Removable Aircraft Fuel Tank Patents (Class 220/4.15)
  • Patent number: 11845602
    Abstract: A tank for the storage of liquid or gaseous substances with a fiber-reinforced plastic sheathing, which limits at least one interior space for holding the materials to be stored. At least one circumferential section of the fiber-reinforced plastic sheathing comprises an evacuable sandwich structure, which completely encloses the circumferential section. As a result, the tank has a low weight with a high thermal insulation capacity. Furthermore, a reliable explosion protection of the tank is provided. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a tank for the storage of liquid or gaseous substances is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ArianeGroup GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Wendt, Gerrit Quappen, Michael Quatmann, Markus Quadt, Markus Kleineberg, Dirk Röstermundt, Jan Stüve, Daniel Stefaniak, Andreas Kolbe
  • Patent number: 11742500
    Abstract: A tank has a body defining a chamber therein, the chamber is configured to store a gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, a first mounting element extending from the body, and a second mounting element extending from the body. The first mounting element and the second mounting element are configured for coupling to a first component of a vehicle and a second component of the vehicle, respectively, and the body is configured to carry a structural load between the first component and the second component when the first mounting element and the second mounting element are coupled thereto. The first component carries a propulsion device and the second component comprises at least one of a wing and a landing element. The tank further includes a stem having an orifice and the stem is configured for delivering the gas to the propulsion device through the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Dean Rainville, William Ben Johns
  • Patent number: 9950616
    Abstract: A fuel tank baffle assembly is provided for installation in a fuel tank, the baffle assembly comprising a main body having a first end section, a second end section, and an intermediate section interconnecting the first and second end sections. Operably associated with the main body is at least one deployable auxiliary baffle structure. The auxiliary baffle structure is configured to be positioned in an undeployed state during installation into a fuel tank, thereby defining a first installation width of the baffle assembly. Following installation, the auxiliary baffle structure is deployed into an extended position, thereby defining an operational width for subsequent usage. The operational width is greater than the installation width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Yager, James D. Anchak, Jr., Michael Grant Lieblang
  • Patent number: 9896012
    Abstract: A transport vessel and method specifically adapted for safely transporting liquid containing unstabilized drill cuttings. Typically drilling waste is stabilized using binding agents like fly-ash, liquids absorbing pellets or sawdust. In many jurisdictions binding agents are required to stabilize the drilling waste prior to transport. A sealed transport vessel is described herein which is specifically designed, sized and positioned over a set of axles so as to provide for safe, non-spilling transport, and particular ease of emptying for unstabilized drill cuttings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: RECOVER ENERGY SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Steger, Stan Ross, Wendell Palmer
  • Patent number: 8939407
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first structure, a second structure, a first layer, and a second layer. The first structure has a first plurality of channels extending towards a number of edges of the first structure. The second structure has a second plurality of channels extending towards a number of edges of the second structure. A first side of the first structure is connected to a first side of the second structure. The first plurality of channels and the second plurality of channels have an orientation with respect to each other. The first layer is connected to a second side of the first structure. The second layer is connected to a second side of the second structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael James Robinson, Michael Leslie Hand
  • Patent number: 8881924
    Abstract: A tank for containing a fluid, such as fuel, oil or gas within a chamber. The walls of the chamber are partially defined by a rigid structure having an opening; and partially defined by an elastomeric diaphragm which is attached around its periphery to the rigid structure and covers the opening in the rigid structure. An attachment frame engages the diaphragm and the rigid structure, and extends around the periphery of the diaphragm. The attachment frame has a first portion which engages the diaphragm, and a second portion which is positioned outside an outer edge of the diaphragm and attached to the rigid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Colin John West, James Alves, Robert Piper
  • Patent number: 8685149
    Abstract: A breather 2 on a top of a tank body 1 is opened through a carbon dioxide permeable membrane 3 to an atmospheric air so as to take an inert gas containing plenty of carbon dioxide permeated through the membrane 3 into the tank body 1 by a negative pressure due to reduction of a fuel F in the tank body 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Uchida
  • Patent number: 8240502
    Abstract: A method for providing a fuel tank assembly is provided with the fuel tank assembly configured to limit the damage otherwise occasioned by the impact of a ballistic projectile. The fuel tank assembly may include a bladder defined between exterior and interior bladder walls, with the interior bladder wall defining a volume for storing fuel. The exterior bladder wall is at least as rigid than the interior bladder wall. The fuel tank assembly can also include connectors between the exterior and interior bladder walls to at least partially limit expansion of the bladder. The fuel tank assembly can also include an inlet opening into the bladder to permit a pressurized gas to be introduced into the bladder. The fuel tank assembly may also include a valve through the interior bladder wall into the volume for storing fuel to permit at least some of the pressurized gas to be introduced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James J. Childress, Warren A. Davis, II
  • Patent number: 7861884
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly are provided which may limit the damage otherwise occasioned by the impact of a ballistic projectile. The fuel tank assembly may include a bladder defined between exterior and interior bladder walls, with the interior bladder wall defining a volume for storing fuel. The exterior bladder wall is at least as or more rigid than the interior bladder wall. The fuel tank assembly can also include connectors between the exterior and interior bladder walls to at least partially limit expansion of the bladder. The fuel tank assembly can also include an inlet opening into the bladder to permit a pressurized gas to be introduced into the bladder. The fuel tank assembly may also include a valve through the interior bladder wall into the volume for storing fuel to permit at least some of the pressurized gas to be introduced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James J. Childress, Warren A. Davis, II
  • Patent number: 7648103
    Abstract: Aircraft fuel tanks, systems and methods increase an aircraft's fuel capacity. The fuel tanks have a tank body defining an interior space for holding aircraft fuel, and a relief manifold assembly operatively associated to the tank body to prevent an overpressure condition within the interior space of the fuel tank body. The relief manifold assembly preferably includes a buffer vessel defining a buffer chamber in fluid communication with the interior space defined by the fuel tank body. The buffer vessel may advantageously be fixed to the tank body within the interior space thereof. At least one of a fuel vent manifold assembly for venting the interior space of the fuel tank and a fuel refill/transfer manifold assembly for supplying fuel to and withdrawing fuel from the interior space of the fuel tank. At least one control box (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: EMBRAER—Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.
    Inventors: Weber de Brito Barbosa, Paulo Henrique Hasmann, Regis Assao
  • Patent number: 7195285
    Abstract: A connection arrangement for detachably connecting a first flexible tank and a second flexible tank in an aircraft includes a latching device, a first tubular connecting element attached to the first tank, and a second tubular connecting element attached to the second tank. The first and the second connecting elements are detachably connected to each other using the latching device. In a connected state of the connecting elements, fluid exchange can take place between the first and the second tanks via the first and the second connecting elements, the latching device is disposed inside one of the first and second flexible tanks and is actuatable from outside the respective flexible tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Eleftherios Rodousakis, Harald Kiowsky
  • Patent number: 6491255
    Abstract: An external auxiliary fuel tank for aircraft including a crashworthy bladder carried within an elongated shell. A center structure is carried by the shell intermediate opposing ends thereof, through which the bladder passes. A mounting assembly is carried by the center structure for attaching the fuel tank to an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Inventors: Jeff Bracken, Randy Crane, Bill York
  • Patent number: 6409040
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle, having a wall (3) which is manufactured from plastic, in particular by injection molding, is provided on its inside with a permeation barrier (4). The permeation barrier (4) is manufactured from a material which is virtually impenetrable for fuel vapors. The permeation barrier (4) is composed of shell parts (5, 6) which are welded to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Markus Distelhoff, Karl Eck, Winfried Fröhlich, Dieter Keller, Justus Klöker, Knut Meyer, Ingo Mohr, Bernd Rumpf, Wolfgang Sinz, Rainer Moser