Aircraft fuel tank with an electrical bond separate from a fuel tank fastener
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsRichard Andrew Olson, Brent Clothier, Bryan Edwards
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A aircraft fuel tank includes an inner layer having an inner surface and an outer surface; an outer layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the outer layer and the outer surface of the inner layer aligning at an interface; a fastener extending through the inner layer and the outer layer to hold the inner layer and the outer layer together; and an electrical bond separate from the fastener and conductively coupling the inner layer and the outer layer together; the electrical bond is to provide a pathway for an electrical current to travel separate from the fastener.
Claims19
An aircraft fuel tank, comprising:
- an inner layer having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- an outer layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the outer layer and the outer surface of the inner layer aligning at an interface;
- a fastener extending through the inner layer and the outer layer to hold the inner layer and the outer layer together;
- and
- an electrical bond separate from the fastener and adjacent to the fastener, the electrical bond conductively coupling the inner layer and the outer layer together, the electrical bond being selected from a group consisting of:
- (1) a spot face electrical bond at least partially surrounding a stem of the fastener;
- and (2) a washer positioned around the stem of the fastener;
- wherein the electrical bond is configured to provide a pathway for an appreciable amount of electrical current to travel separate from the fastener.
A method of diverting current away from a fastener in a aircraft fuel tank, the method comprising:
- selecting an inner layer, an outer layer, and a fastener for the aircraft fuel tank;
- connecting the inner layer and the outer layer with the fastener, the fastener extending from an outer surface of the outer layer to an inner surface of the inner layer;
- creating an electrical bond between the inner layer and the outer layer that is separate from the fastener and adjacent to the fastener such that the inner layer and the outer layer are conductively coupled, the electrical bond being selected from a group consisting of:
- (1) a spot face electrical bond at least partially surrounding a stem of the fastener;
- and (2) a washer positioned around the stem of the fastener;
- exposing the aircraft fuel tank to an electrical current;
- wherein the electrical bond provides a pathway for the electrical current to travel that is separate from the fastener, thereby diverting at least a portion of the electrical current away from the fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.