Compliant Jumper Tube Fitting for Misalignment Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft components, such as those in gas turbine engines, face challenges with fluid transmission due to misalignment and offset issues, particularly in constrained spaces, which hinder coupling and can lead to operational inefficiencies and reduced component lifespan.

Innovation Solution

The compliant jumper tube fitting, featuring a housing assembly with a transition portion and seal channels, allows for fluid communication across a range of misalignments by using seal members to maintain contact and adapt to angular deviations, ensuring continuous fluid flow between components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If rigid tube fittings are used to connect conduits, then structural stability is improved, but misalignment and offset from true position inhibit coupling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcoupling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting incorporates a compliant section with arcuate transitions that allow dynamic adjustment to misalignment conditions. The transition portions with varying bore diameters enable the fitting to adapt its shape to accommodate radial, axial, and slope misalignments while maintaining structural integrity and fluid communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fitting utilizes changes in bore diameter along the transition portions to accommodate misalignment. The first bore diameter increases toward a second bore diameter greater than the first bore diameter, allowing the fitting to adjust its geometric parameters to match misaligned conduit positions while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If compliant sections with varying bore diameters are added to accommodate misalignment, then coupling adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisalignment accommodationVSAvoidfitting structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting is divided into distinct sections: a first portion, a compliant section with transition portions, and a second portion. Each segment serves a specific function, with the compliant section containing arcuate transitions that accommodate misalignment while the other portions maintain structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fitting features nested structures including an inner housing within an outer housing, with seal channels and seal members nested within the housing structure. This nesting approach allows multiple functional elements to be integrated into a compact design that accommodates misalignment without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If seal members are added to maintain fluid communication across misalignment, then fluid transmission reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid communication reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting utilizes seal members that function as flexible sealing elements within seal channels. These seal members can deform to accommodate misalignment while maintaining fluid communication, providing reliable sealing without requiring complex rigid sealing structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The seal members act as intermediary elements between the inner and outer housing, maintaining fluid communication across the interface even when misalignment occurs. The seal channels provide pathways that guide the seal members to effectively bridge gaps caused by misalignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 compliant jumper tube fitting effectively maintains fluid communication across radial, axial, and slope misalignments, enhancing the operational efficiency and lifespan of gas turbine engine components by accommodating thermal loads and misalignment issues.

Implementation Method 1

the first seal member disposed within the first seal channel and contacted with the inner diameter wall of the outer housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3770476B1Compliant jumper tube fitting

Publication Date: 2023.11.29 RTX CORP

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Figure 3A

AI summary

A compliant jumper tube fitting assembly may comprise an outer housing (306) comprising a first annular cylindrical structure including a first opening (314) defined by a base wall (312), and an inner housing (308) comprising a second annular cylindrical structure including a second opening (330) defined by an annular wall (328), wherein the inner housing is configured to generate a seal between an inner diameter wall (318) of the outer housing and an outer diameter wall (332) of the inner housing in response to inserting the inner housing into a mouth end (320) of the outer housing, wherein the inner housing is configured to receive an end fitting (304) and generate a seal between an inner diameter wall of the inner housing in response to inserting the end fitting into the inner housing.