System and method for a connector assembly in an aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorLuis A. De Santos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of retrofitting an environmental control system of an aircraft includes inserting the orifice plate through the connector slot and the connector ring slot into the receptacle. The method also includes aligning the covering portion with the connector slot.
Claims20
A method of retrofitting an environmental control system of an aircraft, the environmental control system includes at least one first conduit, at least one second conduit, and at least one connector assembly connecting the first conduit to the second conduit, the connector assembly includes a connector, a connector ring, and an orifice plate, the connector includes at least one wall including a ridge defining a receptacle and a connector slot defined within the receptacle, the connector ring defines a ring slot and a covering portion, the method comprising:
- inserting the orifice plate through the connector slot and the ring slot into the receptacle;
- and
- aligning the covering portion with the connector slot.
A method of cleaning an environmental control system of an aircraft, the environmental control system includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a connector assembly connecting the first conduit to the second conduit, the connector assembly includes a connector, a connector ring, and an orifice plate, the connector includes at least one wall including a ridge defining a receptacle and a connector slot defined within the receptacle, the connector ring defines a ring slot and a covering portion, the method comprising:
- aligning the connector slot with the ring slot;
- removing the orifice plate through the connector slot with the ring slot;
- cleaning the environmental control system;
- inserting the orifice plate through the connector slot and the ring slot into the receptacle;
- and
- aligning the covering portion with the connector slot.
A method of replacing a first orifice plate in an environmental control system of an aircraft, the environmental control system includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a connector assembly connecting the first conduit to the second conduit, the connector assembly includes a connector, a connector ring, and the first orifice plate, the connector includes at least one wall including a ridge defining a receptacle and a connector slot defined within the receptacle, the connector ring defines a ring slot and a covering portion, the method comprising:
- aligning the connector slot with the ring slot;
- removing the first orifice plate through the connector slot with the ring slot;
- inserting a second orifice plate through the connector slot and the ring slot into the receptacle;
- and
- aligning the covering portion with the connector slot.
The method of claim 12, further comprising designing the second orifice plate based on a performance of the first orifice plate.
A method of maintaining an environmental control system of an aircraft, the environmental control system includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a connector assembly connecting the first conduit to the second conduit, the connector assembly includes a connector, a connector ring, and an orifice plate, the connector includes at least one wall including a ridge defining a receptacle and a connector slot defined within the receptacle, the connector ring defines a ring slot and a covering portion, the method comprising:
- aligning the connector slot with the ring slot;
- removing the orifice plate through the connector slot with the ring slot;
- performing a maintenance task on the environmental control system;
- inserting the orifice plate through the connector slot and the ring slot into the receptacle;
- and
- aligning the covering portion with the connector slot.
A method of balancing a flow of a fluid in an environmental control system of an aircraft, the environmental control system includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a connector assembly connecting the first conduit to the second conduit, the connector assembly includes a connector, a connector ring, and a first orifice plate, the connector includes at least one wall including a ridge defining a receptacle and a connector slot defined within the receptacle, the connector ring defines a ring slot and a covering portion, the method comprising:
- calculating a current flow rate of the fluid through at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit;
- calculating a balanced flow rate of the fluid through at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit different than the current flow rate;
- selecting a second orifice plate based on the balanced flow rate of the fluid;
- aligning the connector slot with the ring slot;
- removing the first orifice plate through the connector slot with the ring slot;
- inserting the second orifice plate through the connector slot and the ring slot into the receptacle;
- and
- aligning the covering portion with the connector slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.