Pipe Sleeve Clamping Collar Retention Under Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Clamping collars on large diameter pipes in installations like aircraft can become oblique and loosen due to vibrations, leading to potential breakage and damage to external elements.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising clamping collars with anchoring elements and retaining elements secured to the pipes, connected by a tie passing through the retaining elements' through-passages, ensuring the clamping collars remain attached even if broken.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If clamping collars are used to secure sleeves to pipes, then the pipes can be connected and secured, but the clamping collars may become oblique and loosen due to vibrations on large diameter pipes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping collar retentionVSAvoidclamping collar position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-instaling retaining elements on the clamping collars and anchoring elements on the pipes before any loosening can occur. These elements are positioned in advance to prevent the clamping collars from becoming oblique or detaching due to vibrations during operation. The retaining elements with through-passages and ties create pre-established retention paths that keep the collars in their correct positions throughout the service life of the connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If clamping collars are used to secure sleeves to pipes, then the pipes can be connected, but the clamping collars may break and detach causing damage to external elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipe connection assemblyVSAvoiddamage from detached clamping collar

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by providing retaining elements and ties that act as preventive measures against the harmful effects of clamping collar failure. These retention systems are installed in advance to cushion or absorb the potential damage that would result from a clamping collar breaking or detaching during operation, thereby protecting surrounding components and structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If retaining elements and ties are added to prevent clamping collar detachment, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclamping collar retentionVSAvoidretaining system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the retention function into separate, modular components: retaining elements attached to the clamping collar, anchoring elements attached to the pipe, and ties connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed, manufactured, and installed, simplifying the overall system while maintaining high reliability. The modular nature enables easy replacement and maintenance of individual parts without affecting the entire connection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12584571B2Set of pipes comprising an improved retaining system

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

A set of pipes comprising two pipes, a sleeve into which the pipes are fitted, for each pipe, a clamping collar arranged around the sleeve and an anchoring element secured to the pipe and comprising a first fastener, for each clamping collar, a retaining element secured to the clamping collar and having a through-passage, and a tie passing through the through-passages and having, at each end, a second fastener cooperating with a first fastener in order to fasten each end of the tie an anchoring element.