FLUID CONDUIT WITH SELF-HEALING PROTECTIVE SLEEVE

Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to the field of aircraft fuel systems, in particular, aircraft fuel conduits. The present invention could also be applied to protect aircraft lube oil and hydraulic conduits.

Description of the Prior Art

Self-healing materials have been around for many years. There are various uses for self-healing materials such as natural rubber/polyurethane and nitrile rubber. The main problem with these self-healing materials is that it can take several seconds, even minutes, for these materials to seal after being penetrated. Because of these shortcomings, it has not been advantageous to use these self-healing materials as protective sleeves for aircraft fluid conduits to protect the fluid conduits from leaking in the event the fluid conduits are penetrated by a ballistic projectile.

However, some self-healing materials, such as a self-healing ionomer known as Surlyn® 8940 (available from DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers,

Wilmington, DE), seal instantaneously.

Some have attempted to create self-healing laminated conduits, but such conduits are relatively expensive and heavy, and suffer from the slow healing times associated with their components. Additionally, because of the integrated nature of the laminated conduit, pressurized fluids within the laminated conduits exert instantaneous pressure on the projectile opening interfering with the self-healing process.

While the self-healing systems described above represent significant developments, considerable shortcomings remain.

Summary of the Invention

There is a need for a fluid conduit having a self-healing protective sleeve that heals instantaneously.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid conduit having a self-healing protective sleeve that heals instantaneously.

It is another object of this invention to provide a self-healing protective sleeve that may be retrofitted into existing conduit systems.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method for preventing fluid leaks due to projectile impacts on fluid conduits.

These objects are achieved by providing a self-healing protective sleeve that heals instantaneously, a fluid conduit incorporating the protective sleeve, and a method for preventing fluid leaks due to projectiles.

The present invention provides significant advantages, including: (1) the sleeve prevents leakage of vital fluids in the event of a ballistic strike to a fluid conduit; (2) the sleeve can be installed over a conventional fluid conduit; (3) ballistic penetrations can be closed in microseconds; (4) the device may be installed over existing fluid conduits; and (5) aircraft survivability is increased, particularly in the event of small arms ballistic fire.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, including its features and advantages, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals identify like parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic of a fluid conduit having a self-healing protective sleeve according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the self-healing protective sleeve of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the seal on one end of the self-healing protective sleeve of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a fluid conduit having a self-healing protective sleeve according to the present invention installed in a test chamber prior to penetration by a ballistic projectile; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fluid conduit having a self-healing protective sleeve according to the present invention installed in a test chamber after penetration by a ballistic projectile.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Self-healing protective fuel conduit sleeves are primarily intended for military applications, because they address improved survivability in the face of small arms ballistic fire. This technology may be applied to any fixed or rotary wing aircraft where fuel leakage, especially after ballistic impact, and fire is a concern.

Referring now to Figure 1 a sleeve 10 comprised of a self-healing material is installed over a length of conduit 15. Conduit 15 may be standard metal or rubber/nitrile fuel conduit 15, in which case sleeve 10 is proposed for the purpose of containing a fuel leak or preventing a fire after ballistic penetration of the fuel conduit 15 inside of the sleeve 10.

Continuing with Figure 1 , between sleeve 10 and conduit 15 is space 20.

Space 20 is created by the difference in size between sleeve 10 and conduit 15 and maintained by seals 25. Seals 25 provide a fluid seal between conduit 15 and sleeve 10 to contain any fluid that may leak from conduit 15 while also positioning sleeve 10 in a spaced relationship from conduit 15 to create space 20. Also shown in Figure 1 is fluid 30 within conduit 15.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the conduit 15 and sleeve 10 of Figure 1 showing again the fluid 30 within conduit 15 and space 20 between conduit 15 and

sleeve 10. While conduit 15 and sleeve 10 are shown having a circular cross section, the invention is not limited to such cross sections. Conduits 15 of any cross section may be enhanced by sleeves 10 of any cross section so long as a space 20 is maintained.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the seal 25 shown in Figure

1. A spacer 35 is sized to fit over conduit 15 in a sealing fashion and within sleeve 15 in a sealing fashion. The cross section of spacer 35 is determined by the shapes of both sleeve 10 and conduit 15. Seal 25 may then be secured by a compression strap 40 as shown in Figure 3 to secure the positioning of spacer 35. This embodiment of seal 25 is shown for exemplary purposes only and it is readily apparent that other sealing means may be used to achieve the invention. For example, sleeve 10 may be tapered into direct sealing engagement with conduit 15. Of importance is that space 20 be maintained and sealed such that fluid 30 that may leak into space 20 is contained within space 20.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a fluid conduit 15 having a self-healing protective sleeve 10 according to the present invention installed in a test chamber prior to penetration by a ballistic projectile. In this view, conduit 15 is black while sleeve 10 is transparent, thereby highlighting space 20 between conduit 15 and sleeve 10.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fluid conduit 15 having a self-healing protective sleeve 10 according to the present invention installed in a test chamber after penetration by a ballistic projectile. In this view, fluid 30 is shown partially filling space 20. Fluid 30 has leaked from conduit 15 due to penetration 45 in conduit 15 by a projectile (not shown) but has been contained within space 20 by self-healing sleeve 10 and seals 25.

The proper functioning of sleeve 10 depends on the material selected to create sleeve 10. The self-healing ionomer known commercially as Surlyn® 8940 is particularly well suited for use in sleeve 10. Other similar self-healing materials may also be adaptable to the invention. As shown in Figure 5, sleeve 10 is self-healing,

such that when penetrated with a small projectile the penetration 45 automatically closes nearly instantaneously. By spacing sleeve 10 apart from conduit 15 sleeve 10 is allowed to self-heal prior to fluid 30 being forced into penetration 45.

A method for preventing fluid 30 leaks due to projectiles comprises the steps of: identifying a length of fluid conduit 15 that may be exposed to projectiles; selecting a self-healing sleeve 10 that is sized to be placed over the conduit 15 in a spaced relationship; placing the self-healing sleeve 10 over the conduit 15; securing the sleeve 10 in a spaced relationship with the conduit 15 to create a space 20 between the conduit 15 and the sleeve 10; and sealing the space 20 between the conduit and the sleeve. The method may be further streamlined by completing the securing and spacing in a single step of installing seals 25 that maintain both the spaced relationship and the sealing of the space 20.

The self-healing ionomer used in the present invention self-heals nearly instantaneously, as opposed to conventional self-healing materials that can take several seconds or minutes to seal after perforation. A self-healing protective sleeve

10 works by rapidly (microseconds) closing the ballistic penetration 45 in the sleeve to prevent fuel or other fluids 30 from escaping from the ballistically penetrated sleeve 10 over conduit 15, so as to reduce fluid 30 leak from the conduit 15 / sleeve 10 system and to reduce the resulting threat of fire.

The present invention reduces the probability of an aircraft fuel system fire by containing the fuel after penetration of a fuel conduit, and by separating fuel escaping from the fuel source, e.g., conduit, from ignition sources outside the confines of sleeve 10. Installed as a sleeve enveloping a fuel conduit, the sleeve of the present invention can significantly reduce the quantity of fuel escaping into a dry bay, or area surrounding a fuel source, thereby reducing the risk of a sustained fire.

The invention is unique because, unlike conventional self-healing fuel conduits, the present invention uses an instantaneously self-healing ionomer, preferably a Surlyn® ionomer, which self-heals instantaneously as opposed to requiring several seconds or minutes to seal. The present invention is also unique

because it is designed to be rapidly installed over existing fuel conduits, as opposed to replacing existing fuel conduits. The combination of the advanced material, e.g., self-healing ionomers or other rapidly self-healing materials, and fuel conduit protection as a sleeve, is considered unique.

While this invention has been described with reference to an illustrative embodiment, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description.