Companion duct system

Apparatus for attaching a leading edge portion of a patterned strip to a flange of a section of duct of generally polygonal cross-section for facilitating connection of sections of duct in end-to-end relation, said apparatus comprising:

• a fixture for locating the section of duct;
• a guide adapted to receive the patterned strip and arranged relative to the fixture to guide the strip toward the fixture;
• a fastening tool arranged relative to the fixture for affixing the duct flange and a leading edge portion of the patterned strip to each other;
• and
• a shear arranged relative to the fixture for separating the leading edge portion of the patterned strip from the strip.

Apparatus for attaching a patterned strip to a flange of a section of duct for facilitating connection of sections of duct in end-to-end relation, said apparatus comprising:

• means for guiding the patterned strip toward a location where a leading edge portion of the strip is to be attached to the flange at an end of the section of duct;
• means for attaching the leading edge portion of the strip to the duct flange;
• and
• means for separating the leading edge portion of the patterned strip from the strip.

A method of attaching a patterned strip to a flange of a duct section for facilitating connection of duct sections in end-to-end relation, said method comprising the steps of:

• guiding the patterned strip toward a location where a leading edge portion of the strip is to be attached to the flange at an end of the section of duct;
• attaching the leading edge portion of the strip to the duct flange;
• and
• separating said attached leading edge portion of the patterned strip from the strip.

A method of attaching an element having a hole extending therethrough to a flange of a section of duct, said method comprising the steps of:

• piercing a portion of the duct flange through the hole in the element;
• upsetting an area of the duct flange adjacent the hole in a direction parallel to the pierced portion of the duct flange;
• flaring the portion of the duct flange pierced through the hole against the element to fasten the duct flange and the element to each other;
• and
• at least partially flattening the upset area of the duct flange to tighten the connection between the flange and the strip.

A duct assembly for transporting pressurized fluid therethrough comprising:

• first and second duct sections, each of said duct sections having sides extending between opposite ends, each of said sides joining an adjacent side and having a flange extending laterally outward from each end, said first and second sections being positioned in end-to-end relation so that said flanges extending outward from one of said ends of said first section face said flanges extending outward from one of said ends of said second section thereby defining aligned flange pairs and so that the sides of said first duct section are generally aligned with the sides of said second duct section;
• a plurality of connector pairs, each of said connector pairs being positioned at an end of said first and second duct sections, each of said connector pairs comprising a first connector spanning adjacent flanges of said first duct section and a second connector spanning adjacent flanges of said second duct section, said first and second connectors being positioned on opposite faces of an adjacent flange pair so that said flange pair is positioned between said first and second connectors;
• and
• fasteners, each of said fasteners extending through one of said connector pairs and one of said flange pairs thereby connecting said flange pairs.

A method of assembling a duct assembly comprising first and second duct sections, each section having sides extending between opposite ends, each of said sides joining an adjacent side and having a flange extending laterally outward from each end, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning said first and second sections in end-to-end relation so that said flanges extending outward from one of said ends of said first section face said flanges extending outward from one of said ends of said second section thereby defining aligned flange pairs and so that the sides of said first duct section are aligned with the sides of said second duct section;
• positioning a connector pair comprising first and second connectors at one of said ends of said first and second duct sections so that said first connector spans adjacent flanges of said first duct section and said second connector spans adjacent flanges of said second duct section and so that said first and second connectors are positioned on opposite faces of an adjacent flange pair so that said flange pair is positioned between said first and second connectors;
• and
• securely fastening said connector pair and one of said flange pairs together thereby connecting said flange pair.