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US 9,850,000 B2Granted
Systems and methods for containing ignition within equipment dry bays
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsTracy Lee Tweet, Michael Kent Dove
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An equipment dry bay is provided. The equipment dry bay includes at least one partition that subdivides the equipment dry bay into a plurality of compartments, wherein the at least one partition includes a plate, and at least one flame arrestor positioned within the plate and providing vapor and fluid communication between a first compartment and a second compartment of the plurality of compartments, the at least one flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in the first compartment into the second compartment.
Claims16
An equipment dry bay, said equipment dry bay comprising:
- at least one wall enclosing said equipment dry bay and configured as a barrier against fuel entry into said equipment dry bay;
- at least one partition coupled to said at least one wall and extending within said equipment dry bay, said at least one partition subdivides said equipment dry bay into a first compartment filled with air and a second compartment filled with air, wherein said at least one partition comprises:
- a plate;
- and
- at least one flame arrestor positioned within said plate such that airflow communication is provided between said first compartment and said second compartment, said at least one flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in said first compartment into said second compartment;
- a first independent circuit positioned within said first compartment;
- and
- a second independent circuit positioned within said second compartment, wherein said at least one partition is configured to preclude an electrical fault within said first independent circuit from propagating around said at least one partition into said second independent circuit such that an ignition caused by at least one of said first independent circuit or said second independent circuit is restricted from spreading between said first compartment and said second compartment.
5 more elements
A fuel tank assembly comprising:
- a fuel storage compartment;
- at least one pump dry bay positioned within said fuel storage compartment;
- and
- an equipment dry bay positioned within said fuel storage compartment and comprising at least one wall enclosing said equipment dry bay, said at least one wall configured as a barrier against fuel entry into said equipment dry bay, said equipment dry bay further comprises at least one partition coupled to said at least one wall, wherein said at least one partition extends within said equipment dry bay and subdivides said equipment dry bay into a first compartment filled with air and a second compartment filled with air, wherein said at least one partition comprises:
- a plate;
- and
- at least one internal flame arrestor positioned within said plate such that airflow communication is provided between said first compartment and said second compartment, said at least one internal flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in said first compartment into said second compartment;
- a first independent circuit positioned within said first compartment;
- and
- a second independent circuit positioned within said second compartment, wherein said at least one partition is configured to preclude an electrical fault within said first independent circuit from propagating around said at least one partition into said second independent circuit such that an ignition caused by at least one of said first independent circuit or said second independent circuit is restricted from spreading between said first compartment and said second compartment.
7 more elements
A method for containing ignitions within an equipment dry bay, said method comprising:
- subdividing the equipment dry bay into a first compartment filled with air and a second compartment filled with air using at least one partition, the equipment dry bay including at least one wall enclosing the equipment dry bay, the at least one wall configured as a barrier against fuel entry into the equipment dry bay, the at least one partition coupled to the at least one wall and extending within the equipment dry bay, wherein the at least one partition includes a plate and at least one flame arrestor positioned within the plate such that airflow communication is provided between the first compartment and the second compartment;
- positioning a first independent circuit within the first compartment and a second independent circuit within the second compartment, wherein the at least one partition is configured to preclude an electrical fault within the first independent circuit from propagating around the at least one partition into the second independent circuit such that an ignition caused by at least one of the first independent circuit or the second independent circuit is restricted from spreading between the first compartment and the second compartment;
- and
- venting combustion gases from the ignition in the first compartment into the second compartment through the at least one flame arrestor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.