Fluid containing structure
AssigneeMcDonnell Douglas Corporation
InventorEdwin W. Wiggins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conduit or other fluid containing structure includes a metal tube having end portions which are exposed for connecting purposes and a liner portion of reduced wall thickness between the end portions. An impregnated braid surrounds the liner portion for rigidifying the same. When the conduit is used as a self-sealing fuel line the thickness of the liner is such that it does not possess enough strength to take on a permanent outward deformation in the presence of the impregnated braid surrounding it, and consequently petalling does not occur. In that application the impregnated braid is surrounded by a sealant capable of swelling when contacted by the fuel, and the sealant is encircled by another impregnated braid to protect and maintain it in place.
Claims11
A self-sealing hollow body for holding a liquid even after the body is pierced by a projectile, said hollow body comprising:
- an impervious metal structure which is configured to form a cavity in which the liquid is contained, the metal structure including a liner portion having a wall thickness between approximately 0.002 inches and approximately 0.015 inches and a connecting portion having a greater wall thickness of at least about 0.028 inches, the liner portion occupying substantially greater area of the metal structure than the connecting portion so that the metal structure is for the most part constituted of the liner portion, the connecting portion being partially exposed beyond the liner portion and surrounding an opening leading into the cavity, the connecting portion being substantially stronger than the liner portion with its strength being sufficient to enable the hollow body to be coupled to some other device at the connecting portion;
- a rigidifying layer extending over and obscuring the entire liner portion of the metal structure and reinforcing the liner portion, the rigidifying layer further extending beyond the liner portion and over that part of the connecting portion which is contiguous to the liner portion, the rigidifying layer including strands of non-metallic material which encircle the liner portion and part of the connecting portion and which will remain substantially undistorted in the lateral direction after being pierced by a projectile, the strength of the rigidifying layer in comparison to the liner portion of the metal structure being such that the liner portion does not, after the passage of a projectile through the hollow body, project beyond the rigidifying layer at the exit hole left by the projectile and petalling of the metal liner portion does not occur at the exit hole;
- a sealant layer extended over the rigidifying layer and being capable of swelling when contacted by the liquid so as to close a hole imparted thereto by a projectile passing through the hollow body;
- and means extending over the sealant layer for maintaining the sealant in place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.