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US 9,434,477 B2Granted
Duct apparatus for use with aircraft and related methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorRoss Mitchell Blanton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Duct assembly apparatus for use with aircrafts and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a unitary ring and a duct having a longitudinal gap to define a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The first longitudinal edge moves relative to the second longitudinal edge to enable the unitary ring to be positioned over an outer surface of the duct. A splice strap overlaps the gap of the duct such that the splice strap fixes the first longitudinal edge relative to the second longitudinal edge when the unitary ring is positioned over the outer surface of the duct.
Claims34
An apparatus comprising:
- a unitary ring having a fixed cross-sectional diameter;
- a duct having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the duct being positionable between a first position and a second position, the first longitudinal edge contacting or overlapping the second longitudinal edge when the duct is in the first position, the unitary ring being positioned over an outer surface of the duct when the duct is in the first position, the first longitudinal edge being spaced from the second longitudinal edge in a non-contacting and non-overlapping relationship when the duct is in the second position, the non-contacting and non-overlapping relationship defining a gap between the first and second longitudinal edges, the unitary ring being attached to the duct when the duct is in the second position;
- and
- a splice strap attached to the duct when the duct is in the second position, the splice strap to cover the gap between the first and second longitudinal edges, the first longitudinal edge being in a fixed position relative to the second longitudinal edge when the splice strap is attached to the duct.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a unitary ring having a fixed cross-sectional diameter;
- a duct having a first duct segment and a second duct segment, the first duct segment having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the second duct segment having a third longitudinal edge and a fourth longitudinal edge, the first and second duct segments being positionable relative to one another between a first position and a second position, the first longitudinal edge contacting or overlapping the third longitudinal edge when the first and second duct segments are in the first position, the unitary ring being positioned over an outer surface of the first and second duct segments when the first and second duct segments are in the first position, the first longitudinal edge being spaced from the third longitudinal edge in a first non-contacting and non-overlapping relationship and the second longitudinal edge being spaced from the fourth longitudinal edge in a second non-contacting and non-overlapping relationship when the first and second duct segments are in the second position, the first non-contacting and non-overlapping relationship defining a first gap between the first and third longitudinal edges, the second non-contacting and non-overlapping relationship defining a second gap between the second and fourth longitudinal edges, the unitary ring being attached to the first and second duct segments when the first and second duct segments are in the second position;
- a first splice strap attached to the first and second duct segments when the first and second duct segments are in the second position, the first splice strap to cover the first gap between the first and third longitudinal edges, the first longitudinal edge being in a fixed position relative to the third longitudinal edge when the first splice strap is attached to the first and second duct segments;
- and
- a second splice strap attached to the third and fourth duct segments when the first and second duct segments are in the second position, the second splice strap to cover the second gap between the second and fourth longitudinal edges, the second longitudinal edge being in a fixed position relative to the fourth longitudinal edge when the second splice strap is attached to the first and second duct segments.
2 more elements
A method for assembling a duct apparatus, the method comprising:
- positioning a duct having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge into a first position, the first longitudinal edge contacting or overlapping the second longitudinal edge when the duct is in the first position;
- positioning a unitary ring having a fixed cross-sectional diameter over an outer surface of the duct when the duct is in the first position;
- positioning the duct into a second position, the first longitudinal edge being spaced from the second longitudinal edge in a non-contacting and non-overlapping relationship when the duct is in the second position, the non-contacting and non-overlapping relationship defining a gap between the first and second longitudinal edges;
- and
- attaching a splice strap to the duct when the duct is in the second position, the splice strap to cover the gap between the first and second longitudinal edges, the first longitudinal edge being in a fixed position relative to the second longitudinal edge when the splice strap is attached to the duct.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.