Edge seals for composite structure fuel tanks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10384794-B2
Application number	US-201414504862-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2014
Priority date	Oct 13, 2006
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

Edge seals for composite structure fuel tanks are disclosed herein. One disclosed apparatus includes a seal covering an exposed edge of a carbon fiber reinforced composite fuel tank, where the seal comprises a layer of dielectric material to insulate carbon fibers at the exposed edge from fuel in the tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
first and second carbon fiber reinforced laminate members of a carbon fiber reinforced composite fuel tank, the first and second carbon fiber reinforced laminate members having first and second exposed laminate edges, respectively; and
a seal to cover the first exposed laminate edge, the seal comprising a layer of dielectric material, the seal to wrap around the first exposed laminate edge to cover a portion of an exterior side and a portion of an interior side of the first carbon fiber reinforced laminate member, the exterior side and the interior side on opposite sides of the first carbon fiber reinforced laminate member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fuel tank is an aircraft fuel tank.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the layer of dielectric material comprises a thermosetting polymer resin.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the seal includes at least one layer of reinforcement.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one layer of reinforcement is nonconductive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the layer of dielectric material is translucent.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seal is a first seal, and further including a second seal to wrap around the second exposed laminate edge to cover a portion of an exterior side and a portion of an interior side of the second carbon fiber reinforced laminate member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seal is to be folded over opposed first and second lateral edges of the first carbon fiber reinforced laminate member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the seal is folded from the exterior and interior surfaces to cover the first and second lateral edges.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the seal being folded from the exterior and interior surfaces defines overlapping seal joints at the first and second lateral edges.

11. An aircraft fuel tank, comprising:
first and second carbon fiber polymer laminate members, wherein the first and second laminate members are cut to define first and second cut laminate edges, respectively; and
dielectric material wrapping around the first cut laminate edge and positioned between the first and second laminate members, the dielectric material wrapping folded over the first cut laminate edge to cover a portion of an interior side and a portion of an exterior side of the first laminate member to define a mechanical barrier between the aircraft fuel tank and at least one of the first and second cut laminate edges, the exterior side and the interior side on opposite sides of the first laminate member.

12. The aircraft fuel tank of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric material includes a reinforced thermosetting resin layer that is translucent to allow visual inspection of a portion of the aircraft fuel tank.

13. The aircraft fuel tank of claim 11 , further comprising a thermosetting polymer resin applied to the first cut laminate edge.

14. The aircraft fuel tank of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric material comprises a prepreg form.

15. The aircraft fuel tank of claim 11 , wherein a layer of the dielectric material is translucent.

16. The aircraft fuel tank of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric material comprises a reinforcement layer.

17. The aircraft fuel tank of claim 16 , wherein the reinforcement layer is impregnated with epoxy resin.

18. The aircraft fuel tank of claim 16 , wherein the reinforcement layer is non-conductive.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Kovach Daniel J
• Stromsland Kari L
• Heidlebaugh Diane L
• Ward John A
• Brown Arlene M
• Dabelstein Donald K

Classifications

• B64D37/32 Primary

  Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions · CPC title

• B29C63/04

  by folding, winding, bending or the like · CPC title

• B29C63/0034

  the strip material being folded · CPC title

• B64D37/06

  Constructional adaptations thereof · CPC title

• Y10T156/1034

  Overedge bending of lamina about edges of sheetlike base · CPC title