Multi-directional baffles for aircraft fuel tanks
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsErnst Wolfgang Stautner, Lokaditya Ryali, Dhanushkodi Durai Mariappan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Example systems and methods for using multi-directional baffles in cryogenic fuel tanks are provided. An example cryogenic fuel tank comprises an inner surface defining an interior of the cryogenic fuel tank to hold a fuel and a plurality of baffles including a first baffle, the first baffle including a first member extending along a first plane and a second member extending along a second plane, the first plane different from the second plane, the second member connected to the first member, the plurality of baffles connected to the inner surface.
Claims20
A fuel tank including a system of baffles, the system of baffles comprising:
- a first baffle, the first baffle including:
- a first member to dampen fuel movement in at least a first direction;
- and
- a second member intersecting the first member, the second member to dampen the fuel movement in at least a second direction, a first portion of the second member extending from a first side of the first member and a second portion of the second member extending from a second side of the first member, the second side opposite the first side, wherein the first baffle has a base and a height, the base to connect the first baffle to an inner surface of the fuel tank, the height to extend from the base and terminate before a ceiling of the fuel tank, and wherein the height of the first baffle dampens the fuel movement by allowing fuel to pass over a top of the first baffle;
- and
- a second baffle, the second baffle including a third member to dampen the fuel movement in at least the first direction, the second baffle being circumferentially offset around and axially spaced along the fuel tank from the first baffle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.