Fittings with redundant seals for aircraft fuel lines, fuel tanks, and other systems

• US 8,356,842 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benjamin P Van Kampen, James A. Carns, Mark A. Shelly, Theron L. Cutler
• Original Assignee: Benjamin P Van Kampen, James A. Carns, Mark A. Shelly, Theron L. Cutler
• Inventors: Carns, James A., Cutler, Theron L., Shelly, Mark A., Van Kampen, Benjamin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunwoody, Aaron
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEE, FANNIE C
• Application Number:
  US12/419,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 285/137.11, 2851391-1393, 285/141.1, 285/189, 285/192, 285/196, 285/345, 285/347, 285/351, 285/357, 285/222
• US Class Current: 285/189
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/06 Connecting hose to aircraft; Disconnecting hose therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/30 Detecting leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/005 for concentric pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/06 by means of a swivel nut compressing a ring or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/08 by means of axial screws compressing a ring or sleeve

Abstract

Fittings with redundant seals for aircraft fuel lines, fuel tanks, and other systems. A representative fitting includes a first member having a flange and a barrel. The barrel further includes a passageway. A first flange seal is positioned at a face of the flange and can be sealably coupled to a surface, for example, a tank wall. A second flange seal is disposed outwardly from the first flange seal to seal against the surface. The fitting further includes a second member positioned within the passageway of the barrel. The fitting further includes first and second barrel seals positioned between the barrel and the second member.

Claims

1. A fluid fitting arrangement, comprising:

a first member having a flange with a generally flat flange face, and a barrel with a passageway, the barrel having a first portion extending away from the flange face in a first direction, and a second portion extending away from the flange face in a second direction opposite the first, the first portion including external threads;

a first flange seal at the flange face, the first flange seal being positioned to sealably couple to a surface;

a second flange seal at the flange face, the second flange seal being disposed radially outward from the first flange seal and being positioned to sealably couple to the surface;

a fastener releasably and threadably engaged with the first portion of the barrel of the first member, the fastener being spaced apart from the flange face along the first portion of the barrel;

a second member positioned within the passageway of the barrel;

a first barrel seal positioned between the barrel and the second member; and

a second barrel seal positioned between the barrel and the second member.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein a potential leak path is located between the first member and the second member and wherein the first barrel seal is positioned at a first location along the potential leak path, with the second barrel seal positioned at a second location along the potential leak path, the second location being spaced apart from the first location, the second seal providing a redundant seal in the event of a failure of the first seal.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising the surface, and wherein the surface includes the surface of a fuel tank, and wherein the fuel tank has an aperture, and wherein the first and second flange seals are positioned around the aperture.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second flange seals comprise O-rings disposed annularly relative to each other.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second barrel seals comprise O-rings disposed axially relative to each other.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first member is a monolithic member that includes both the flange and the barrel.

7. A fluid fitting system, comprising:

a tank having a tank wall with an aperture in the tank wall; and

a fluid fitting, comprising;

a first member having a flange and a barrel, wherein the barrel comprises a first portion disposed through the aperture and within the tank and a second portion disposed outside the tank;

a first flange seal at the flange face that sealably engages the tank wall;

a second flange seal at the flange face that sealably engages the tank wall, the second flange seal being positioned radially outwardly from the first flange seal;

a second member positioned within the barrel;

a first barrel seal disposed between the first member and the second member;

a second barrel seal disposed between the first member and the second member; and

a fastener positioned within the tank and releasably engaged with an external surface of the first member at the first barrel portion to clamp the flange against the tank wall.

8. The fluid fitting system of claim 7 wherein the fastener comprises a threaded fastener and the first portion of the barrel comprises axial threads engaged with the threaded fastener.

9. The fluid fitting system of claim 7 wherein the first flange seal comprises a first O-ring positioned in a first groove and the second flange seal comprises a second O-ring positioned in a second groove radially spaced apart from the first groove, and wherein the first barrel seal comprises a third O-ring positioned in a third groove and the second barrel seal comprises a fourth O-ring positioned in a fourth groove axially spaced apart from the third groove.

10. The fluid fitting system of claim 7 wherein the second member extends partway through the second portion of the barrel.