Set of pipes comprising an improved retaining system

[0001] This application claims the benefit of French Patent Application Number 2309699 filed on Sep. 14, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by way of reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a set of pipes comprising two pipes and an improved retaining system.

[0003] Pipes are installed in various installations, in particular means of transport and, more particularly, aircraft. These pipes serve, for example, to distribute conditioned air between the various parts of the installation.

[0004] In order to cover large lengths, it is sometimes necessary for pipes to be butt-jointed to one another in succession.

[0005] FIG. 4 shows a set of pipes 400 from the prior art, viewed in section. This set of pipes 400 comprises a first pipe 402a and a second pipe 402b extending one another at their ends, and a sleeve 404 having a first end into which is fitted one end of the first pipe 402a and a second end into which is fitted one end of the second pipe 402b.

[0006] In order to clamp the sleeve 404 onto each pipe 402a-b, the set of pipes 400 comprises, for each pipe 402a-b, a clamping collar 406a-b arranged around the sleeve 404 and clamping the sleeve 404 against the pipe 402a-b in question.

[0007] Although such an installation is satisfactory, what may occur when the pipes 402a-b have a large diameter is that the clamping collars 406a-b are positioned obliquely with respect to the diameter of the pipe (here the first pipe 402a).

[0008] Following vibrations, the oblique clamping collar 406a may move and, in particular, straighten up, which causes the sleeve 404 to loosen from the first pipe 402a. As a result of vibrations, the clamping collar 406a which has become loose may break at the risk of damaging external elements as it detaches.

[0009] It is therefore necessary to find an arrangement that ensures that the clamping collars remain in place even in the event of breakage.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to propose a set of pipes which comprises a system for retaining the clamping collars.

[0011] Accordingly, what is proposed is a set of pipes comprising:

• • [0012] a first pipe and a second pipe extending one another,
  • [0013] a sleeve having a first end into which is fitted one end of the first pipe and a second end into which is fitted one end of the second pipe,
  • [0014] for each pipe, a clamping collar arranged around the sleeve and clamping the sleeve against said pipe,
  • [0015] for each pipe, an anchoring element secured to said pipe and comprising a first fastening means,
  • [0016] for each clamping collar, a retaining element secured to said clamping collar and having a through-passage, and
  • [0017] for the pair of first fastening means and the pair of retaining elements, a tie passing through the through-passages of the two retaining elements and having, at each end, a second fastening means cooperating with a first fastening means in order to fasten each end of the tie to an anchoring element.

[0018] With such an arrangement, even if a clamping collar breaks, it remains attached by the tie, which prevents it from damaging other elements.

[0019] Advantageously, each anchoring element comprises a plurality of first fastening means, where each first fastening means of one anchoring element is associated with a first fastening means of the other anchoring element, for each pair of thus associated first fastening means and for each clamping collar, the set of pipes comprises a retaining element secured to said clamping collar and having a through-passage, and for each pair of thus associated first fastening means, the set of pipes comprises a tie passing through the through-passages of said two retaining elements and having, at each end, a second fastening means cooperating with a first fastening means of a first fastening means of the pair.

[0020] According to one particular embodiment, each anchoring element takes the form of a ring fitted and fastened around the corresponding pipe.

[0021] Advantageously, the ring is split.

[0022] According to one particular embodiment, each anchoring element takes the form of a plate.

[0023] Advantageously, each first fastening means takes the form of a drilled hole into which the end of the tie is inserted.

[0024] Advantageously, each second fastening means takes the form of an element secured to the end of the tie and arranged on the other side of the drilled hole with respect to the retaining elements.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a set of pipes 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 shows a set of pipes 300 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0031] As in the case of the prior art, the set of pipes 100, 300 comprises a first pipe 102a and a second pipe 102b extending one another at their ends, and a sleeve 104 having a first end into which is fitted one end of the first pipe 102a and a second end into which is fitted one end of the second pipe 102b.

[0032] In order to fasten the sleeve 104 to the pipes 102a-b, the set of pipes 100, 300 comprises, for each pipe 102a-b, a clamping collar 106a-b which is arranged around the sleeve 104 and which clamps the sleeve 104 against the pipe 102a-b in question, in particular by deformation of the sleeve 104.

[0033] As in the case of the prior art, a clamping collar 106a is arranged around the end of the first pipe 102a which is in the sleeve 104, and a clamping collar 106b is arranged around the end of the second pipe 102b which is in the sleeve 104.

[0034] For each pipe 102a-b, the set of pipes 100, 300 comprises an anchoring element 108a-b, 308a-b, which has a different form in the two embodiments. Each anchoring element 108a-b, 308a-b is secured to the pipe 102a-b in question and comprises a first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b.

[0035] For each clamping collar 106a-b, the set of pipes 100, 300 comprises a retaining element 112a-b, one embodiment of which can be better seen in FIG. 2. Each retaining element 112a-b is secured to the clamping collar 106a-b in question, for example by adhesive bonding, crimping or the like. Each retaining element 112a-b has a through-passage 202 which passes through the retaining element 112a-b and which, in particular, is preferably generally parallel to an axis X common to the pipes 102a-b.

[0036] For the pair of first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b and the pair of retaining elements 112a-b, the set of pipes 100, 300 comprises a tie 116, typically a flexible tie such as a cable. The tie 116 passes through the through-passages 202 of the two retaining elements 112a-b and has, at each end, a second fastening means 118a-b cooperating with a first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b in order to fasten each end of the tie 116 to an anchoring element 108a-b, 308a-b.

[0037] A first end of the tie 116 thus bears a second fastening means 118a which cooperates with the first fastening means 110a, 310a of one anchoring element 108a, 308a, a second end of the tie 116 thus bears a second fastening means 118b which cooperates with the first fastening means 110b, 310b of the other anchoring element 108b, 308b, and between the first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b, the tie passes through the two retaining elements 112a-b.

[0038] With such an arrangement, even after breakage of one or of the two clamping collars 106a-b, the collar 106a-b which is broken remains held between the two first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b and does not risk damaging adjacent components. The retaining elements 112a-b additionally make it possible to keep the tie 116 at a distance from the clamping collars 106a-b and thus prevent it from wearing by rubbing against the clamping collars 106a-b in the course of use.

[0039] In the embodiment described above, there is only one tie 116, but there may be a plurality of them distributed angularly about the axis X. There is then a pair of first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b and a pair of retaining elements 112a-b per tie 116.

[0040] In the first embodiment of the invention presented in FIG. 1, each anchoring element 108a-b takes the form of a ring 120 fitted and fastened around the corresponding pipe 102a-b.

[0041] In this embodiment, there are a plurality of first fastening means 110a-b which are distributed angularly around the ring 120, and it is possible to put a plurality of retaining elements 112a-b on each clamping collar 106a-b and, finally, a plurality of ties 116.

[0042] The placement of the ring 120 is easier during the first installation of the pipes 102a-b, since the ring 120 can be fastened directly during the manufacture of the pipes 102a-b.

[0043] To aid clamping of the ring 120 on the pipe 102a-b, the ring 120 may be split at a slot 122.

[0044] In the second embodiment of the invention presented in FIG. 3, each anchoring element 308a-b takes the form of a plate bearing a single first fastening means 310a-b.

[0045] This embodiment is more particularly suitable in the case of retrofitting an installation of the prior art when the placement of a ring 120 is not possible without complete disassembly of the installation.

[0046] In the second embodiment of the invention presented in FIG. 3, there is only one pair of plates and retaining elements 112a-b and therefore a single tie 116, but it is possible to multiply these elements around the pipes 102a-b.

[0047] The fastening of each anchoring element 108a-b, 308a-b can be achieved by any suitable means, such as welding, adhesive bonding, riveting, etc.

[0048] Prior to placing a tie 116, the anchoring elements 108a-b, 308a-b are fastened to the pipes 102a-b, and the retaining elements 112a-b are fastened to the clamping collars 106a-b.

[0049] During a new installation, the ends of the pipes 102a-b are inserted into the sleeve 104, and the pipes 102a-b are arranged in such a way that the anchoring elements 108a-b, 308a-b, and more particularly the first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b, are aligned parallel to the axis X, even though a slight angular offset does not interfere with the functioning of the invention.

[0050] The clamping collars 106a-b are then placed around the sleeve 104 and clamped. During their placement, the clamping collars 106a-b are preferably arranged so as to align the through-passages 202 between the first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b, even though a slight angular offset does not interfere with the functioning of the invention.

[0051] During the retrofitting of an existing installation, the anchoring elements 108a-b, 308a-b are fastened so as to be aligned parallel to the axis X, even though a slight angular offset does not interfere with the functioning of the invention. Subsequently, the retaining elements 112a-b are fastened to the clamping collars 106a-b preferably so as to align the through-passages 202 between the first fastening means 310a-b, even though a slight angular offset does not interfere with the functioning of the invention.

[0052] In the various embodiments, a tie 116 is then placed through the two through-passages 202 and each of its ends is fastened to a first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b by way of the second fastening means 118a-b in question.

[0053] Furthermore, when the first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b and the retaining elements 112a-b are aligned, and when the tie 116 is tensioned between the first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b, this ensures minimum retention of the pipes 102a-b with respect to one another in the event of breakage of one or of the clamping collars 106a-b.

[0054] Generally, in the case where there are a plurality of ties 116 in the first embodiment of the invention, each anchoring element 108a-b comprises a plurality of first fastening means 110a-b.

[0055] Each first fastening means 110a-b of one anchoring element 108a-b is associated with a first fastening means 110b-a of the other anchoring element 108b-a, and they are preferably aligned parallel to the axis X.

[0056] For each pair of thus associated first fastening means 110a-b, each clamping collar 106a-b is equipped with a retaining element 112a-b secured to said clamping collar 106a-b and having the through-passage 202.

[0057] Finally, for each pair of the associated first fastening means 110a-b, the set of pipes 100 comprises the tie 116 which passes through the through-passages 202 of the two retaining elements 112a-b and which has, at each end, a second fastening means 118a-b cooperating with a first fastening means 110a-b of a first fastening means of the pair.

[0058] In the various embodiments presented, each first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b takes the form of a drilled hole into which the end of the tie 116 is inserted, but other forms are possible.

[0059] Each second fastening means 118a-b takes the form of an element secured to the end of the tie 116 and it is arranged on the other side of the drilled hole with respect to the retaining elements 112a-b, that is to say on the outside of the first fastening means 110a-b, 310a-b. Each second fastening means 118a-b may be a knot formed at the end of the tie 116, or an additional element, of the nut type, fastened to the end of the tie 116.

[0060] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.