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US 11,008,114 B2Granted
Expandable energy absorbing fluid bladder systems and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMichael Patrick Kozar, Mark S. Wilenski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various techniques are provided for an expandable energy absorbing fluid bladder. In one example, the fluid bladder includes a primary portion and a secondary portion. The secondary portion can be configured to expand or increase in volume when the fluid bladder is subjected to a pulse greater than a threshold pulse. Expansion of the secondary portion can allow fluid or additional fluid to flow into the secondary portion and thus decrease a peak pulse and, thus, avoid rupture of the fluid bladder.
Claims20
A fluid bladder comprising:
- a bladder body comprising:
- a primary portion with a first bladder volume that is closed and configured to contain fluid,
- a secondary portion with a secondary volume configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid from the primary portion when at least a portion of the bladder body receives a pulse from the fluid greater than a predetermined threshold pulse, and
- a structure configured to limit fluid flow from the primary portion into the secondary portion, wherein the structure allows the at least a portion of the fluid to flow into the secondary portion responsive to the bladder body receiving the pulse greater than the predetermined threshold pulse, and wherein the structure comprises a door between the primary portion and the secondary portion configured to open responsive to the bladder body receiving the pulse greater than the predetermined threshold pulse.
1 more element
A fluid bladder comprising:
- a bladder body comprising:
- a primary portion with a first bladder volume that is closed and configured to contain fluid,
- a secondary portion with a secondary volume configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid from the primary portion when at least a portion of the bladder body receives a pulse from the fluid greater than a predetermined threshold pulse, and
- a structure configured to limit fluid flow from the primary portion into the secondary portion, wherein the structure allows the at least a portion of the fluid to flow into the secondary portion responsive to the bladder body receiving the pulse greater than the predetermined threshold pulse,
- wherein the secondary portion comprises a furled portion configured to at least partially unfurl responsive to the bladder body receiving the pulse greater than the predetermined threshold pulse,
- and wherein the structure comprises a hook and loop fastener configured to hold the furled portion in a furled position during a normal operation of a vehicle and configured to allow the furled portion to at least partially unfurl responsive to the bladder body receiving the pulse greater than the predetermined threshold pulse.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.