NEA distribution system for OBIGGS applications
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorEric Surawski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for creating ullage in a fuel tank includes the steps of porting NEA into a mixing chamber during descent, exposing the mixing chamber to ambient air and communicating a mixture of NEA and ambient air into the fuel tank. A complementary apparatus to the method includes a mixing chamber for receiving NEA during descent, a port for communicating ambient air with the mixing chamber during descent and a port for communicating a mixture of the NEA and the ambient to the fuel tank.
Claims5
A method for creating ullage in a fuel tank comprising:
- porting NEA into a mixing chamber during descent,
- exposing said mixing chamber to ambient air and
- porting a mixture of NEA and ambient air into said fuel tank;
- wherein porting said ambient air into said fuel tank includes the steps of:
- porting said mixture to a wing tank and,
- porting said mixture from said wing tank to a center tank;
- the method further comprising:
- porting said NEA to said center tank if not in descent and
- porting ullage from said center tank to said wing tank.
A method for controlling ullage in at least one fuel tank during operation comprising;
- porting NEA into a mixing chamber during descent,
- exposing said mixing chamber to ambient air and
- porting a mixture of NEA and ambient air into said at least one fuel tank and
- porting NEA to said at least one fuel tank during ascent or cruise,
- wherein said porting NEA to said at least one tank during ascent or cruise includes the steps of:
- porting NEA to a center tank and,
- porting said NEA from said center tank to a wing tank.
Apparatus for creating ullage in a fuel tank comprising:
- a mixing chamber for receiving NEA during descent,
- a port for communicating ambient air with said mixing chamber during descent,
- a port for communicating a mixture of said NEA and said ambient air to said fuel tank,
- a second fuel tank in communication with said fuel tank such that ullage is communicated between said fuel tank and said second tank, and
- a first valve for porting said NEA to said second fuel tank if not in descent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.