Air Duct Assembly and Method of Installing the Same

An air vehicle comprising:

• an airframe;
• and,
• a plurality of environmental control system conditioned air duct assemblies within the airframe, each assembly comprising:
• a deformable duct sheet having securing portions formed along opposing longitudinal edges of the deformable duct sheet, each securing portion having a flange portion and a radius portion;
• and,
• a panel structure having a pair of longitudinal tracks mounted thereon in an opposed, spaced, predetermined relationship, each longitudinal track having a retaining element along a longitudinal edge of the longitudinal track, each retaining element pre-configured to engage the flange portion and the radius portion of each securing portion to attach the deformable duct sheet to the longitudinal base members and to form an air-leak resistant seal, and the deformable duct sheet being adaptable in a cross-sectional profile in relation to variations in attachment of the deformable duct preform to the longitudinal base members.

A method of installing an air duct assembly in a structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a deformable duct preform having securing portions formed along opposing longitudinal edges;
• mounting onto a panel structure a pair of longitudinal base members in an opposed, spaced, predetermined relationship, each longitudinal base member having a retaining element pre-configured to engage each securing portion;
• assembling the deformable duct preform about and within the retaining elements of the longitudinal base members;
• deforming the deformable duct preform in a lateral direction about and within the retaining elements;
• releasing and relaxing the deformable duct preform so that it conforms to the opposed, spaced, predetermined relationship of the longitudinal base members to obtain an air duct assembly;
• and,
• installing the air duct assembly in a structure.