Aircraft fuel tank isolator
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorNicholas West
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An isolator for an aircraft fuel tank configured to separate an electrically conductive internal panel of the fuel tank from an electrically conductive pipe that passes through the panel. The isolator includes: a plurality of first attachment points for attaching the isolator to the panel, a plurality of second attachment points for attaching the isolator to the pipe, and an aperture defined by an outer wall and extending from a first side of the isolator to a second side of the isolator. The aperture is configured to receive the pipe in use, wherein the isolator is formed of a non-electrically conductive material.
Claims18
An isolator for an aircraft fuel tank, the isolator configured to separate an electrically conductive internal panel of the fuel tank from an electrically conductive pipe that passes through the panel, the isolator comprising:
- a plurality of first attachment points configured to attach the isolator to the panel,
- a plurality of second attachment points configured to attach the isolator to the pipe, and
- an aperture defined by an outer wall and extending from a first side of the isolator to a second side of the isolator, the aperture configured to receive the pipe,
- wherein the isolator comprises a non-electrically conductive material.
A method of isolating an electrically conductive internal panel or an aircraft fuel tank from an electrically conductive pipe that passes through the panel, the method comprising:
- passing the pipe through a tube of a non-electrically conductive material isolator,
- passing the tube through an aperture in the panel,
- rigidly attaching the isolator to a pipe fitting fixed to the pipe with an electrically-conductive first fastener;
- rigidly attaching the isolator to the panel with an electrically-conductive second fastener, and
- electrically insulating the second fastener from the pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.