Patent US3915482A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3915482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Externally supported internally stabilized flexible duct joint
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1974-06-27
•
Granted: 1975-10-28
•
Expires: 1994-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An externally supported internally stabilized flexible duct joint particularly suited for use in conducting the flow of fluid between a pair of tubular conduits, at least one of which is supported for motion relative to the other. The joint is characterized by a low-flow loss coefficient and includes a pair of coaxially related terminal sleeves adapted to be coupled with adjacently disposed conduits, and an elongated bellows extended between the terminal sleeves. The bellows is supported against thrust induced extension by linkage including a gimbal ring concentrically related to the mid-span of the bellows and a pair of terminal supports affixed to the terminal sleeves and journaled to the gimbal ring. A bellows stabilizing sleeve is disposed within the bellows for avoiding flow impingement and preventing lateral shifting while a support ring is mounted on the stabilizing sleeve and connected to the mid-span of the bellows for connecting the bellows with the stabilizing sleeve.
Inventors
- 👤 James C Administrator Fletcher
- 👤 James R Rollins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:23
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L27/00; F16L27/08; F16L27/0849; F16L27/0857
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
An externally supported flexible duct joint particularly suited for use in conducting a flow of fluid between a pair of tubular conduits, at least one of said tubular conduits being supported for motion relative to the other, comprising: A. a pair of terminal sleeves disposed in substantially axially spaced relation, each of said terminal sleeves being of a tubular configuration and adapted to be coupled in coaxial alignment with an adjacently disposed tubular conduit; B. an elongated bellows of a tubular configuration extended between the terminal sleeves of said pair and secured thereto; C. a gimbal ring concentrically related to the mid-span of said bellows; D. a pair of terminal supports each being of an annular configuration and affixed to one of said terminal sleeves in spaced relation with said bellows; E. journal means for supporting said terminal supports for oscillation about a pair of orthogonalLy related axes extended through said gimbal ring including a pair of lugs extended from each of said terminal supports along opposite sides of said bellows, and a pair of journal pins for pivotally connecting the distal ends of each pair of lugs with said gimbal ring; F. a bellows stabilizing sleeve disposed within said bellows in concentric relation therewith and a pair of spherical/cylindrical joints interconnecting said stabilizing sleeve with said pair of terminal sleeves; and G. means including a support ring mounted on said stabilizing sleeve and connected with said bellows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
An externally supported flexible duct joint particularly suited for use in conducting a flow of fluid between a pair of tubular conduits, at least one of said tubular conduits being supported for motion relative to the other, comprising: A. a pair of terminal sleeves disposed in substantially axially spaced relation, each of said terminal sleeves being of a tubular configuration and adapted to be coupled in coaxial alignment with an adjacently disposed tubular conduit; B. an elongated bellows of a tubular configuration extended between the terminal sleeves of said pair and secured thereto; C. a gimbal ring concentrically related to the mid-span of said bellows; D. a pair of terminal supports each being of an annular configuration and affixed to one of said terminal sleeves in spaced relation with said bellows; E. journal means for supporting said terminal supports for oscillation about a pair of orthogonalLy related axes extended through said gimbal ring including a pair of lugs extended from each of said terminal supports along opposite sides of said bellows, and a pair of journal pins for pivotally connecting the distal ends of each pair of lugs with said gimbal ring; F. a bellows stabilizing sleeve disposed within said bellows in concentric relation therewith and a pair of spherical/cylindrical joints interconnecting said stabilizing sleeve with said pair of terminal sleeves; and G. means including a support ring mounted on said stabilizing sleeve and connected with said bellows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
176 words
In an externally supported flexible duct joint of a type adapted to conduct a flow of fluid between a pair of mutually spaced conduits, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other, the improvement comprising: a pair of terminal sleeves disposed in an axially spaced relationship, each of said terminal sleeves being of a tubular configuration and adapted to be coupled in coaxial alignment with a selected fluid conduit; an elongated bellows of a tubular configuration extended between the terminal sleeves and secured thereto; a gimbal ring concentrically related to said bellows; journal means for pivotally coupling the pair of terminal sleeves to said gimbal ring; means including a bellows stabilizing sleeve disposed within said bellows in concentric relation therewith and connected in substantial coaxial relation with said pair of terminal sleeves for inhibiting impingement of fluid on said bellows; and means including a support ring arranged in circumscribing relation with said stabilizing sleeve and affixed thereto and connected with said bellows for supporting the mid-span of said bellows against lateral shifting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
176 words
In an externally supported flexible duct joint of a type adapted to conduct a flow of fluid between a pair of mutually spaced conduits, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other, the improvement comprising: a pair of terminal sleeves disposed in an axially spaced relationship, each of said terminal sleeves being of a tubular configuration and adapted to be coupled in coaxial alignment with a selected fluid conduit; an elongated bellows of a tubular configuration extended between the terminal sleeves and secured thereto; a gimbal ring concentrically related to said bellows; journal means for pivotally coupling the pair of terminal sleeves to said gimbal ring; means including a bellows stabilizing sleeve disposed within said bellows in concentric relation therewith and connected in substantial coaxial relation with said pair of terminal sleeves for inhibiting impingement of fluid on said bellows; and means including a support ring arranged in circumscribing relation with said stabilizing sleeve and affixed thereto and connected with said bellows for supporting the mid-span of said bellows against lateral shifting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 2 further comprising means including a spherical/cylindrical joint for connecting each of said terminal sleeves to said stabilizing sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |