Shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus

A shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus, comprising:

• at least one outer conduit;
• at least one inner conduit disposed within the at least one outer conduit;
• at least one support member engaged with the at least one inner and outer conduits;
• at least one shrouded end fitting disposed at an end of the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus;
• wherein the shrouded end fitting is engageable with a corresponding shrouded end fitting disposed at an end of an additional shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus to form at least a portion of a joint disposed between the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus and the additional shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus;
• wherein the joint allows for fluid communication between the at least one inner conduit of the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus and an inner conduit of the additional fluid-conducting apparatus;
• wherein the joint comprises:
• the engaged shrouded end fittings;
• an inner seal sleeve disposed around an inner portion of the engaged shrouded end fittings;
• an inner coupling assembly disposed around the inner seal sleeve;
• an outer seal sleeve disposed around an outer portion of the engaged shrouded end fittings;
• and
• an outer coupling assembly disposed around the outer seal sleeve,
• the leak detection passageway being defined between the inner coupling assembly and the outer seal sleeve.

A shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus, comprising:

• at least one outer conduit;
• at least one inner conduit disposed within the at least one outer conduit;
• at least one shrouded end fitting disposed at an end of the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus, the at least one shrouded end fitting defining at least a portion of a leak detection passageway, the at least one shrouded end fitting being engageable with a corresponding shrouded end fitting disposed at an end of another shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus to form at least a portion of a joint that allows a fluid to be communicated between the at least one inner conduit of the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus and an inner conduit of the another shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus;
• wherein the joint includes the engaged shrouded end fittings, an inner seal sleeve disposed around an inner portion of the engaged shrouded end fittings, an inner coupling assembly disposed around the inner seal sleeve, an outer seal sleeve disposed around an outer portion of the engaged shrouded end fittings, and an outer coupling assembly disposed around the outer seal sleeve, and a leak detection passageway being defined between the inner coupling assembly and the outer seal sleeve.

A shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus, comprising:

• at least one outer conduit;
• at least one inner conduit disposed within the at least one outer conduit;
• at least one support member including an inner member engaged with the at least one inner conduit, and an outer member defining weld sockets in which corresponding portions of the at least one outer conduit are welded, the inner and outer members being separated by a spaced distance to define a leak detection passageway therebetween, the at least one support member enabling transfer of loads from the at least one inner conduit to one or more components external to the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus,
• wherein:
• the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus is coupled to supporting structure within an aircraft;
• and
• the at least one inner conduit is in communication with a source of fuel to communicate the fuel through the at least one inner conduit.

A shrouded end fitting, comprising:

• an outer portion defining a weld socket in which is weldable an end portion of an outer conduit;
• an inner portion defining a weld socket in which is weldable an end portion of an inner conduit disposed within the outer conduit, the inner and outer portions being separated by a spaced distance to define at least a portion of a leak detection passageway;
• at least one fin disposed between the inner and outer portions;
• wherein:
• the shrouded end fitting is engageable with a corresponding shrouded end fitting disposed at an end of a shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus to form at least a portion of a joint that allows a fluid to be communicated between the inner conduit and an inner conduit of the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus;
• and
• the joint includes:
• the engaged shrouded end fittings;
• an inner seal sleeve disposed around the inner portions of the engaged shrouded end fittings;
• an inner coupling assembly disposed around the inner seal sleeve;
• an outer seal sleeve disposed around the outer portions of the engaged shrouded end fittings;
• an outer coupling assembly disposed around the outer seal sleeve;
• and
• a leak detection passageway defined between the inner coupling assembly and the outer seal sleeve.

A method of making a shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus, the method comprising:

• coupling a support member to an inner conduit;
• slidably positioning first and second portions of an outer conduit over the inner conduit;
• welding the first and second portions of the outer conduit into corresponding weld sockets defined by the support member;
• and
• coupling a shrouded end fitting to the inner and outer conduits at each end of the shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus.

A method of conducting fluid, the method comprising:

• shrouding an inner conduit;
• removably coupling the inner conduit between at least two other fluid-conducting apparatus to allow the inner conduit to transfer a load to an external component and to place the inner conduit in fluid communication with the other fluid-conducting apparatus;
• coupling the inner conduit to supporting structure within an aircraft;
• placing the inner conduit in communication with a source of fuel;
• and
• delivering fuel from the source to the inner conduit to communicate the fuel through the inner conduit.

A method of conducting fluid, the method comprising:

• shrouding an inner conduit;
• removably coupling the inner conduit between at least two other fluid-conducting apparatus to allow the inner conduit to transfer a load to an external component and to place the inner conduit in fluid communication with the other fluid-conducting apparatus;
• delivering fluid to the inner conduit;
• wherein removably coupling the inner conduit comprises:
• engaging a shrouded end fitting coupled to the inner conduit with a corresponding shrouded end fitting coupled to one of the other shrouded fluid-conducting apparatus;
• disposing an inner seal sleeve around an inner portion of the engaged shrouded end fittings;
• disposing an inner coupling assembly around the inner seal sleeve;
• disposing an outer seal sleeve around an outer portion of the engaged shrouded end fittings;
• and
• disposing an outer coupling assembly around the outer seal sleeve;
• wherein a leak detection passageway is defined between the inner coupling assembly and the outer seal sleeve.