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US 12,024,309 B2Granted
Fuel tank diffuser
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsEric Bonte, David Petit, Daniel Peachey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel system for an aircraft including a fuel tank for storing fuel during operation of the aircraft and a diffuser disposed inside the fuel tank. The diffuser is configured such that it forms part of a flow path configured to connect a fuel source to the inside of the fuel tank. The diffuser includes a wall which at least partially defines an internal space of the diffuser; an opening in the wall, which provides access to the internal space; and a blocking component configured to block the opening.
Claims21
A fuel system for an aircraft comprising:
- a fuel tank for storing fuel during operation of the aircraft;
- and
- a diffuser disposed inside the fuel tank and forming part of a fuel flow path configured to connect a fuel source to an interior of the fuel tank;
- wherein the diffuser includes:
- a wall at least partially defining an internal space in the diffuser for the fuel;
- a fuel inlet configured to pass fuel from the fuel source into the internal space, wherein the fuel inlet includes a fuel conduit extending through the wall having an open end from which the fuel flows from the fuel inlet into the diffuser, wherein the open end of the fuel conduit is isolated from the wall;
- a fuel outlet in the wall configured to allow the fuel to flow from the diffuser into the interior of the fuel tank;
- an opening in the wall providing access to the internal space from the fuel tank, wherein the opening is spaced apart from the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet;
- and
- a blocking component configured to block the opening.
7 more elements
A fuel system for an aircraft comprising:
- a fuel tank for storing fuel during operation of the aircraft;
- and
- a diffuser disposed inside the fuel tank and forming part of a flow path configured to connect a fuel source to an interior of the fuel tank;
- wherein the diffuser includes:
- a wall at least partially defining an internal space in the diffuser to receive fuel;
- a fuel conduit extending through the wall having a fuel conduit inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the fuel source and a fuel conduit outlet isolated from the wall, wherein the fuel conduit is configured to allow fuel from the fuel source to flow through the fuel conduit and from the fuel conduit outlet into the diffuser;
- a fuel outlet in the wall configured to allow the fuel to flow from the diffuser into the interior of the fuel tank;
- an opening in the wall providing access to the internal space from the fuel tank, wherein the opening is spaced apart from the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet;
- and
- a blocking component configured to block the opening,
- wherein the blocking component is an operational blocking component, and the operational blocking component is configured to permit fuel from the fuel source to flow into the fuel tank through the diffuser and out the fuel outlet when the operational blocking component is engaged with the opening.
8 more elements
A kit of parts comprising:
- a fuel tank having an inlet through which fuel can flow into the fuel tank;
- a diffuser disposed inside the fuel tank, connected to the inlet;
- wherein the diffuser comprises a wall which defines an opening and which is configured to be engageable with a blocking component;
- a test blocking component configured to engage with the wall to block the opening, wherein the test blocking component is configured to prevent fuel from a fuel source connected to the inlet from flowing into the fuel tank when the test blocking component is engaged with the wall;
- and
- an operational blocking component configured to engage with the wall to block the opening, wherein the operational blocking component is configured to permit fuel from a fuel source connected to the inlet to flow into the fuel tank when the operational blocking component is engaged with the opening.
3 more elements
A method for use in manufacturing an aircraft comprising:
- providing a fuel tank component configured to form at least part of an aircraft fuel tank connected to a fuel delivery apparatus, the fuel delivery apparatus being configured to define a flow path between a fuel source and the inside of the fuel tank and comprising a diffuser configured to be disposed within the fuel tank, arranging a test blocking component on the diffuser such that the test blocking component blocks the flow path and prevents fluid flow between an internal space of the fuel delivery apparatus and the inside of the fuel tank;
- performing a pressure test of the fuel delivery apparatus;
- and
- replacing the test blocking component with an operational blocking component which permits fluid flow between the internal space of the fuel delivery apparatus and the inside of the fuel tank.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.