Flexible bellows-type pipe junction for joining spaced pipe ends
AssigneeAirbus Deutschland GmbH
InventorWilhelm Lutzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bellows-type pipe junction for mechanically joining the spaced-apart ends of two pipes in a liquid-tight manner includes two sleeve sections fitted onto the two pipe ends and a flexible offset section joined at its two ends to the two sleeve sections by respective flexible bellows-type joints. The flexible offset section and the flexible bellows-type joints provide a fluid-tight junction while accommodating axial and radial offsets between the two pipe ends. The pipe junction is especially suitable for joining the pipes of an aircraft drain mast.
Claims20
A bellows-type pipe junction for joining a first pipe end of a first pipe with a second pipe end of a second pipe having a spacing distance between the first pipe end and the second pipe end, said pipe junction comprising:
- a first sleeve section configured and dimensioned to be fitted onto the first pipe end;
- a second sleeve section configured and dimensioned to be fitted onto the second pipe end;
- a flexible offset section located and extending between said first and second sleeve sections, having a first end adjacent to said second sleeve section and a second end adjacent to said second sleeve section;
- a first flexible joint connecting said first end of said offset section with said first sleeve section;
- and
- a second flexible joint connecting said second end of said offset section with said second sleeve section;
- and further including at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:
- a first feature wherein said first flexible joint comprises three coaxial portions that have different diameters and overlap each other and are successively joined to one another to form a Z- or S-shaped cross-sectional configuration, having an externally open gap between an innermost one and a middle one of said coaxial portions, and having a gap adapted to receive a pipe wall of the first pipe end between an outermost one and said middle one of said coaxial portions,
- a second feature wherein said first end of said offset section includes a transition portion that has a conically tapering inner diameter and that is configured to be plugged into the first pipe end,
- a third feature wherein said second end of said offset section includes an annular lip seal configured and dimensioned to extend into the second pipe end, and
- a fourth feature wherein said second flexible joint comprises a conically flared portion extending and conically outwardly flaring from said second sleeve section, and an undulating bellows portion transitioning from a smaller diameter of said second end of said offset section to a larger diameter of said flared portion.
A pipe joint arrangement comprising:
- a first pipe having a first pipe end;
- a second pipe having a second pipe end spaced apart from said first pipe end;
- and
- a bellows-type pipe junction that joins said first pipe end with said second pipe end;
- wherein said pipe junction comprises:
- a first sleeve section fitted onto maid first pipe end;
- a second sleeve section fitted onto said second pipe end;
- a flexible offset section located and extending between said first and second sleeve sections, having a first end adjacent to said first sleeve section and a second end adjacent to said second sleeve section;
- a first flexible joint connecting said first end of said offset section with said first sleeve section;
- and
- a second flexible joint connecting said second end of said offset section with said second sleeve section;
- and said pipe junction further includes at least one feature selected from the arout consisting of:
- a first feature wherein said first flexible joint comprises three coaxial portions that have different diameters and overlao each other and are successively joined to one another to form a Z- or S-shaped cross-sectional configuration, having an externally open gap between an innermost one and a middle one of said coaxial portions, and having a gap receivine a pipe wall of said first pine end between an outermost one and said middle one of said coaxial portions,
- a second feature wherein said first end of said offset section includes a transition portion that has a conically tapering inner diameter and that is plugged into said first pine end,
- a third feature wherein said second end of said offset section includes an annular lip seal that extends into said second pipe end, and
- a fourth feature wherein said second flexible joint comprises a conically flared portion extending and conically outwardly flaring from said second sleeve section, and an undulating bellows portion transitioning from a smaller diameter of said second end of said offset section to a larger diameter of said flared portion.
In an aircraft having an aircraft fuselage, a first pipe having a first pipe end in or extending from said fuselage, a drain mast mounted on said fuselage and including a second pipe having a second pipe end, and a bellows-type pipe junction joining said first pipe end with said second pipe end,
- an improvement wherein said pipe junction comprises:
- a first sleeve section fitted onto said first pipe end;
- a second sleeve section fitted onto said second pipe end;
- a flexible offset section located and extending between said first and second sleeve sections, having a first end adjacent to said first sleeve section and a second end adjacent to said second sleeve section;
- a first flexible joint connecting said first end of said offset section with said first sleeve section;
- and
- a second flexible joint connecting said second end of said offset section with said second sleeve section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.