# US 2019/0168886 A1 · Fuel tank with suction system

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- Number: US 2019/0168886 A1
- Document ID: US20190168886A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/205,918
- Filed: 2018-11-30
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01
- Applicants: Airbus Operations SL
- Inventors: Fernando ANGULO IBAÑEZ
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168886A1

## CPC

- B64D 37/08: Internal partitioning
- B64C 3/34: Tanks constructed integrally with wings, e.g. for fuel or water
- B64D 37/04: Arrangement thereof in or on aircraft
- B64D 37/06: Constructional adaptations thereof
- B64D 37/34: Conditioning fuel, e.g. heating (during filling B64D37/18)
- 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

A fuel tank with a suction system, comprising a flexible hose comprising first and second extremities, the second extremity comprising an orifice configured to be connected to a first orifice of a first pipeline via a connection point. The first extremity of the flexible hose is fastened to a floating system and comprises at least one orifice, such that the orifice is a suction point always able to supply the engine from an upper layer of fuel available inside the tank, to avoid water and dirt from the lower layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel tank with a suction system, said tank configured to receive at least two layers of liquid, with a lower layer being denser than an upper layer, the upper layer comprising fuel, said suction system comprising:
a first pipeline comprising, respectively, a first and a second extremity, said extremities each comprising, respectively, an orifice,
a second pipeline comprising, respectively, a first and a second extremity, said extremities each comprising, respectively, an orifice,
a third pipeline comprising, respectively, a first and a second extremity, said extremities each comprising, respectively, an orifice,
a second orifice of the first pipeline being connected to a first orifice of the second pipeline via a vacuum pump,
a second orifice of the second pipeline being connected to a first orifice of the third pipeline via a valve,
a second orifice of the third pipeline being connected to a fuel engine,
a flexible hose comprising a first and a second extremity, said second extremity comprising an orifice configured to connect to a first orifice of the first pipeline via a connection point,
the first extremity of said flexible hose being fastened to a floating system and comprising at least one orifice, such that the flexible hose orifice is a suction point configured to supply the engine from the upper layer of fuel available within the tank, in order to avoid any water or dirt from the lower layer of liquid.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel tank with a suction system according to claim 1, wherein the connection point is an articulation point, such that the hose is configured to move freely with respect to the first pipeline.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fuel tank with a suction system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible hose is retractable, such that when the first extremity of the flexible hose moves down according to a level of the fuel in the tank, a length of the hose reduces, and when the first extremity of the flexible hose moves up according the level of the fuel in the tank, the hose length is increases.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fuel tank with a suction system according to claim 1, wherein the floating system is a buoy.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fuel tank with a suction system according to claim 1, wherein the first extremity of the flexible hose is confined to move only vertically via a fixed guiding element inside the tank, while the level of liquid within the tank changes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fuel tank with a suction system according to claim 1, wherein the fixed guiding element comprises a rail, a rod or a profile, made from metal or composite material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fuel tank with a suction system according to claim 1, wherein the suction point of the first extremity of the flexible hose is located between 1 and 3 centimeters below the floating system to be sure that the suction point is fed with fuel without air and without potential floating dirt.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fuel tank with a suction system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel tank is configured to be housed inside an aircraft wing or a horizontal tail plane.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

An auxiliary power unit fed with fuel via the fuel tank with a suction system according to claim 1.