The Boeing Company

Alfred R Wiratunga

Jayant Dahyabhai Patel

Clifford John Petersen

Maggie E Fuselier

Annette D Motherwell

Vitor M Amorim

A coupling apparatus for coupling free ends of a pair of tubular ducts in flow communication with one another, and where the free ends of the ducts are separated by an axial gap. The apparatus may have a sleeve having a length sufficient to span the gap and to overlap portions of the free ends of the ducts when the sleeve is secured to the free ends of the ducts. The sleeve may include a first stretchable ply of material, a non-stretchable ply of material, and a second stretchable ply of material sandwiched together. The non-stretchable ply of material may be disposed between the first and second stretchable plies of material to form a unitary assembly. The non-stretchable ply of material may have an axial length of no more than approximately a length of the axial gap to overlay the axial gap.

Clamp tension compensating, self-sustaining cuff apparatus and method

An apparatus and a system for joining and sealing conduits are provided. The apparatus includes an edge trim positioned proximate to an end of a first conduit, and a sleeve positioned between the first conduit and a second conduit. The sleeve includes a flexible end positioned adjacent to the edge trim such that a portion of the flexible end of the sleeve overlies at least a portion of the edge trim, a semi-rigid end opposite the flexible end and positioned over at least a portion of the second conduit, and a flexible medial portion extending between the flexible end and the semi-rigid end. The apparatus also includes a retaining element configured to be secured over the flexible end of the sleeve such that a portion of the flexible end of the sleeve is sandwiched between the retaining element and the edge trim.

Apparatus, system, and method for joining and sealing conduits

An apparatus is provided for joining and sealing conduits, includes edge trim, a sleeve, and a retaining element. The edge trim is shaped to mount upon and engage an end of a conduit. The sleeve extends between the conduits and at least partially surrounds the edge trim. The sleeve may be made of compressible material, such that when the retaining element surrounds a portion of the sleeve and the edge trim, the retaining element generally compresses the portion of the sleeve portion underlying the retaining element and displaces the sleeve material to expand on either side of the retaining element and limit movement of the retaining element. The method of joining and sealing conduits includes mounting the edge trim and a retaining element upon an end of a conduit, extending a sleeve between the conduits, and sliding the retaining element over the sleeve toward the end of the conduit.

Sleeve for joining and sealing conduits

The apparatus for joining and sealing conduits, includes edge trim, a sleeve, and a retaining element. The edge trim is shaped to mount upon and engage an end of a conduit. The sleeve extends between the conduits and at least partially surrounds the edge trim. The sleeve may be made of compressible material, such that when the retaining element surrounds a portion of the sleeve and the edge trim, the retaining element generally compresses the portion of the sleeve portion underlying the retaining element and displaces the sleeve material to expand on either side of the retaining element and limit movement of the retaining element. The method of joining and sealing conduits includes mounting the edge trim and a retaining element upon an end of a conduit, extending a sleeve between the conduits, and sliding the retaining element over the sleeve toward the end of the conduit.

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Northridge, CA, United States of America

Alfred R Wiratunga