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US 10,633,108 B2Granted
Aircraft fuel tank inerting system
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsDominic Ashton, John Wood, John Foster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft fuel tank system includes at least one fuel tank having a plurality of interconnected bays and a vent arranged so as to allow an inward venting of atmospheric air. The system is arranged so as to direct the inwardly vented air along a vent duct. The vent duct is arranged so as to convey the inwardly vented air to substantially each one of the interconnected bays.
Claims21
An aircraft fuel tank system, comprising:
- at least one fuel tank having a plurality of interconnected bays;
- a vent arranged so as to allow an inward venting of atmospheric air, the vent comprising:
- a vent duct fluidly connecting each of the interconnected bays;
- and
- a vent box connected to the vent duct, the vent box receiving the inwardly vented atmospheric air, and
- a nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) deposit connected to the vent box and configured to supply NEA to the vent box so as to mix NEA with the inwardly vented atmospheric air so as to provide an NEA/inwardly vented atmospheric air mixture,
- wherein the system is arranged so as to direct the mixture along the vent duct to the interconnected bays, and
- wherein the vent duct is formed by a first stringer of the wing, a second stringer of the wing disposed opposite the first stringer, aircraft wing skin, and a closure surface disposed opposite the aircraft wing skin, or a box shaped stringer of the wing, to form a substantially closed conduit.
5 more elements
A method of operating an aircraft fuel inerting system that includes a fuel tank having a plurality of interconnected bays, the method comprising:
- inwardly venting air along a vent, the vent comprising:
- a vent duct fluidly connecting each of the interconnected bays;
- and
- a vent box connected to the vent duct, the vent box receiving the inwardly vented atmospheric air,
- supplying nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) to the vent box so as to mix NEA with the inwardly vented atmospheric air so as to provide an NEA/inwardly vented atmospheric air mixture;
- and
- distributing the mixture to substantially each one of the interconnected bays,
- wherein the vent duct is formed by a first stringer of the wing, a second stringer of the wing disposed opposite the first stringer, aircraft wing skin, and a closure surface disposed opposite the aircraft wing skin, or a box shaped stringer of the wing, to form a substantially closed conduit.
5 more elements
An aircraft fuel tank system, comprising:
- at least one fuel tank with a plurality of interconnected bays;
- a vent configured to allow inward venting of atmospheric air, the vent comprising:
- a vent duct fluidly connecting each of the interconnecting bays;
- and
- a vent box connected to the vent duct, the vent box receiving the inwardly vented atmospheric air, and
- a nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) deposit connected to the vent box and configured to supply NEA to the vent box so as to mix NEA with the inwardly vented atmospheric air so as to provide an NEA/inwardly vented atmospheric air mixture,
- wherein the system is arranged so as to direct the mixture along the vent duct, the vent duct having a plurality of exit apertures arranged so as to deliver the mixture to a plurality of different locations in the at least one fuel tank, and
- wherein the vent duct is formed by a first stringer of the wing, a second stringer of the wing disposed opposite the first stringer, aircraft wing skin, and a closure surface disposed opposite the aircraft wing skin, or a box shaped stringer of the wing, to form a substantially closed conduit.
5 more elements
An aircraft fuel tank system, comprising:
- at least one fuel tank with a plurality of interconnected bays;
- a vent configured to allow inward venting of atmospheric air, the vent comprising:
- a vent duct fluidly connecting each of the interconnecting bays;
- a vent box connected to the vent duct, the vent box receiving the inwardly vented atmospheric air;
- and
- a valve interfacing with the vent duct, and
- a nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) deposit connected to the vent box and configured to supply NEA to the vent box so as to mix NEA with the inwardly vented atmospheric air so as to provide an NEA/inwardly vented atmospheric air mixture,
- wherein the system is arranged so as to direct the mixture via the valve so as to deliver the mixture to a plurality of different locations in the at least one fuel tank, and
- wherein the vent duct is formed by a first stringer of the wing, a second stringer of the wing disposed opposite the first stringer, aircraft wing skin, and a closure surface disposed opposite the aircraft wing skin, or a box shaped stringer of the wing, to form a substantially closed conduit.
6 more elements
An aircraft fuel tank system, comprising:
- at least one fuel tank with a main volume divided into a plurality of interconnected bays;
- a vent configured to allow inward venting of atmospheric air, the vent comprising:
- a vent duct fluidly connecting each of the interconnecting bays;
- a vent box connected to the vent duct, the vent box receiving the inwardly vented atmospheric air;
- and
- a plurality of valves located at a corresponding plurality of different positions in the at least one fuel tank, and
- a nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) deposit connected to the vent box and configured to supply NEA to the vent box so as to mix NEA with the inwardly vented atmospheric air so as to provide an NEA/inwardly vented atmospheric air mixture,
- wherein the system is arranged so as to channel the mixture along the vent duct, the vent duct interfacing with the plurality of valves which are configured, in an open position, to allow the mixture to exit the vent duct and to enter the main volume of the at least one fuel tank, and
- wherein the vent duct is formed by a first stringer of the wing, a second stringer of the wing disposed opposite the first stringer, aircraft wing skin, and a closure surface disposed opposite the aircraft wing skin, or a box shaped stringer of the wing, to form a substantially closed conduit.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.