Airbus Operations Gmbh

Airbus UK Limited

Colin John West

David Alistair Sutton

Paul Hadley

James Wilson

Alan Quayle

Jeremy Bradley

Richard Mills

Alan Pout

Andrew Withers

John Monteith

Peter Mason

Stephan Olexander Schneider

Michael A Taylor

Leslie John Clark

Robert Bernard Malia

Fariborz F Boozari

Andrew Paul Limmack

Robert Piper

James Alves

Jey Williams

Simon Carrick

A seal is disclosed having a pair of side walls, a base extending between the side walls, a first concave surface extending inwardly from one of the side walls, a second concave surface extending inwardly from the other side wall, and a convex surface extending between the first concave and second concave surface to form a rounded peak having an apex. The seal has a seal width defined between the seal side walls, and a seal height defined between the apex of the rounded peak and the base. The width is at least twice the height of the seal. The seal is located in a channel recess of a first component opposite a second component to seal between the first component and the second component, the channel recess having a floor and a height defined between the floor and a surface of the first component in which the channel recess is formed.

Seal

A fiber-reinforced composite structure includes a cut edge; an elastomeric cap covering the cut edge; and an adhesive sealant bonding the elastomeric cap to the cut edge. The fiber-reinforced composite structure is joined to a component and the elastomeric cap includes a generally Z or L-shaped cap with a web bonded to the cut edge of the fiber-reinforced structure and a flange bonded to the component and extending away from the fiber-reinforced structure.

Edge seal for fibre-reinforced composite structure

A joint comprising: a first component having a face and a bore defined by a bore wall; a second component; a fastener joining the first component to the second component, the fastener comprising a head and a shaft protruding from the head; and a polysulphide gasket comprising a ring which is compressed between the head of the fastener and the face of the first component; and a collar between the shaft of the fastener and the bore wall. The gasket comprises a ring of sealing material surrounding a hole for receiving a fastener, the sealing material comprising an at least partially cured polysulphide sealant. The gasket has a region of increased thickness positioned towards the inner periphery of the ring which flows to form the collar.

Fastener joint with sealing gasket

A sealing member for forming a seal in an aircraft, the sealing member comprising: a sealing material; and a stiffening element which provides structural support to the sealing material and comprises a material with a glass transition temperature below +50&#xb0; C. The stiffening element is relatively flexible when the aircraft is at low altitude (high temperature) but becomes relatively stiff (increasing resistance to seal flutter) when the aircraft is at cruise altitude (low temperature).

Aerodynamic sealing member for aircraft

A foldable seal comprising an elastomeric seal substrate and at least one molded-in stiffener plate embedded within the seal substrate. Also, a method of manufacturing the seal.

A method of controlling an elastomeric damper. The damper is heated by passing an electric current through the damper or through a heating element in contact with the damper said heating causing a decrease in stiffness of the damper. The elastomeric damper may comprise an elastomeric material filled with electrically conductive particles, and the damper may be heated by passing an electric current through the elastomeric material. Alternatively the damper may be heated using a discrete resistive heating element, such as a coil embedded within the elastomeric damper or wound around it.

Method and apparatus for controlling an elastomeric damper

A pivot joint assembly has a first part with a hole. A pivot pin passes through the hole. A second part is carried by the pivot pin to be rotatable relative to the first part. A bush has an annular sleeve with an inner face engaging the pivot pin and an outer face engaging a bore wall of the first part. A sealing ring between the bush and the first part. The sealing ring has a body attached to the first part, and a sealing member extending away from the body in a radial direction to a sealing lip which engages the bush without being attached thereto. The sealing member is resiliently compressed to urge the sealing lip towards the bush to maintain engagement with the bush in the event that the bush moves away from the body in the radial direction.

Pivot joint assembly

A tank for containing a fluid, such as fuel, oil or gas within a chamber. The walls of the chamber are partially defined by a rigid structure having an opening; and partially defined by an elastomeric diaphragm which is attached around its periphery to the rigid structure and covers the opening in the rigid structure. An attachment frame engages the diaphragm and the rigid structure, and extends around the periphery of the diaphragm. The attachment frame has a first portion which engages the diaphragm, and a second portion which is positioned outside an outer edge of the diaphragm and attached to the rigid structure.

Tanks for containing a fluid within a chamber

A blade seal comprising: a base; a tip; a first part formed from an elastomeric material which extends continuously from the base to the tip; and a second part formed from an elastomeric material mixed with conductive filler which extends continuously from the base to the tip. The blade seal is manufactured by compressing the first and second parts together; and curing one or both of the parts as they are compressed together.

Blade seal

A bonding lead comprising a core; and a sheath bonded to the core. The core comprises a substrate of fibers coated with nano-objects with at least one dimension between 1 nm and 200 nm. The nano-objects form a continuous electrically conductive network from one end of the bonding lead to the other with some of the nano-objects coating the fibers and others forming bridges between adjacent fibers. The nano-objects may be carbon nanotubes and the core may be woven or knitted. A conductive connector is provided at each end of the bonding lead, for instance a tab formed from an electrically conductive polymer. The lead can be used to dissipate static charge and/or lightning current between components, typically within an aircraft fuel tank.

Bond lead

A routing clip for securing a line to a structure comprising: a base for attaching the clip to a structure; and a clamp comprising: a first flexible strap which extends from the base and has one or more projections extending from its side; and a second flexible strap which extends from the base and has a passageway for receiving the first flexible strap and a locking surface which is arranged to engage one of the projections on the first flexible strap to prevent the first flexible strap from being withdrawn from the passageway. At least part of the clip is made from an elastomeric material.

Line routing clip

An aircraft wing comprising first and second fuel pipe segments which are coupled together with a pipe coupling device comprising a corrugated tube formed from an elastomer filled with conductive material. The pipe coupling device is particularly useful for connecting together fuel pipe segments in an aircraft wing as it removes the need to attach bonding leads between fuel pipe segments to dissipate lightning currents and static.

Pipe coupling device for aircraft wing

An aircraft wing assembly comprising: a spar; a fuel tank; a track container which is attached to the spar and extends into the fuel tank; a track which extends through the spar and into the track container; and a high-lift device, such as a slat or flap, carried by the track. The track container comprises a stiffening element encased in an elastomeric sheath. The track container is manufactured by placing a stiffening element and elastomeric material together in a mould; and compressing and heating them to cure and shape the elastomeric material.

Track container

A joint with a first component; a second component; and an electrical assembly which provides an electrical pathway between the first and second components with an electrical resistance between 100 k&#x3a9; and 10 M&#x3a9;. The electrical assembly comprises a bonding lead; and a pair of connection assemblies each connecting the bonding lead to a respective one of the components. Each connection assembly comprises: a fastener with a shaft which passes through a hole in the component and a hole in the bonding lead, the hole in the bonding lead passing between an inner face of the bonding lead which faces towards the component and an outer face of the bonding lead which faces away from the component, and a washer which is carried by the shaft of the fastener and engages the component and the inner face of the bonding lead. Each washer provides the path of least electrical resistance between the bonding lead and a respective one of the components, each said path having an electrical resistance between 50 k&#x3a9; and 5 M&#x3a9;.

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, United Kingdom

Colin John West