Abstract:
A support for a pipe. The support includes a body and at least one base configured so as to be in contact with and connected to a fixing surface. The support includes an orifice for receiving the pipe. Two inner members are disposed within the body. A first inner member is disposed in the body and a second inner member is disposed in the first inner member. The outer surface of the first inner member is spherical. The first and second inner members are configured to move relative to all three axes to position 360 degrees.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/294,353 filed on Oct. 14, 2016, which in turn claims priority to French Application No. 1559838 filed on Oct. 16, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present application relates to a support for a pipe, for example a pipe for a fluid circuit. 
         [0003]    An aircraft typically comprises at least one fluid circuit for channeling the fuel from a tank to the engines. A fluid circuit includes, amongst other things, a succession of pipes arranged end-to-end. Two successive pipes are connected by a connector which is usually a sleeve, the ends of the pipes being fitted therein. In order to ensure the sealing, an annular seal is interposed between the end of each pipe and the sleeve of the connector. 
         [0004]    According to the known embodiments, the connectors are configured so as to compensate for a possible angular error and to permit a slight axial movement between two successive pipes. At each end of the pipe, the connection between the pipe and the connector is a linear type connection. As a result, the mounting of a pipe between two connectors is implemented without the occurrence of stress. 
         [0005]    In certain circumstances, it is necessary to provide a support to support the pipe so as to limit, in particular, the transfer of load onto the joints of the connectors. Each support includes a collar, or housing, which surrounds the pipe section and a base secured to the collar and which connects the collar to a structure of the aircraft. 
         [0006]    In spite of the care given to the mounting, the longitudinal axis of the collar is not generally aligned with the straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe. This misalignment produces stresses in the region of the joints of the connectors which causes the occurrence of wear in these joints. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2017/0108145, assigned to the present Applicant and the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a support that aims to remedy the drawbacks of the current supports. To overcome some of the problems associated with prior art supports, US Pat. Pub. No. 2017/0108145 discloses supports that utilize two ring members, with an inner member disposed in an outer member and the outer ring member disposed in the housing. Both ring members include an eccentric orifice. By rotating at least one of the ring members, the longitudinal axis of the aperture containing the pipe moves. This allows for the longitudinal axis of the aperture to be adjusted to obtain a position that is generally aligned with the straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe. 
         [0008]    However, while the supports disclosed in US Pat. Pub. No. 2017/0108145 are effective for its intended purposes, and improve over the prior art, in some situations the straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe may not be perfectly horizonal as the pipe passes through the support. In such circumstances, it would desirable to provide a support with more movement. Thus, the present invention aims to provide a support that reduces the strain on a pipe wherein a straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe is not perfectly horizonal as the pipe passes through the support. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a support for a pipe, the support comprising a housing and at least one base. The support includes at least one inner member having an orifice configured to receive the pipe. The inner member is configured to be pivoted or rotated about at least two axes (that are perpendicular to each other at their intersection) and preferably all three axes, to align a longitudinal axis of the orifice with the straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe. This movement to align the pipe and minimize the stresses applied to the connectors present at each end of the pipe and thus to limit the risk of wear to the joints of the connectors. 
         [0010]    According to at least a first aspect, a support for a pipe is provided which includes a housing, a first inner member inside of the housing and a second inner member inside of the first inner member. The housing includes a top cover and at least one base. The first inner member includes a body with a spherical outer surface and an eccentric orifice. The second inner member is rotatably disposed within the orifice of the first inner member. The second inner member includes a body and an eccentric orifice. 
         [0011]    According to at least a second aspect, a support for a pipe is provided which includes a housing and at least one inner member having a spherical outer surface and being disposed in the housing such that the at least one inner member is configured to change an orientation and position of a longitudinal axis of the pipe. The housing includes a top cover and at least one base. The at least one inner member forms an eccentric orifice configured to receive the pipe. 
         [0012]    According to at least a third aspect, a support for a pipe is provided which includes a housing, a first inner member, and a second inner member. The housing has a top cover and at least one base. The first inner member is secured within the housing and is formed from at least two separate parts. The first inner member has a spherical outer surface and an eccentric orifice. The second inner member is rotatably disposed within the eccentric orifice of the first inner member and includes an eccentric orifice configured to receive the pipe. 
         [0013]    Additional aspects, embodiments, and details of the present disclosure, all of which may be combinable in any manner, are set forth in the following detailed description of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Further features and advantages will be disclosed from the following description of the invention, the description being provided solely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pipe provided with a support according to the present application; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a support according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a body and a base of the support shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a first inner member of the support shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is an exploded view of the first inner member shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4C  is a front view of the first inner member shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a second inner member of the support shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  is a front view of the second inner member shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating another support according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the support of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the support of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a second inner member of the support shown in  FIG. 6 ; and, 
           [0027]      FIG. 9B  is an exploded view of the second inner member shown in  FIG. 9A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a fluid circuit includes a pipe  10  positioned between an upstream pipe  10 ′ and a downstream pipe  10 ″ is depicted in  FIG. 1 . As is known, the pipe  10  has a first end  12   a  connected to the upstream pipe  10 ′ with a first connector  14   a  and a second end  12   b  connected to the downstream pipe  10 ″ with a second connector  14   b.  Each connector  14   a,    14   b  is, for example, a sleeve, with the first or second end  12   a,    12   b  of the pipe  10  being fitted therein. To ensure the sealing, each connector  14   a,    14   b  includes a seal (not shown) interposed between the end  12   a,    12   b  of the pipe  10  and the sleeve. At each of its first and second ends  12   a,    12   b,  the pipe  10  comprises a connection with the first or second connector  14   a,    14   b  which is of the linear type. The linear connections present at the ends  12   a,    12   b  of the pipe  10  are illustrated by their centers respectively O 1  and O 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    In order to reduce the stress on the connections between the connectors  14   a,    14   b  and the pipe  10 , it is desirable to ensure that a longitudinal axis of the pipe  10  is as close as possible to a straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe (preferably, the longitudinal axis is the straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe). The pipe  10  is provided with a support  16  which supports the pipe  10  along its length and also connects the pipe  10  to a structure  18 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the support  16  comprises a housing  20  including a top cover  21  and at least one base  22 . Rotatably housed inside of the housing  20  is at least one, and preferably two, inner member  24   a,    24   b.  The inner members  24   a,    24   b  form an orifice  26  that receives the pipe  10 . The inner members  24   a,    24   b  are pivoted or rotated about at least two axes that are perpendicular to each other at their intersection. Preferably, the inner members  24   a,    24   b  are pivoted or rotated about three axes that are perpendicular to each other at their intersection. This movement allows an orientation of a longitudinal axis of the orifice  26  that houses the pipe  10  to be positioned and aligned with (or close to) the straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0031]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , the top cover  21  and the base  22  form the housing  20  and are held together by fasteners (not shown) used to secure the support  10  to the structure  18  (see  FIG. 1 ). The fasteners pass through aligned apertures  28  in both the top cover  21  and the at least one base  22 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C , a first inner member  24   a  comprises a body  31  with an eccentric orifice  32 . An outer surface  34  of the first inner member  24   a  comprises a spherical outer surface. In other words, the body  31  of the first inner member  24   a  forms a spherical segment (or zone) of two bases. 
         [0033]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , an inner surface  36  of the top cover  21  and an inner surface  38  of the base  22  both include at least a portion that comprises a spherical surface  40   a,    40   b  corresponding to the outer surface  34  of the first inner member  24   a.  The use of the spherical surfaces  40   a,    40   b  allow the first inner member  24   a  to be rotated or pivoted while housed within the housing  20 . 
         [0034]    In order to maintain the first inner member  24   a  within the housing  20 , the spherical surface  40   a  of the inner surface  36  of the top cover  21  is bounded by two inwardly extending flanges  42   a,    42   b,  each flange  42   a,    42   b  disposed along one side of inner surface  36  of the top cover  21 . The flanges  42   a,    42   b  prevent the first inner member  24   a  from being removed from the housing  20  by interference. 
         [0035]    Returning to  FIGS. 4A-4C , the first inner member  24   a  is formed by two parts  50   a,    50   b  to permit the mounting of the first inner member  24   a  around the pipe  10 , and more specifically around the second inner member  24   b  mounted on the pipe  10 , without having to dismantle one of the ends  12   a,    12   b  thereof According to one embodiment, the two parts  50   a,    50   b  are approximately symmetrical relative to a longitudinal plane. Preferably, the two parts  50   a,    50   b  have complementary shapes  52   a,    52   b  in order to block a translation in the longitudinal direction of one of the two parts  50   a,    50   b  relative to the other part  50   a,    50   b  when the two parts  50   a,    50   b  of the first inner member  24   a  are assembled. By way of example of this complementarity, the first inner member  24   a  includes a female part  52   a  and a male part  52   b.  The female part  52   a  is configured to receive the male part  52   b.    
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the second inner member  24   b  has a body  54  with an orifice  56 . It is preferred that the orifice  56  of the second inner member  24   b  is eccentric. According to some embodiments, a profile of the body  54 , when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the orifice  56  (e.g. as shown in  FIG. 5B ), of the body  54  of the second inner member  24   b  is C-shaped. In other words, the body  54  of the second inner member is generally cylindrical; however, less than a complete cylinder is formed. Specifically, the body  54  includes a middle portion  58  which is thicker than two wings  60   a,    60   b  extending away from the middle portion  58  along a circumference of a circle. The wings  60   a,    60   b  do not meet and a gap  62  is formed opposite the middle portion  58 . The body  54  of the second inner member  24   b  also includes two planar faces, a front face  64   a  and a rear face  64   b.  Finally, the second inner member  24   b  also includes a tab  66  that facilitates movement of the inner members  24   a,    24   b  while within the housing  20 . 
         [0037]    Returning to  FIGS. 4A to 4C , an inner surface  67  of the first inner member  24   a  provides the eccentric orifice  32  with a cylindrical shape to rotatably receive the second inner member  24   b.  The ends of the cylindrical eccentric orifice  32  each include a flange  68   a,    68   b.  Each flange  68   a,    68   b  extends inwardly and is configured to be adjacent to one of the faces  64   a,    64   b  of the body  54  of the second inner member  24   b.  Thus, the flanges  68   a,    68   b  will prevent the second inner member  24   b  from being removed from the first inner member  24   a  by interference. 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8  another support  16  is shown. The housing  20  of the support  16  in this embodiment is the same as discussed above, and thus the above description of the elements of the housing  20  are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0039]    Additionally, the first inner member  24   a  can be the same, or, as discussed below, the inner surface  67  can be flat (i.e., without the flanges  68   a,    68   b ). The remaining portions are the same as discussed above, and thus the above description of the elements of the first inner member  24   a  is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the body  54 ′ of the second inner member  24   b ′ has forms a cylindrical sleeve with the eccentric orifice  56 . The body  54 ′ is preferably formed by two parts  70   a,    70   b.  As with the first inner member  24   a  discussed above, each part  70   a,    70   b  of the body  54 ′ preferably includes complementary shapes  72   a,    72   b  in order to block a translation in the longitudinal direction of one of the two parts  70   a,    70   b  relative to the other part  70   a,    70   b  when the two parts  70   a,    70   b  of the cylindrical sleeve are assembled. Again, as an example of this complementarity, a female part  72   a  is configured to receive a male part  72   b.    
         [0041]    Additionally, the front face  64   a ′ of one part  70   b  and the rear face  64   b ′ of the other part  70   a  each include a tab  66 ′. In addition to facilitate the manipulation of the inner members  24   a ,  24   b ′, each tab  66 ′ forms a half-flange to maintain, along with the complementary shapes  72   a,    72   b,  the second inner member  24   b ′ in the first inner member  24   a.  Thus, the inner surface  67  of the first inner member  24   a  does not require the flanges  68   a,    68   b  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4A ). 
         [0042]    The mounting of the support  16  will now be described with the understanding that this process is merely a preferred process and is not intended to be limiting. 
         [0043]    In a first step, the second inner member  24   b,    24   b ′ is positioned about the pipe. In embodiments with the second inner member  24   b  shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the second inner member  24   b  can be fit over the pipe  10 . In embodiments with the second inner member  24   b ′ shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the two parts part  70   a,    70   b  are positioned about the pipe  10 . 
         [0044]    Subsequently, regardless of the form of the second inner member  24   b,    24   b ′, the first inner member  24   a  is positioned about the second inner member  24   b,    24   b ′. When the second inner member  24   b,    24   b ′ is properly nested within the first inner member  24   a,  the top cover  21  and the base  22  are positioned about the first inner member  24   a.  The assembled support  16  can be rotated to adjust the positioning of the support so that a longitudinal axis of the pipe  10  is aligned with (or as close as possible to) a straight line passing through the centers of the linear connections provided at each end of the pipe  10 . This will reduce the strains on the pipe  10  and connectors. Fasteners (not shown) are inserted through apertures  28  to secure the support  16  to the structure  18 . 
         [0045]    Finally, as will be appreciated, in the embodiments of  FIGS. 6-8, 9A, and 9B , the orifice  26  of the support  16  that receives the pipe  10  is formed completely by the second inner member  24   b ′. In contrast, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 2, 3, 4A-4C, 5A, and 5B , the orifice  26  of the support  16  that receives the pipe  10  is formed by both the second inner member  24   b ′ and the first inner member  24   a.    
         [0046]    While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.