Clamp for Securing an Object to a Structure

• US 20090140106A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Michel, John P., Clark, Kevin E., Johnson, Richard K., Gilbertson, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/55
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/34 Tanks constructed integrally with wings, e.g. for fuel or water
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/005 Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/02 Lightning protectors; Static dischargers in general H01T
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/029 Electromagnetically actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1207 the ends of the member and the fixing elements being placed on both sides of the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/18 allowing movement in axial direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/035 in the form of specially adapted hangers or supports

Abstract

Apparatus and methods provide an electrically isolating clamp that is suitable for use, among other locations, within a composite wing structure and other fuel environments. According to embodiments described herein, the clamp includes a clamp body and cushion. The clamp body is manufactured from a non-conductive material and includes a strap and a base. The cushion may be manufactured from a different non-conductive material to provide at least two layers of electrical isolation between the tube or other object being secured and a structure. The cushion material allows for axial movement of the tube through the cushion. The cushion is disposed between the strap and the base. Shoulder flanges prevent axial movement of the cushion with respect to the clamp body. The clamp may have a cushion retention mechanism to secure the cushion within the strap prior to installation around the tube.

Claims

1. A clamp for securing an object to a structure, comprising:

a clamp body configured for attachment to the structure, the clamp body comprising a strap and a base, wherein the strap and the base are configured to mate together and define a cushion retaining recess;

a cushion sized to surround the object and abut an inner surface of the cushion retaining recess, the cushion comprising an upper cushion segment, a lower cushion segment, and a hinge mechanism connecting the upper cushion segment and the lower cushion segment and operative to allow the lower cushion segment to rotate around the hinge mechanism when the upper cushion segment is stationary;

a front shoulder flange; and

a rear shoulder flange, wherein the front shoulder flange and the rear shoulder flange are configured to limit axial movement of the cushion with respect to the clamp body.

2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises two strap flanges, each comprising a strap aperture, and wherein the base comprises two base flanges, each comprising a base aperture aligned with the strap aperture when the base is mated to the strap.

3. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the base comprises an arcuate cushion support configured to engage a lower cushion segment of the cushion.

4. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the cushion retaining recess comprises a front cushion engagement rim and a rear cushion engagement rim, wherein the front shoulder flange is positioned around a circumference of a front edge of the cushion and configured to overlay the front cushion engagement rim, and wherein the rear shoulder flange is positioned around a circumference of a rear edge of the cushion and configured to overlay the rear cushion engagement rim.

5. The clamp of claim 4, wherein the cushion comprises:

an upper cushion segment;

a lower cushion segment; and

a hinge mechanism connecting the upper cushion segment and the lower cushion segment and operative to allow the lower cushion segment to rotate around the hinge mechanism when the upper cushion segment is stationary.

6. The clamp of claim 1, further comprising a cushion retention mechanism operative to secure the cushion within the strap when the strap is not mated to the base.

7. The clamp of claim 6, wherein the cushion further comprises:

an upper cushion segment comprising a plurality of cushion retention tabs;

a lower cushion segment; and

a hinge mechanism connecting the upper cushion segment and the lower cushion segment and operative to allow the lower cushion segment to rotate around the hinge mechanism when the upper cushion segment is stationary,

wherein the cushion retention mechanism comprises the plurality of cushion retention tabs positioned to engage a plurality of cushion retention slots within the cushion retaining recess to secure the cushion to the strap.

8. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp body is manufactured from a first non-conductive material, wherein the cushion is manufactured from a second non-conductive material that is not identical to the first non-conductive material such that the clamp provides two layers of electrically isolating material around the object.

9. The clamp of claim 8, wherein the first non-conductive material comprises a thermo set and the second non-conductive material comprises a thermoplastic.

10. The clamp of claim 9, wherein the thermo set comprises a compression molded thermo set material.

11. The clamp of claim 9, wherein the thermoplastic comprises an injection molded thermoplastic material.

12. A method for reducing spark potential associated with a clamp for securing an object to a structure, comprising:

installing a cushion within a strap component of a clamp body, the clamp body comprising a first electrically isolating material and the cushion comprising a second electrically isolating material;

sliding the strap component and cushion over the Object such that the object enters an upper cushion segment of the cushion and rotating a lower cushion segment of the cushion around a hinge between the upper cushion sgment and the lower cushion segment until the lower cushion segment abuts the object; and

securing the strap component of the clamp body to the structure via a base component of the clamp body with a fastener, wherein the base component of the clamp body is positioned between the strap component of the clamp body and the structure such that the first electrically isolating material and the second electrically isolating material are disposed between the object and the structure and between the object and the fastener.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the object comprises a tube, wherein the structure comprises a fuel tank, and wherein the method further comprises:

removing a metallic clamp from a location inside the fuel tank; and

wherein securing the strap component of the clamp body to the fuel tank via the base component of the clamp body with the fastener comprises securing the strap component of the clamp body to the fuel tank at the location inside the fuel tank where the metallic clamp was removed.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein installing the cushion within the strap component of the clamp body comprises aligning the cushion with the cushion retaining recess such that a front integral shoulder flange of the cushion overlays a front cushion engagement rim of the strap component and a rear integral shoulder flange of the cushion overlays a rear cushion engagement rim of the strap component, and pressing the cushion into the cushion retaining recess of the strap component until a cushion retention mechanism engages to secure the cushion to the strap component.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cushion retention mechanism comprises a plurality of cushion retention tabs disposed on an outer surface of the cushion and positioned to engage a plurality of cushion retention slots on an inner surface of the cushion retaining aperture of the strap component of the clamp body.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein securing the strap component of the clamp body to the structure via the base component of the clamp body with the fastener comprises:

positioning the base component in place against the structure;

positioning the strap component with the cushion and object against the base component such that a strap aperture of the strap component aligns with a corresponding base aperture of the base component; and

installing the fastener through the strap aperture, through the base aperture, and into the structure.

16. (canceled)

18. A clamp assembly for securing an object to a structure, comprising:

a clamp body manufactured from a first non-conductive material that provides a first insulating material between the object and a fastener used to secure the clamp body to the structure, the clamp body comprising

a strap comprising two strap legs and a bridge spanning the two strap legs to create a cushion retaining recess in an underside of the strap, the cushion retaining recess comprising a front cushion engagement rim and a rear cushion engagement rim, and

a base comprising an acurate cushion support and two ends, the two ends configured to mate with the two strap legs of the strap on a top side of the base and configured to mate with the structure on an underside of the base; and

a cushion manufactured from a second non-conductive material that allows axial movement of the object within the cushion and provides a second electrically isolating material between the object and the fastener, wherein the cushion is sized to surround the object and abut an inner surface of the cushion retaining recess and comprises

a front integral shoulder flange positioned around a circumference of a front edge of the cushion and configured to overlay the front cushion engagement rim,

a rear integral shoulder flange positioned around a circumference of a rear edge of the cushion and configured to overlay the rear cushion engagement rim such that the front integral shoulder flange and the rear integral shoulder flange limit axial movement of the cushion with respect to the clamp body,

an upper cushion segment,

a lower cushion segment, and

a hinge mechanism connecting the upper cushion segment and the lower cushion segment and operative to allow the lower cushion segment to rotate around the hinge mechanism when the upper cushion segment is stationary, wherein the arcuate cushion support of the base is configured to engage the lower cushion segment of the cushion between the front integral shoulder flange and the rear integral shoulder flange.

20. The clamp assembly of claim 18, further comprising a cushion retention mechanism operative to secure the cushion within the strap when the strap is not mated to the base.

19. (canceled)

21. A clamp for securing an object to a structure, comprising:

a clamp body configured for attachment to the structure, the clamp body comprising a strap and a base, wherein the strap and the base are configured to mate together and define a cushion retaining recess having a plurality of cushion retention slots; and

a cushion comprising

a front shoulder flange,

a rear shoulder flange, wherein the front shoulder flange and the rear shoulder flange are configured to limit axial movement of the cushion with respect to the clamp body, and

a plurality of cushion retention tabs on an outer surface of the cushion, the cushion sized to surround the object and abut an inner surface of the cushion retaining recess such that the plurality of cushion retention tabs engages the plurality of cushion retention slots to secure the cushion within the strap.

22. A method for reducing spark potential associated with a clamp for securing an object to a structure, comprising:

aligning a cushion with a cushion retaining recess of a strap component of a clamp body such that a front integral shoulder flange of the cushion overlays a front cushion engagement rim of the strap component and a rear integral shoulder flange of the cushion overlays a rear cushion engagement rim of the strap component;

pressing the cushion into the cushion retaining recess of the strap component until a plurality of cushion retention tabs disposed on an outer surface of the cushion engages a plurality of cushion retention slots on an inner surface of the cushion retaining recess to secure the cushion to the strap component;

installing the cushion around the object; and

securing the strap component of the clamp body to the structure via a base component of the clamp body with a fastener, wherein the base component of the clamp body is positioned between the strap component of the clamp body and the structure such that a first electrically isolating material of the clamp body and a second electrically isolating material of the cushion are disposed between the object and the structure and between the object and the fastener.