# US 9,434,477 B2 · Duct apparatus for use with aircraft and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,477 B2 - Document ID: US9434477B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/150,395 - Filed: 2014-01-08 - Published: 2015-07-09 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-08 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Ross Mitchell Blanton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434477B2 ## CPC - B64D 33/04: of exhaust outlets or jet pipes - F16L 25/12: Joints for pipes being spaced apart axially - F16L 25/14: Joints for pipes of different diameters or cross-section - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the unitary ring is attached to an interfacing component of an aircraft when the duct is in the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the unitary ring is a first unitary ring, the apparatus further comprising a second unitary ring having a fixed cross-sectional diameter, the second unitary ring being positioned over the outer surface of the duct when the duct is in the first position, the second unitary ring being attached to the duct when the duct is in the second position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the duct has a tapered profile when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the tapered profile is defined by a first end of the duct and a second end of the duct opposite the first end, the first end having a first cross-section area, the second end having a second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being greater than the second cross-sectional area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the unitary ring includes a first flange and a second flange positioned in a non-parallel relationship relative to the first flange, the second flange including a tapered profile that is complimentary to the tapered profile of the duct. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the splice strap includes a base and a protrusion extending in a non-parallel direction from the base, the protrusion having a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, and a first surface positioned between the first and second edges, the base having a second surface opposite the first surface of the protrusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first longitudinal edge of the duct abuts the first edge of the protrusion and the second longitudinal edge of the duct abuts the second edge of the protrusion when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first surface of the protrusion is substantially flush with the outer surface of the duct when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second surface of the base is substantially flush with an inner surface of the duct when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the duct includes a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, the first and second recessed portions to receive the base of the splice strap when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the unitary ring is attached to an interfacing component of an aircraft when the first and second duct segments are in the second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the unitary ring is a first unitary ring, the apparatus further comprising a second unitary ring having a fixed cross-sectional diameter, the second unitary ring being positioned over the outer surface of the first and second duct segments when the first and second duct segments are in the first position, the second unitary ring being attached to the first and second duct segments when the first and second duct segments are in the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein respective ones of the first and second duct segments have a tapered profile when the first and second splice straps are attached to the first and second duct segments. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tapered profile is defined by a first end of the first and second duct segments and a second end of the first and second duct segments opposite the first end, the first end having a first cross-section area, the second end having a second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being greater than the second cross-sectional area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the unitary ring includes a first flange and a second flange positioned in a non-parallel relationship relative to the first flange, the second flange including a tapered profile that is complimentary to the tapered profile of the respective ones of the first and second duct segments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first splice strap includes a base and a protrusion extending in a non-parallel direction from the base, the protrusion having a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, and a first surface positioned between the first and second edges, the base having a second surface opposite the first surface of the protrusion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first longitudinal edge of the first duct segment abuts the first edge of the protrusion and the third longitudinal edge of the second duct segment abuts the second edge of the protrusion when the first splice strap is attached to the first and second duct segments. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first surface of the protrusion is substantially flush with the outer surface of the first and second duct segments when the first splice strap is attached to the first and second duct segments. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second surface of the base is substantially flush with an inner surface of the first and second duct segments when the first splice strap is attached to the first and second duct segments. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the inner surface of the first and second duct segments includes a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, the first and second recessed portions to receive the base of the first splice strap when the first splice strap is attached to the first and second duct segments. ### Claim 23 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. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising attaching the unitary ring to the duct when the duct is in the second position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising attaching the unitary ring to an interfacing component of an aircraft. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the unitary ring is a first unitary ring, the method further comprising: positioning a second unitary ring having a fixed cross-sectional diameter over the outer surface of the duct when the duct is in the first position; and attaching the second unitary ring to the duct when the duct is in the second position. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the duct has a tapered profile when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the tapered profile is defined by a first end of the duct and a second end of the duct opposite the first end, the first end having a first cross-section area, the second end having a second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being greater than the second cross-sectional area. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the unitary ring includes a first flange and a second flange positioned in a non-parallel relationship relative to the first flange, the second flange including a tapered profile that is complimentary to the tapered profile of the duct. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the splice strap includes a base and a protrusion extending in a non-parallel direction from the base, the protrusion having a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, and a first surface positioned between the first and second edges, the base having a second surface opposite the first surface of the protrusion. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the first longitudinal edge of the duct abuts the first edge of the protrusion and the second longitudinal edge of the duct abuts the second edge of the protrusion when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the first surface of the protrusion is substantially flush with the outer surface of the duct when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the second surface of the base is substantially flush with an inner surface of the duct when the splice strap is attached to the duct. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein the inner surface of the duct includes a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion, the first and second recessed portions to receive the base of the splice strap when the splice strap is attached to the duct.