Conformal Cryogenic Tank
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJohn Alfred Weidler, Charles William Rust
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cryogenic fuel tank system for an aircraft and method for forming. The cryogenic fuel tank system includes a first outer sheet, an inner sheet, a second outer sheet, and a space between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet. The inner sheet is bonded to the first outer sheet at a first set of bond locations. The inner sheet is bonded to the second outer sheet at a second set of bond locations. The first set of bond locations are offset from the second set of bond locations. The space comprises a vacuum. The inner sheet extends between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet and forms an integrally formed support structure between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet.
Claims20
A cryogenic fuel tank for an aircraft, comprising:
- a first outer sheet spaced from a second outer sheet;
- and
- an inner sheet positioned between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet;
- wherein the inner sheet is bonded to the first outer sheet at a first set of bond locations and the inner sheet is bonded to the second outer sheet at a second set of bond locations, the first set of bond locations offset from the second set of bond locations.
A cryogenic fuel tank system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a first outer sheet bonded to an inner sheet;
- a second outer sheet bonded to the inner sheet;
- and
- a space between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet, the space comprising a vacuum;
- wherein the inner sheet extends between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet and forms an integrally formed support structure between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet.
A method for forming a cryogenic fuel tank for an aircraft, comprising:
- bonding a first outer sheet to an inner sheet at a first set of bond locations;
- bonding a second outer sheet to the inner sheet at a second set of bond locations, the second set of bond locations offset from the first set of bond locations;
- expanding a space between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet such that the inner sheet extends between the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet and forms an integrally formed support structure extending from the first set of bond locations to the second set of bond locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.