Aircraft fuel tank isolator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11079044-B2
Application number	US-201916366128-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2019
Priority date	Mar 29, 2018
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

An isolator for an aircraft fuel tank configured to separate an electrically conductive internal panel of the fuel tank from an electrically conductive pipe that passes through the panel. The isolator includes: a plurality of first attachment points for attaching the isolator to the panel, a plurality of second attachment points for attaching the isolator to the pipe, and an aperture defined by an outer wall and extending from a first side of the isolator to a second side of the isolator. The aperture is configured to receive the pipe in use, wherein the isolator is formed of a non-electrically conductive material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An isolator for an aircraft fuel tank, the isolator configured to separate an electrically conductive internal panel of the fuel tank from an electrically conductive pipe that passes through the panel, the isolator comprising:
a plurality of first attachment points configured to attach the isolator to the panel,
a plurality of second attachment points configured to attach the isolator to the pipe, and
an aperture defined by an outer wall and extending from a first side of the isolator to a second side of the isolator, the aperture configured to receive the pipe,
wherein the isolator comprises a non-electrically conductive material.

2. The isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the aperture extends outwardly from the first side of the isolator to form a tube, wherein the tube is configured to pass through the panel in use.

3. The isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first attachment points and the plurality of second attachment points are positioned on a flange extending from the outer wall of the aperture.

4. The isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the first attachment points comprise a counter-bore extending from the second side of the isolator to the first side of the isolator,
wherein the wider end of the counter-bore extends from the second side of the isolator.

5. The isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the first attachment points are positioned around the aperture to align with corresponding panel apertures in the panel.

6. The isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the second attachment points comprise a counter-bore extending from the first side of the isolator to the second side of the isolator,
wherein the wider end of the counter-bore extends from the first side of the isolator.

7. The isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the second attachment points are positioned around the aperture to align with corresponding fitting apertures in a pipe fitting fixed to the pipe.

8. The isolator according to claim 1 , further comprising a groove on the first side and/or the second side of the isolator, the groove extending around the outer wall of the aperture and configured to receive a seal.

9. The isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the isolator is formed from a chemically inert material.

10. An isolation system comprising:
the isolator according to claim 1 ,
a plurality of first bolts, wherein each bolt of the plurality of first bolts is positioned in the counter-bore of a respective one of the plurality of first attachments of the isolator, and
a plurality of second bolts, wherein each bolt of the plurality of second bolts is positioned in the counter-bore of a respective one of the plurality of second attachments of the isolator.

11. The isolation system according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first and second bolts are electrically-conductive,
the isolation system further comprising a non-electrically conductive sealant covering a head of the at least one of the plurality of first and second bolts to seal the head of each bolt in its respective counter-bore.

12. The isolation system according to claim 10 , further comprising a groove on at least one of the first and second sides of the isolator, the groove extending around the outer wall and the isolation system further comprising a seal in the groove, the seal surrounding the outer wall of the aperture.

13. An aircraft comprising:
an isolator according to claim 1 .

14. An aircraft according to claim 13 , comprising wings formed from a non-electrically conductive material.

15. An apparatus comprising:
the isolator according claim 1 , and
an electrically conductive pipe;
wherein the electrically conductive pipe is disposed to pass through the aperture of the isolator.

16. A method of isolating an electrically conductive internal panel or an aircraft fuel tank from an electrically conductive pipe that passes through the panel, the method comprising:
passing the pipe through a tube of a non-electrically conductive material isolator,
passing the tube through an aperture in the panel,
rigidly attaching the isolator to a pipe fitting fixed to the pipe with an electrically-conductive first fastener;
rigidly attaching the isolator to the panel with an electrically-conductive second fastener, and
electrically insulating the second fastener from the pipe.

17. The method according to claim 16 , comprising providing a seal between the isolator and the panel.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the seal is a liquid gasket.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Ltd

Inventors

• West Nicholas

Classifications

• F16L5/08 Primary

  by means of axial screws compressing a ring or sleeve · CPC title

• B64D37/32 Primary

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

• B64C3/34

  Tanks constructed integrally with wings, e.g. for fuel or water · CPC title

• B64D37/08

  Internal partitioning · CPC title

• B64D37/00 Primary

  Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant (refuelling during flight B64D39/00) · CPC title