Fuel Tank Tube Bonding Tab for Static Charge Dissipation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clamps used in aircraft to secure tubes or conduits fail to effectively ground them, leading to potential ignition sources due to static charge buildup and lightning strikes, as they rely on bulky bond straps or expensive conductive couplings, which can be prone to maintenance issues and failure modes that create fire hazards.

Innovation Solution

A clamp with an internally insulated loop and a conductive tab that extends into the conduit's receiving area, making an electrical connection with a supporting grounding structure, and a flexible conductive body that ensures continuous electrical path to prevent arcing and mechanical wear, constructed with a metal spine within an insulating material and a conductive tab made of 'O' condition Aluminum.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a flexible protective covering is used to protect the tube from mechanical damage, then mechanical protection is improved, but electrical conductivity is lost creating fire hazard

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical damage protectionVSAvoidelectrical charge buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is divided into two functional parts: an insulating body (flexible protective covering) for mechanical protection and a separate conductive tab for electrical grounding. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A conductive tab acts as an intermediary element between the insulating clamp body and the grounding structure. This mediator provides the electrical conductivity path while the main clamp body maintains its insulating and protective functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If bulky bond strap arrangements are used for grounding, then electrical grounding is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical groundingVSAvoidbond strap arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding function is merged into the clamp assembly itself through the integrated conductive tab. This eliminates the need for separate bond straps and their associated mounting hardware, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliable electrical grounding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp assembly becomes multi-functional by incorporating both mechanical clamping and electrical grounding capabilities in a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate grounding devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If bond straps are used for grounding, then electrical connection is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates due to maintenance difficulties when tubing must be inspected or replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidmaintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding function is merged into the clamp assembly itself through the integrated conductive tab. This eliminates the need for separate bond straps and their associated mounting hardware, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliable electrical grounding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If conventional P-clamp design is used, then mechanical clamping is achieved, but electrical grounding capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical clampingVSAvoidelectrical grounding

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is divided into two functional parts: an insulating body (flexible protective covering) for mechanical protection and a separate conductive tab for electrical grounding. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clamp assembly uses composite construction combining insulating material (flexible protective covering) with conductive material (metal tab) to achieve both mechanical protection and electrical grounding functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents electrical arcing and mechanical damage by ensuring a continuous electrical path and reducing the risk of ignition sources, enhancing aircraft safety by eliminating static charge buildup and withstanding lightning strikes without increasing system costs.

Implementation Method 1

The tab makes an electrical connection between the conduit and a supporting grounding structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The clamp has an internally insulated loop portion is constructed of a metal spine that is included within an insulating material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentUS10202203B2Fuel tank tube bonding tab

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC

AI summary

Disclosed are systems and methods for grounding insulated P-clamps used to secure fuel conduits. To do so, one end of the device is adapted to be secured between the flanges of the P-clamp, and a second end is adapted to extend into the clamp to make electrical contact with the conduit. The device creates an electrical path to the grounded structure to which the clamp is secured.