Abstract:
The present disclosure generally relates to ducting apparatus and methods, and more specifically a ducting apparatus comprising a duct and a reinforcing member located at an end of the duct to oppose compressive forces that are applied to the duct.

Description:
[0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to ducting apparatus and methods, and more specifically a ducting apparatus comprising a duct and a reinforcing member located at an end of the duct to oppose compressive forces that are applied to the duct. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Fluid ducting, for example air ducting, is frequently required to be fluidly connected. A conventional method of connecting two ducts together is known as “channel band coupling”. In a channel band coupling, a seal is compressed against a common connecting portion of two ducts so as to prevent leakage of fluids at the connecting portion. A fastening mechanism, for example a gasket in the form of a circular clamp, may be used to tighten the seal around the connecting portion. 
         [0003]    In some situations it is necessary to provide a reinforcing ring within the duct, for example if the duct is made of a relatively weak material. The reinforcing ring opposes the fastening mechanism and ensures that the seal can be adequately compressed as described above. 
         [0004]    A conventional method of securing the reinforcing ring to the inside of the duct is shown in  FIG. 1 . In the conventional method, an adhesive  3  is placed between the duct  1  and the reinforcing ring  2  to secure the two components together. During manufacturing of ducts, for example by suction blow molding processes, the material may shrink back to form an inner cavity  5  around the internal periphery of the duct  1 . In the conventional method, the adhesive  3  extends into this inner cavity  5 . 
         [0005]    It is desired to improve the method of connecting the reinforcing ring to the duct. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a ducting apparatus comprising: 
         [0007]    a duct comprising an inner cavity, optionally proximate an end thereof; and 
         [0008]    a reinforcing member located within the duct or duct end, and comprising one or more protrusions that extend, or are configured to extend, into the inner cavity of the duct so as to restrict relative movement between the duct and the reinforcing ring. 
         [0009]    Thus, the connection of the reinforcing ring to the duct is improved by securing the reinforcing ring to the duct using cooperation of an inner cavity in the duct and one or more protrusions on the reinforcing ring. This means that no adhesive is required to hold the reinforcing ring in place, which reduces the internal diameter of the duct end portion. Lack of an adhesive layer (see  FIG. 1 ) allows greater internal diameter of reinforcing ring. It has been found that the end portion of a duct is also improved when using the present connecting method since the internal diameter of the duct end portion is increased. This reduces the pressure drop across the end portion of the duct. Moreover, manufacturing is simplified since it does not require a bonding process. 
         [0010]    It will be appreciated that the disclosed apparatus optionally utilises the inner cavity of the duct that may be formed during manufacture thereof, for example by a blow molding technique, in order to secure and position the reinforcing ring. 
         [0011]    The ducting apparatus may be an aircraft ducting apparatus, or may be for use in an aircraft or aerospace environment. 
         [0012]    The one or more protrusions may comprise a circumferential bead extending around the periphery of the reinforcing member. 
         [0013]    The one or more protrusions may extend into the inner cavity of the duct so as to restrict axial movement of the reinforcing ring relative to the duct and/or the ducting assembly. 
         [0014]    A press fit may exist between the duct and the reinforcing member. 
         [0015]    The protrusion may have the same, comparable or slightly reduced dimensions as the inner cavity of the duct. The protrusion, for example one or more side edges of the protrusion, may abut the walls of the inner cavity. 
         [0016]    The duct may comprise a composite and/or plastic material. 
         [0017]    The duct and/or the reinforcing member may comprise a cylindrical ring. 
         [0018]    An outer diameter of the reinforcing member may be substantially the same as an inner diameter of the duct. 
         [0019]    There may be no adhesive present between the duct and the reinforcing ring. 
         [0020]    The duct and the reinforcing ring may not be bonded to one another. 
         [0021]    The duct may be a first duct and the duct end may be a first duct end, and the ducting apparatus may further comprise a second duct optionally having a second duct end that is fluidly connected to the first duct end. 
         [0022]    The reinforcing member may be a first reinforcing member, the second duct may comprise a second inner cavity proximate an end thereof, and the ducting apparatus may further comprise: 
         [0023]    a second reinforcing member located within the second duct end, optionally comprising one or more protrusions extending into the second inner cavity of the second duct so as to restrict relative movement between the second duct and the second reinforcing ring. 
         [0024]    The first and second reinforcing members may be part of a common reinforcing member that is optionally located within both first and second duct ends. 
         [0025]    The ducting apparatus may further comprise a sealing member surrounding at least a portion of each of the first duct end and the second duct end, wherein optionally the sealing member fluidly seals the connection between the first duct end and the second duct end. 
         [0026]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a ducting apparatus comprising: 
         [0027]    a duct and a reinforcing member located within the duct, wherein a press fit exists between the duct and the reinforcing member to prevent axial movement between the duct and the reinforcing member. 
         [0028]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of forming any of the ducting apparatus described above, comprising: 
         [0029]    pressing the reinforcing member through the inside diameter of the duct. The pressing may be until the one or more protrusions extend into the inner cavity of the duct. 
         [0030]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of reinforcing an end of a duct, comprising: 
         [0031]    providing a duct such that an inner cavity is formed proximate an end thereof; and 
         [0032]    locating a reinforcing member comprising one or more protrusions within the duct end such that the one or more protrusions extend into the inner cavity of the duct so as to restrict relative movement between the duct and the reinforcing ring. 
         [0033]    The method may further comprise forming the duct using a blow molding process, for example a suction blow molding process. The inner cavity may be formed due to shrinking of said duct, duct end, duct material or duct end material. The inner cavity may be formed during or after said blow molding process. 
         [0034]    According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of manufacturing a reinforced duct, comprising: 
         [0035]    forming a duct such that an inner cavity is formed proximate an end thereof; and 
         [0036]    locating a reinforcing member comprising one or more protrusions within the duct end such that the one or more protrusions extend into the inner cavity of the duct so as to restrict relative movement between the duct and the reinforcing ring. 
         [0037]    The method may further comprise manufacturing the duct using a blow molding process, for example a suction blow molding process. The inner cavity may be formed due to shrinking of said duct, duct end, duct material or duct end material. The inner cavity may be formed during or after said blow molding process. 
         [0038]    The reinforcing member according to any of the aspects and embodiments disclosed herein may be a metallic reinforcing member, or comprise metal. 
         [0039]    The ducting apparatus according to any of the aspects and embodiments disclosed herein may be referred to as, or be in the form of, a coupling mechanism or a channel band coupling. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]    Various embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0041]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art ducting apparatus; 
           [0042]      FIG. 2  shows a ducting apparatus according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    A ducting apparatus in the form of a channel band coupling (not shown) is provided to fluidly connect two ducts. Each duct has a respective duct end and these are situated in close proximity, or connected to one another. A seal is located around and spans across both the duct ends to fluidly seal the connection between the ducts. The seal is compressed against the duct ends using a fastening mechanism, for example a gasket in the form of a circular clamp. The ducts are made from a composite material or plastic and can be liable to collapse if provided without any reinforcement, due to the compression force exerted on the ducts by the fastening mechanism. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in order to oppose this compression force and provide reinforcement a reinforcing ring  20  is provided in each duct  10  proximate the duct end  15 . The reinforcing ring  20  is made of a relatively strong material, for example a metallic material, that can adequately oppose the compression force exerted by the fastening mechanism. This prevents the duct end  15  and duct  10  from collapsing when subject to a compressive force. 
         [0045]    The reinforcing ring  20  has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the duct  10  at duct end  15 . Thus, it fits within the duct end  15  in a press fit arrangement between the duct  10  and the reinforcing ring  20 . 
         [0046]    The duct  10  is manufactured such that the duct end  15  comprises a bead  12 , for example using a suction blow molding technique. A side effect of the manufacturing method is that a portion of the internal material of the duct  10  shrinks back to produce an inner cavity  50 . The inner cavity  50  is typically in the form of a peripheral cavity, void or notch around the inner circumference of the duct end  15 . 
         [0047]    The reinforcing ring  20  is provided with a circumferential protrusion or bead  40 , that is configured to be located within the inner cavity  50  of the duct  10 . The dimensions of the protrusion  40  are comparable to or slightly smaller than the dimensions of the inner cavity  50 , such that the protrusion  40  fits within the inner cavity  50  but is restricted from axial movement by abutment of the protrusion  40  with the walls of the inner cavity  50 . The restriction of axial movement of the protrusion  40  restricts axial movement of the reinforcing ring  20 . This prevents undesired relative movement between the reinforcing ring  20  and the duct  10 . 
         [0048]    It will be appreciated that the ducting apparatus disclosed herewith does not require the use of an adhesive layer. Instead, the reinforcing ring  20  is held and secured within the duct  10  using a press fit arrangement and/or the engagement of the protrusions  40  with the inner cavity  50 . The reinforcing ring  20  may be substantially prevented from axial movement relative to the duct  10  by the one or more protrusions  40 , which fit into the inner cavity  50  formed in the interior surface of the duct end  15  during manufacture. 
         [0049]    In order to manufacture or assemble the ducting apparatus according to an embodiment, the duct  10  is manufactured with a beaded end using a suction blow molding technique. This forms an inner cavity  50  in the interior surface of the duct end  15 . The reinforcing ring  20  is then pressed into the duct end  15  until the protrusion  40  comes into alignment with the inner cavity  50 . Once this occurs the protrusion  40  slips into the inner cavity  50 . The protrusion  40  abuts the sides of the inner cavity  50  so as to prevent axial movement of the reinforcing ring  20  relative to the duct  10 . 
         [0050]    This method of manufacture or assembly is advantageous over conventional methods that use adhesive. For example, no bonding process is required and there is also a reduction in materials. 
         [0051]    Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.