US-20260125145-A1 - MODULAR LINE ASSEMBLY FOR INSTALLATION IN AN AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE

US20260125145A1US 20260125145 A1US20260125145 A1US 20260125145A1US-20260125145-A1

Abstract

A holding bracket for a line assembly in an aircraft fuselage. The bracket comprises a receiving space and a support portion. The support portion comprises a holding part at least partly surrounding the receiving space designed for receiving a line section of the assembly, and the holding part designed for holding the line section. The support portion also comprises a support part configured for fixedly attaching the holding part to a support. The holding part is attached to the support part via a movable attachment that is configured to provide a predetermined relative movement of the holding part in relation to the support part in an installed state of the line assembly.

Inventors

Carsten Ohlfest
Frank Schneider
Frederik ALBERS

Assignees

AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20230322
Priority Date: 20221028

Claims (16)

1 .- 15 . (canceled)
16 . A holding bracket for a line assembly in an aircraft fuselage, the holding bracket comprising: a receiving space; and a support portion, wherein the support portion comprises: a holding part at least partly surrounding the receiving space configured for receiving a line section of the assembly, and the holding part configured for holding the line section; and a support part configured for fixedly attaching the holding part to a support, wherein the holding part is attached to the support part via a movable attachment that is configured to provide a predetermined relative movement of the holding part in relation to the support part in an installed state of the line assembly.
17 . The holding bracket according to claim 16 , wherein the holding part of the support portion is configured to glide, rotate, or both in relation to the support part.
18 . The holding bracket according to claim 16 , wherein the support part is configured to be attached to a first line section, and the holding part is configured to receive a second line section being different than the first line section.
19 . The holding bracket according to claim 16 , wherein the support part and the holding part are provided as separate parts that are releasably connectable with each other.
20 . The holding bracket according to claim 16 , wherein, for an installation of a line, the holding part is configured to be fixed in relation to the support part in a predetermined installation position.
21 . A modular line assembly for installation in an aircraft fuselage, the assembly comprising: a first line section; at least one second line section; a set of first line brackets; and a set of second line brackets; wherein the first line brackets comprise a first receiving space designed for holding the first line section and a first support portion for attaching the first line brackets to a structural part of the fuselage; wherein the second line brackets comprise a second receiving space configured for holding the at least one second line section and a second support portion for attaching the second line brackets to a support; wherein the set of the second line brackets comprises at least one holding bracket according to claim 16 ; and wherein the at least one second line section is attached to the first line section through a plurality of the second line brackets that are at least partly arranged at a distance to and are independent from the first line brackets.
22 . The modular line assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the second support portion is configured to move in relation to the first line section for compensating expansion, compression movements, or both of the at least one second line section.
23 . The modular line assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the second support portion is configured for attaching the second line brackets to the first line section.
24 . The modular line assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the second support portion is configured for attaching the second line brackets to a support structure.
25 . The modular line assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one second line section comprises the same or higher flexibility than the first line section.
26 . The modular line assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one second line section comprises at least one bend in an overlapping region with one of the first line brackets, another component, or both.
27 . The modular line assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the first line section comprises a vacuum pipe, and wherein the at least one second line section comprises at least one water hose.
28 . An aircraft comprising: a fuselage having at least one from a group consisting of: a cargo space and a cabin space; and an installation arrangement in the fuselage; wherein the installation arrangement comprises at least one modular line assembly according to claim 21 .
29 . A method for installing a first line section and at least one second line section in a fuselage of an aircraft, comprising: attaching a first line section having a first diameter to a structural part of the fuselage through first line brackets, which comprise a first receiving space for holding the first line section and a first support portion for attaching the first line brackets to the structural part; and attaching at least one second line section having a second diameter to the first line section through second line brackets, which comprise a second receiving space for holding the at least one second line section and a second support portion for attaching the second line brackets to the first line section, wherein at least one second line section comprises a higher flexibility than the first line section, and wherein the at least one second line section is attached to the first line section through a plurality of second line brackets that are arranged at a distance to and are independent from the first line brackets.
30 . A tool for mounting the holding bracket according to claim 16 to a mounting surface having an at least part-circular mounting contour, the tool comprising: a first interface for releasably engaging with a connection interface of the holding bracket; and a second interface for temporal engaging with a measuring device, wherein in an engagement with the measuring device, the measuring device provides information about an angular relation of the holding bracket to the mounting surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of International Application Number PCT/EP2023/057271 filed on May 2, 2024, 2022, the Chinese patent application No. 202211334569.2 filed on Oct. 28, 2022, the European patent application No. 22204135.2 filed Oct. 27, 2022 and the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/973,832 filed Oct. 26, 2022, the entire disclosures of which is incorporated herein by way of reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to line installation in an aircraft, and relates in particular to a holding bracket for a line assembly in an aircraft fuselage, to a modular line assembly for installation in an aircraft fuselage, to an aircraft, to a method for installing a first line section and at least one second line section in a fuselage of an aircraft, and to a tool for mounting a holding bracket. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Commercial aircrafts usually have different equipment installed, e.g. for providing utility services such as lavatories to the passengers or for operating galleys by staff members for providing inflight passenger services. Different supply and discharge lines may be installed within the space enclosed by the fuselage. As an example, galley and sanitary equipment may require a potable water system for providing fresh water in a sufficient amount and quality. The potable water is commonly stored in a centralized water tank and is distributed via a pipe network. Such pipes may be provided as stainless steel or titanium pipes having a rather small diameter, e.g. between ½ inches (1.27 cm) and ¾ inches (1.905 cm). Further examples for high and low pressure potable water pipes are flexible hoses from plastic material, such as PEEK, wherein the high pressure hoses comprise an outer diameter of e.g. 0.6 cm. Furthermore, vacuum toilet systems may be installed, based on a pneumatic transport system, which serves for the hygienic disposal of human waste. For this, titanium pipes are provided, which may comprise a diameter of 2 inches (5.08 cm), to a central waste tank. Still further, a waste-water system may be installed, which is used to drain waste-water, e.g. from wash basins, via the heated drain masts overboard. EP 3 385 163 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 10,822,774 B2, as examples, show an aircraft comprising a high-pressure water supply and distribution system. Furthermore, different types of lines may be installed in parallel, requiring a plurality of different brackets and mounting structures that need to be adapted to different requirements of the different types of lines. However, due to different expansion behavior, additional compensation sections may have to be installed, which has been shown to result in a mounting system with increased complexity also meaning unwanted weight and also increased costs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There may thus be a need for an improved installation for lines or similar system installations on board commercial aircraft to avoid at least some of the afore-mentioned constraints. This need may be met is solved by one or more embodiments described herein. It should be noted that the following described aspects of the invention apply also for the holding bracket for a line assembly in an aircraft fuselage, for the modular line assembly for installation in an aircraft fuselage, for the aircraft, for the tool for mounting a holding bracket and for the method for installing a first line section and at least one second line section in a fuselage of an aircraft. According to the present invention, a holding bracket for a line assembly in an aircraft fuselage is provided. The bracket comprises a receiving space and a support portion. The support portion comprises a holding part at least partly surrounding the receiving space designed for receiving a line section of the assembly. The holding part is designed for holding the line section. The support portion also comprises a support part configured for fixedly attaching the holding part to a support. The holding part is attached to the support part via a movable attachment that is configured to provide a predetermined relative movement of the holding part in relation to the support part in an installed state of the line assembly. As an effect, it is possible to securely hold a line, i.e. a pipe, while still allowing movement caused by e.g. thermal or pressure induced expansion or even shrinking. The movable attachment provides the fixation to a structural part or another (non-or less moving) line or pipe on the one side, while providing a predetermined play or option for movement on the other side. According to an example, the holding part of the support portion is adapted to glide and/or rotate in relation to the support part. As an option, fixed and movable second line brackets may be used. When installing a bend in the second line section, the movable second line brackets may be rotated about an angle about the central axis of the first line section. The a