US 12,285,808 B2
Coupling systems and methods of use thereof
Om Prakash, Bangalore (IN); Sandeep Tripathi, Kanpur (IN); Megha Sahu, Bangalore (IN); Kamaraj Kandhasamy, Bangalore (IN); and Carolyn L. Kupper, Summerville, SC (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/378,292.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/068,181, filed on Aug. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0056930 A1, Feb. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B23B 31/30 (2006.01); B08B 9/027 (2006.01); B23Q 3/06 (2006.01); B08B 9/032 (2006.01)
CPC B23B 31/305 (2013.01) [B08B 9/027 (2013.01); B23Q 3/064 (2013.01); B08B 9/032 (2013.01); B23B 2270/027 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling system, that comprises:
a housing that comprises:
a first end;
a second end opposite the first end; and
an inside surface that defines a housing cavity, wherein the first end comprises a first recess and the second end comprises a second recess;
a first coupling mechanism positioned in the first recess, wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises:
a first connector body in contact with the first recess, wherein the first connector body comprises:
a first cavity;
a first open end;
a second open end;
a first inside wall, wherein the first cavity extends from the first open end to the second open end and configured to receive a first end of a component; and
a first aperture;
a first flexible pad disposed concentrically in the first cavity and separated from an inside surface of the first connector body by a first gap, the first gap formed concentrically in and including the inside surface of the first connector body; and
a first flexible sleeve disposed concentrically in the first cavity adjacent to the first flexible pad;
a second coupling mechanism positioned in the second recess, wherein the second coupling mechanism comprises:
a second connector body in contact with the second recess, wherein the second connector body comprises:
a second cavity;
a second flexible pad disposed concentrically in the second cavity; and
a second flexible sleeve disposed concentrically in the second cavity adjacent to the second flexible pad
a first open end;
a second open end;
a second inside surface, wherein the second cavity extends from the first open end to the second open end and is configured to receive a second end of a component; and
a second aperture; and
the second flexible pad separated from an inside surface of the second connector body by a second gap, the second gap formed concentrically in and including the inside surface of the second connector body.