Abstract: A manufacturing process for reverse building complex-shaped vehicle fuel tanks using complementary female mold half sections which, when joined together about their mating peripheral edges, exactly duplicate the fuel cavity framework of the vehicle into which the completed tanks are to be mounted. Whereas previous reverse building processes employed light weight, air-curable, non-tear fabric such as nylon fabric reinforcement to both halves of the female molds, such fabric is applied only to the mold for the top half of the fuel tank of the present invention. Self-sealing, autoclave curable materials are used in the bottom half of the fuel tank, thereby providing improved ballistic protection to the lower portion of the tank.

Abstract: A lift bag includes a plurality of independently inflatable chambers for controlling lifting of objects. Each chamber is defined by an upper surface sheet and a lower surface sheet, the upper surface sheet of one chamber positioned below an adjacent chamber being securely attached to the lower surface sheet of an adjacent chamber. The lift bag can be operated at pressures of about 15 psig at specified heights which allows greater flexibility compared to conventional, single-chambered lift bag which operate at pressures of about 7 psig. Preferably, all seams, reinforcements, and fittings are vulcanized in place using uncured rubber coated fabric. Grommets or other securing means may provide further stability to the lift bag.