Back to results
US 8,523,114 B2Granted
Aircraft fuel tank system
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsChristopher Lynas, Peter William James, Keith MacGregor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft fuel tank system is disclosed in which a vent tank is provided with an additional ullage vent for use, in combination with an eternal flame barrier means, when refuelling.
Claims16
An aircraft fuel tank system comprising:
- a vent tank comprising an inlet from one or more fuel tanks and a first and second ullage vent means within said vent tank, said vent tank being arranged to provide a predetermined maximum fuel capacity and having a minimal ullage at said maximum fuel capacity;
- sealing means arranged in a closed position to provide a fluid tight seal for said second ullage vent and operable between said closed position and an open position for enabling fluid flow between said vent tank and atmosphere via said second ullage vent;
- an external flame barrier means comprising a flame barrier element and vent means, said external flame barrier means being arranged for insertion through said second ullage vent into the ullage of said vent tank and slidable within a bore of said second ullage vent so as to provide a conduit for said fluid flow between said vent tank via said vent means and said flame barrier element to atmosphere;
- and
- said sealing means is arranged to be coupled to said external flame barrier.
2 more elements
An aircraft fuel tank system, comprising:
- a vent tank comprising an inlet from one or more fuel tanks and a first and second ullage vent means within said vent tank, said vent tank being arranged to provide a predetermined maximum fuel capacity and having a minimal ullage at said maximum fuel capacity;
- sealing means arranged in a closed position to provide a fluid tight seal for said second ullage vent and operable between said closed position and an open position for enabling fluid flow between said vent tank and atmosphere via said second ullage vent;
- an external flame barrier means comprising a flame barrier element and vent means, said external flame barrier means being arranged for insertion through said second ullage vent into the ullage of said vent tank and slidable within a bore of said second ullage vent so as to provide a conduit for said fluid flow between said vent tank via said vent means and said flame barrier element to atmosphere;
- and
- wherein said sealing means comprises a bore adjacent said second ullage vent and a piston operable to close said second ullage vent when sealably engaged within said bore and to open said second ullage vent when positioned out of said bore, said sealing means being operable in response to the insertion of said external flame barrier means via said second ullage vent.
2 more elements
An aircraft fuel tank system comprising:
- a vent tank comprising an inlet from one or more fuel tanks and a first and second ullage vent pipes within said vent tank, said vent tank being arranged to provide a predetermined maximum fuel capacity and having a minimal ullage at said maximum fuel capacity;
- a sealing piston arranged in a closed position to provide a fluid tight seal for said second ullage vent and operable between said closed position and an open position for enabling fluid flow between said vent tank and atmosphere via said second ullage vent;
- an external flame barrier apparatus comprising a flame barrier element and radially spaced vent openings, said external flame barrier apparatus being arranged for insertion through said second ullage vent pipe into the ullage of said vent tank and slidable within a bore of said second ullage vent so as to provide a conduit for said fluid flow between said vent tank via said sealing piston and said flame barrier element to atmosphere;
- and
- said sealing piston is arranged to be coupled to said external flame barrier element.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.