Flexible bellows-type pipe junction for joining spaced pipe ends

• US 6,854,769 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Lutzer, Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M.
• Application Number:
  US10/757,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20040146339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 285/226, 285/227, 285/229, 285/331, 285/110, 285/114
• US Class Current: 285/226
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1453 Drain masts
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/12 Joints for pipes being spaced apart axially
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/456 Elastomer encompasses shoulder on inner member

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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, wherein said first and second flexible joints are respective first and second folded bellows joints.

3. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sleeve sections, said offset section, and said first and second flexible joints are all integral and continuous with one another and form a single monolithic component consisting of a single continuous material.

4. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, wherein said first flexible joint at said first end of said offset section is arranged and configured to be located in or extend into the first pipe end.

5. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, including said first feature.

6. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, including said second feature.

7. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, including said third feature.

8. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, wherein said second flexible joint comprises a radially outwardly protruding folded rim arranged between and joining said second end of said offset section and said second sleeve section.

9. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, including said fourth feature.

10. The bellows-type pipe junction according to claim 1, wherein said second sleeve section includes an axially compressible bellows portion.

11. 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.

17. The pipe joint arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said pipe junction includes said first feature.

18. The pipe joint arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said pipe junction includes said second feature.

19. The pipe joint arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said pipe junction includes said third feature.

20. The pipe joint arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said pipe junction includes said fourth feature.

12. 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.

13. The improvement in the aircraft according to claim 12, 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 receiving a pipe wall of said first pipe end between an outermost one and said middle one of said coaxial portions.

14. The improvement in the aircraft according to claim 12, 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 pipe end.

15. The improvement in the aircraft according to claim 12, wherein maid second end of said offset section includes an annular lip seal that extends into said second pipe end.

16. The improvement in the aircraft according to claim 12, 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.