# US 2014/0191085 A1 · Outer fuel tank access cover, wing and aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191085 A1 - Document ID: US20140191085A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/136,725 - Filed: 2013-12-20 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-21 - Applicants: Airbus Operations S.L. - Inventors: Marcos Alazraki; Jose Sanz Torrijos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191085A1 ## CPC - B64D 37/06: Constructional adaptations thereof - B64C 1/1446: {Inspection hatches (for engine cowls B64D29/08)} - B64C 3/34: Tanks constructed integrally with wings, e.g. for fuel or water - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS ## Abstract An outer fuel access tank cover (FTAC) of an aircraft, a wing comprising such outer FTAC of an aircraft and an aircraft are provided. In one example, an outer fuel tank access cover (FTAC) (4) of an aircraft includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer FTAC is to cover the outer opening of a void area of a manhole for accessing the interior of a wing of an aircraft in which the interior of the wing comprises a fuel tank. The outer FTAC comprises absorption means adapted for absorbing the impact energy due to an object impacting against the outer FTAC. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An outer fuel tank access cover for covering an outer opening of a void area of a manhole for accessing an interior of a wing of an aircraft that includes a fuel tank, the outer fuel tank access cover comprising: an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the outer fuel tank access cover comprises absorption means for absorbing the impact energy due to an object impacting against the outer fuel tank access cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 1, wherein the absorption means are at least one frangible line located on the inner surface of the outer fuel tank access cover and calibrated for being ruptured once a predetermined level of energy due to an impact is reached. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 2, wherein the at least one frangible line is zigzag shaped. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 2, wherein the at least one frangible line defines a closed region within the inner surface of the outer fuel tank access cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 2, wherein the outer fuel tank access cover comprises at least one second frangible line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 4 wherein the closed region is ellipse-shaped. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 2, wherein the outer fuel tank access cover comprises a stiffener. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 7, wherein the stiffener is a stiffener ring surrounding the at least one frangible line on the inner surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 1, wherein the outer fuel tank access cover is made of metal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 1, wherein the absorption means comprises at least one layer of a rigid material in the outer fuel tank access cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 1, wherein the absorption means comprise at least one piece made of a low density material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 11, wherein the piece made of a low density material is sandwiched between the two layers of a rigid material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 12, wherein the two layers are aluminum layers and the piece made of a low density material is made of foam. ### Claim 14 A wing of an aircraft, comprising: a fuel tank; and a fuel tank access covering the fuel tank and including an outer fuel tank access cover, the outer fuel tank access cover including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer fuel tank access cover comprises an energy absorption area for absorbing the impact energy due to an object impacting against the outer fuel tank access cover. ### Claim 15 An aircraft, comprising: a wing including a fuel tank and a fuel tank access covering the fuel tank, the fuel tank access including an outer fuel tank access cover, the outer fuel tank access cover including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer fuel tank access cover comprises at least one frangible line located on the inner surface of the outer fuel tank access cover that is calibrated for being ruptured once a predetermined level of energy due to an impact is reached. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 5 wherein the at least one second frangible line is zigzaged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The outer fuel tank access cover according to claim 8, wherein the stiffener ring is located within an interior perimeter of the outer fuel tank access cover, which is defined by a line of bolts. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The wing according to claim 14, wherein the energy absorption area includes at least one frangible line located on the inner surface of the outer fuel tank access cover and calibrated for being ruptured once a predetermined level of energy due to an impact is reached. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The wing according to claim 18, wherein the at least one frangible line is zigzag shaped. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The aircraft according to claim 15, wherein the at least one frangible line defines a closed region within the inner surface of the outer fuel tank access cover.