend in a first direction; and
an end section defining an aperture and extending from the curved section in a second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The clamp according to claim 5, wherein the clamp body comprises a metal or a metal alloy compatible with laser direct metal deposition (LMD).

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The clamp according to claim 5, wherein the locking feature comprises an axial restraint for the locking pin.

### Claim 8

A fire and overheat detection system (FODS) assembly, comprising:
a rail;
a clamp disposed on the rail and comprising a locking feature, holders defined at opposite sides of the locking feature and flanges forming angular overhung grooves at each of the holders;
grommets installed in the holders;
top clamp parts anchored in the angular overhung grooves and wrapped over the grommets; and
a locking pin locked in the locking feature to fasten the top clamp parts together for securing the grommets in the holders,
wherein the top clamp parts each comprise:
L-shaped lip arrangements receivable in the angular overhung grooves;
a curved section from which the L-shaped lip arrangements extend in a first direction; and
an end section defining an aperture and extending from the curved section in a second direction opposite the first direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the clamp comprises a metal or a metal alloy compatible with laser direct metal deposition (LMD).

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The clamp according to claim 8, wherein the locking feature comprises an axial restraint for the locking pin.

### Claim 11

A clamp, comprising:
a clamp body comprising a locking feature, grommet holders and flanges forming angular overhung grooves at each of the grommet holders;
clamp parts anchored in the annular overhung grooves and wrapped over the grommets, the clamp parts each comprising a curved section, L-shaped lips extending from the curved section and receivable in the angular overhung grooves and an end section defining an aperture and extending from the curved section opposite the L-shaped lips; and
a locking pin locked in the locking feature to fasten the clamp parts together for securing grommets in the grommet holders.