Aircraft duct gimbaled joint

• US 4,645,244 A
• Filed: 02/15/1984
• Issued: 02/24/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edwin Curtis
• Original Assignee: Edwin Curtis
• Inventors: Curtis, Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Scanlan, Jr., Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/580,224
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 285/114, 285/265, 285/226, 285/229, 285/300, 285/301
• US Class Current: 285/114
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/0857 with hinge and bellows sealing

Abstract

An aircraft duct gimbaled joint is disclosed which permits the ducting to be deflected when high pressure--high temperature gases, vibration and gravitational forces upon take off and during vertical climbs cause substantial expansion and movement. The gimbaled joint comprises two spaced apart end rings, each formed with a pair of perpendicular protruding lobes which are inserted into slots formed in the end face of a center ring. The protruding lobes of the end rings are pivotally connected to the center ring by pivot pins which are doubly supported by the inner and outer walls of the center ring. The lobes of the first end ring are rotated 90 degrees relative to the second end ring providing movement about a vertical and horizontal axis. The rings are sealed by a flexible bellows which fit over and enclose the center ring.

Claims

1. A gimbaled joint apparatus for connecting fluid ducting comprising:

an axially elongated central ring formed with axially oppositely facing first and second end faces and including concentric inner and outer tubes forming therebetween an annulus;

a plurality of circumferential spacers disposed in said annulus, spaced circumferentially therearound to cooperate with said inner and outer tubes in forming therebetween two pairs of axial slots, the slots of the first pair being disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said central ring, each spanning a first diameter thereof and opening axially outwardly into said first end face, the slots of said second pair opening axially outwardly into said second end face and alos being disposed on diametrically opposite sides of said central ring and arranged to each span a second diameter of said central ring, said second diameter extending perpendicular to said first diameter;

first and second end rings disposed at the opposite ends of said center ring and each formed with a pair of axially-elongated, diametrically spaced apart lobes received in said respective slots;

first and second pairs of pivot pins projecting through said tubes and through said respective first and second pairs of lobes to pivotally connected said respective end rings to said central ring; and

flexible, cylindrical enclosure means for surrounding and sealing said first and second end rings and said central rings.

2. A gimbaled joint apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inside circumference of said center ring is equal to the inside circumference of said end rings and said pivot pins are flush with the inside circumference of said center ring thereby permitting laminar flow through said gimbaled joint.

3. A gimbaled joint apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for enclosing and sealing said first end ring, said second end ring and said center ring comprises a cylindrical flexible bellows.

4. A gimbaled joint apparatus for connecting fluid ducting and comprising:

an axially-elongated central ring formed with axially oppositely facing first and second end faces;

said cenrral ring being formed with a wall defining first and second pairs of circumferentially spaced apart slots, extending axially in said ring, said slots of said first pair being formed in the diametrically opposite sides of said central ring, each spanning a first diameter of said central ring and opening axially into said first face, said slots of said second pair opening axially into said second face and being formed on the diametrically opposite sides of said central ring and spanning a second diameter of rail ring, said second diameter extending perpendicular to said first diameter;

first and second end rings disposed at the opposite ends of said central ring in confronting relationship with said respective first and second end faces, each being formed with a pair of axially-elongated, diametrically spaced apart lobes received in said respective pairs of slots;

first and second pairs of pivot pins projecting downwardly through said wall and through said respective first and second pairs of lobes to cause said end rings, when lateral loads are applied thereto, to orbit through predetermined first and second arcuate paths relative to said central ring;

said first and second end rings further being formed with a respective first and second annular stop surfaces aligned with and spaced from said respective first and second end faces, said end faces, annular stop surfaces and bores being so configured and arranged as to dispose said first and second faces of said central ring in said predetermined first and second predetermined paths to cause said first and second stop surfaces to limit the rotation of said end rings relative to said central ring; and

flexible, cylindrical enclosure means defining a bellows for surrounding and sealing said first and second end rings and said central rings, whereby said central and end rings are enclosed within said bellows and when said end rings are pivoted through an arc about said respective pairs of pivot pins sufficient to engage said respective first and second abutment surfaces with said respective end faces, to place said respective pairs of pivot pins in shear.

5. A gimbaled joint apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said center ring comprises an inner tube and an outer tube and includes spacers placed between and rigidly affixed to, the inner tube and the outer tube and said slots are formed between the spacers in said first end face and said second end face.

6. A gimbaled joint apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said central and end rings are cylindrical and of substantially the same diameter.