| 摘要 |
A clamping system and method for use in a fluid coupling assembly may include redundant locking features for connecting adjacent ends of fluid conduits such as aircraft fuel lines. The exemplary clamping system (20) may make use of two draw latch mechanisms (28,28') that each separately apply a spring loaded clamping force to a flex band assembly (25) through corresponding draw springs (40,40') which oppose one another. Thus, either latch mechanism (28,28') may provide a draw latch function by providing a clamping force to the flex band assembly (25), which in turn holds the end flanges (32,34) of the fluid conduits (22,24) together, thereby providing a sealing connection to facilitate the transfer of a fluid there between. Using two opposed draw latch mechanisms (28,28') provides for redundant clamping forces such that the failure of one of the mechanisms does not result in an inadvertent disconnection of the fluid conduits one from the other. |
