Systems and Methods to Jettison Fuel from an Aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsWilliam Rohan Drummond, Thomas Skyler Sartorius, Daniel Alan Watts, Aaron Jonathan Kutzmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system to jettison fuel from an aircraft. The system includes one or more fuel tanks configured to contain the fuel in a pressurized state. Fuel lines extend from the one or more fuel tanks with the fuel lines configured to move the fuel while in a gaseous state. A nozzle is connected to one of the fuel lines with the nozzle having a passage that moves the fuel along a length of the nozzle and out through a distal end of the nozzle.
Claims21
A system to jettison fuel from an aircraft, the system comprising:
- one or more fuel tanks positioned within one or more of a fuselage and wings of the aircraft and that are configured to contain the fuel in a pressurized state;
- fuel lines that extend from the one or more fuel tanks within one or more of the fuselage and the wings of the aircraft, the fuel lines configured to move the fuel while in a gaseous state;
- and
- a nozzle connected to one of the fuel lines, the nozzle comprising a passage that moves the fuel along a length of the nozzle and out through a distal end of the nozzle.
A system to jettison fuel from an aircraft, the system comprising:
- one or more fuel tanks configured to store pressurized fuel;
- a nozzle mounted to the aircraft and comprising an elongated length that terminates at a distal end of the nozzle;
- fuel lines that distribute the fuel through the aircraft with the fuel lines extending between the one or more fuel tanks to one or more engines that propel the aircraft during flight and to the nozzle;
- an actuator connected to the nozzle and configured to enable the nozzle to move from a stowed position with the distal end located in proximity to the aircraft and a deployed position with the distal end located away from the aircraft to eject the fuel away from the aircraft;
- and
- an igniter positioned at the nozzle to ignite the fuel that is being ejected from the nozzle.
(canceled)
A method of jettisoning fuel from an aircraft, the method comprising:
- storing pressurized fuel in one or more fuel tanks that are positioned within one or more of a fuselage and wings of the aircraft;
- moving the fuel while in a gaseous state through one or more fuel lines that extend through one or more of the fuselage and the wings of the aircraft;
- moving the fuel in the gaseous state through a nozzle that is attached to the aircraft;
- and
- jettisoning the fuel in the gaseous state from a distal tip of the nozzle and away from the aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.