Fuel storage tank, an aircraft, and a method
AssigneeAirbus Helicopters
InventorsRoland Meillat, Stephane Mougin, Quitterie Brescon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tank (10) having a casing (20) with a bottom (21) together with a side wall (23) and a top wall 22. The tank (10) has at least one sloping wall (30) for providing at least one slope (30) for directing fuel towards a predetermined zone (100) of the tank (10) by gravity, the sloping wall (30) subdividing the inside volume of the tank into a main volume (V1) and an under-slope volume (V2) both of which are to receive fuel. The tank (10) is provided with a fuel transfer system (40) for transferring fuel from the under-slope volume (V2) to the main volume (V1), and from the main volume (V1) to the under-slope volume (V2).
Claims19
A tank for storing fuel, the tank having a casing extending in elevation from a bottom towards a top wall, a side wall defining the casing between the bottom and the top wall, the casing thus defining an inside volume of the tank, the tank being provided with at least one sloping wall that extends between the side wall and the bottom in order to provide at least one slope directing the fuel towards a predetermined zone of the tank by gravity, the sloping wall subdividing the inside volume of the tank into a main volume (V1) and an under-slope volume (V2) both of which are to contain fuel, the under-slope volume (V2) being defined by the sloping wall together with the side wall and the bottom, wherein the tank is provided with a fuel transfer system for transferring fuel from the under-slope volume (V2) to the main volume (V1) and from the main volume (V1) to the under-slope volume (V2), the transfer system including at least one feed duct for transferring fuel by gravity from the main volume (V1) to the under-slope volume (V2), at least one active means for transferring fuel from the under-slope volume (V2) to the main volume (V1), and at least one vent means for venting the under-slope volume (V2), with the vent means passing through the sloping wall and leading to a space in the main volume (V1).
A tank for storing fuel, the tank having a casing extending in elevation from a bottom towards a top wall, a side wall defining the casing between the bottom and the top wall, the casing defining an inside volume of the tank, the tank being provided with at least one sloping wall that extends between the side wall and the bottom in order to provide at least one slope capable of directing fuel towards a predetermined zone of the tank by gravity, the sloping wall subdividing the inside volume of the tank into a main volume (V1) and an under-slope volume (V2) both of which are capable of containing fuel, the predetermined zone being disposed within the main volume (V1), the under-slope volume (V2) being disposed below the main volume (V1) and being defined by the sloping wall together with the side wall and the bottom, the tank having a fuel transfer system for transferring fuel from the under-slope volume (V2) to the main volume (V1) and from the main volume (V1) to the under-slope volume (V2), the transfer system including at least one feed duct disposed in the sloping wall above the predetermined zone for transferring fuel by gravity from the main volume (V1) to the under-slope volume (V2), and the transfer system including at least one active means for transferring fuel from the under-slope volume (V2) to the main volume (V1).
A tank for storing fuel for an engine, the tank comprising:
- a casing defined by a bottom, a top wall, and a side wall extending in elevation between the bottom and the top wall, the casing defining an inside volume of the tank;
- at least one sloping wall extending at an angle between the side wall and the bottom to provide at least one slope capable of directing fuel towards a predetermined zone of the tank by gravity, the sloping wall subdividing the inside volume of the tank into a main volume (V1) and an under-slope volume (V2), with both of the main volume (V1) and the under-slope volume (V2) being capable of containing fuel, the under-slope volume (V2) being defined by the sloping wall together with the side wall and the bottom, the tank being capable of transferring fuel from the predetermined zone of the tank to an engine via pipework having an opening disposed in the predetermined zone;
- and
- a fuel transfer system for transferring fuel from the under-slope volume (V2) to the main volume (V1) and from the main volume (V1) to the under-slope volume (V2), the transfer system including at least one feed duct for transferring fuel by gravity from the main volume (V1) to the under-slope volume (V2), at least one active means for transferring fuel from the under-slope volume (V2) to the main volume (V1), and at least one vent means for venting the under-slope volume (V2), with the vent means passing through the sloping wall and leading to a space in the main volume (V1).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.