Composite waste and water transport elements and methods of manufacture for use on aircraft

{
  "publication_number": "US9458955B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Composite waste and water transport elements and methods of manufacture for use on aircraft",
  "abstract": "Embodiments of the present invention provide composite waste and water transport elements that can be designed having various unique shapes and methods for their manufacture.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A composite tube for use in a waste or water system on board a passenger transport vehicle, the tube comprising: a. a tube body comprising a thermoplastic or thermoset material; b. one or more fiber materials incorporated into the tube body; c. wherein the tube has at least one bend comprising a thicker section that is reinforced such that impact resistance at the bend in the tube is greater than along other portions of the tube.",
    "2. The tube of claim 1, wherein the tube is manufactured using 3D printing technology.",
    "3. The tube of claim 1, wherein the tube has a non-circular cross-section.",
    "4. The tube of claim 3, wherein the cross section comprises an oval, D-shaped, C-shaped, curved and flat surface, flat-sided, corkscrewed cross section, or any combination thereof.",
    "5. The tube of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic or thermoset material of the tube body comprises polyethylenimine, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphenylsulfone, polyether ether ketone, polyetherketone ketone, polyvinylidene fluoride, or any combination thereof.",
    "6. The tube of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic or thermoset material of the tube body comprises epoxy, vinyl ester, or any combination thereof.",
    "7. The tube of claim 1, wherein the fiber materials comprise carbon fiber, fiber glass, Kevlar, nomex, or any combination thereof.",
    "8. The tube of claim 1, wherein the fiber materials are continuous fibers, short fibers, uni-directional, woven, braided, or any combination thereof.",
    "9. The tube of claim 1, wherein the thicker section comprises an impact pad at the bend in the tube.",
    "10. The tube of claim 9, wherein the impact pad comprises polyarylsulphones, polycarbonates, titanium, CRES, or any combination thereof.",
    "11. The tube of claim 1, wherein the thicker section comprises a thicker section of the same material of the tube positioned at the bend in the tube."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to composite waste and water transport elements that can be designed having various unique shapes and methods for their manufacture.\n\nThere are generally two types of liquid delivery tubes used on board an aircraft or other aerospace vehicle - vacuum waste tubes and tubes used to carry potable water from a potable water tank to a hand washing station, sink, or other water-using apparatus. Both types of water tubes are typically made out of corrosion resistant steel (CRES) thin walled tubing. For example, current vacuum waste tubes are typically titanium thin walled (0.020″ to 0.028″) tubes of diameters from one to four inches in diameter. In some situations, corrosion resistant steel (CRES) thin walled tubing, which is about 0.020″ to 0.035″ in wall thickness, is used. These tubes are used because these metals meet all aerospace requirements for transport elements (temperature, chemical exposure, structural, impact, and other requirements). Tubes used for the vacuum waste system are primarily straight tubes, which also incorporate bends and wyes (manifolds, pullouts, tees, and so forth). FIG. 1 shows a waste tube which has a wye (pullout) and various bends. Typically, a straight wall titanium tube is bent as required and wyes are welded and fittings (AS1650 style) are swaged or welded to tube ends. In some cases, a beaded end is used per AS5131 in place of the welded fittings.",
  "cpc": [
    "B29C 33/52",
    "B29C 64/106",
    "B29C 67/0055",
    "B29C 70/30",
    "B29D 23/00",
    "B29L 2023/004",
    "B33Y 80/00",
    "F16L 43/008",
    "F16L 9/12",
    "F16L 9/127",
    "F16L 9/128",
    "F16L 9/133",
    "Y10T 428/139",
    "Y10T 428/1393"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B64D 11/02",
    "B29D 23/00",
    "B29C 33/52",
    "B29C 67/00",
    "B29C 70/30",
    "F16L 43/00",
    "F16L 9/12",
    "F16L 9/127",
    "F16L 9/128",
    "F16L 9/133"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "MAG Aerospace Industries LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jason Hammer",
    "Mohan Muttur"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-07-19",
  "publication_date": "2016-10-04",
  "grant_date": "2016-10-04",
  "priority_date": "2012-07-20",
  "application_number": "US-201313945940-A",
  "family_id": "49484414",
  "cited_by_count": 127,
  "citations": [
    "WO1990008637A1",
    "DE4402984A1",
    "JP2000061959A",
    "WO2009155491A2",
    "FR2942018A1",
    "WO2013126981A1"
  ]
}