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US 12,434,906 B2Granted
Pressureless water tank for operation in an aircraft, aircraft section and aircraft having a water tank
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsFrank Schneider, Frederik Albers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water tank for operation in an aircraft includes a rigid tank shell, and a pressure compensation mechanism to equalize a pressure inside of the rigid tank shell with an environment. The pressure compensation mechanism includes a shutoff member to move between a closed position, a first open position allowing air to enter the rigid tank shell and a second open position allowing air to leave the rigid tank shell.
Claims19
A water tank for an aircraft, the water tank comprising:
- a rigid tank shell;
- and
- a pressure compensation mechanism configured to equalize a pressure inside of the rigid tank shell with an environment,
- the pressure compensation mechanism comprising a shutoff member in a form of a flap that is pivotable about a hinge that connects the flap to the rigid tank shell, wherein the flap is configured to move between:
- a closed position;
- a first open position, which allows air to enter the rigid tank shell from the environment;
- and
- a second open position, which allows air to leave the rigid tank shell and flow into the environment;
- wherein, when the flap is in the first open position, the flap is opened inwardly, into the rigid tank shell, and, when the flap is in the second open position, the flap is opened outwardly, extending out of the rigid tank shell, such that a direction of movement of the flap from the closed position to the first open position is opposite a direction of movement of the flap from the closed position to the second open position;
- and
- wherein, when the flap is in the first open position, the flap is positioned with a first degree of aperture and, when the flap is in the second open position, the flap is positioned with a second degree of aperture, which is larger than the first degree of aperture.
8 more elements
A water tank for an aircraft, the water tank comprising:
- a rigid tank shell;
- and
- a pressure compensation mechanism configured to equalize a pressure inside of the rigid tank shell with an environment,
- the pressure compensation mechanism comprising a shutoff member in a form of a diaphragm that is configured to control a size of an opening in the rigid tank shell, wherein the diaphragm has, for controlling whether the opening is open or closed, an aperture that is adjustable between:
- a closed position, in which the opening is closed;
- a first open position, in which the aperture has a first size for allowing air to enter the rigid tank shell from the environment;
- and
- a second open position, in which the aperture has a second size for allowing air to leave the rigid tank shell and flow into the environment;
- wherein the second size of the aperture is larger than the first size of the aperture;
- wherein the shutoff member comprises a filter configured to prevent passage of contaminants and particulate matter from the environment into the rigid tank shell;
- wherein the filter has an outer diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the diaphragm;
- and
- wherein an outer diameter of the aperture, when the aperture is the first size, is a same as the outer diameter of the filter, such that all of the air passing from the environment into the rigid tank shell must pass through the filter when the aperture is the first size.
10 more elements
A water tank for an aircraft, the water tank comprising:
- a rigid tank shell;
- and
- a pressure compensation mechanism configured to equalize a pressure inside of the rigid tank shell with an environment,
- the pressure compensation mechanism comprising a shutoff member in a form of a flap that is pivotable about a hinge that connects the flap to the rigid tank shell, wherein the flap is configured to move between:
- a closed position;
- and
- a second open position, which allows air to leave the rigid tank shell and flow into the environment;
- wherein the shutoff member comprises a diaphragm arranged in or on the flap, the diaphragm having an aperture that is adjustable between the closed position and a first open position, which allows air to enter the rigid tank shell from the environment through the aperture;
- and
- wherein, when the flap is in the second open position, the flap is opened outwardly, extending out of the rigid tank shell.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.