Self-folding bladder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12344461-B2
Application number	US-202217672497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2022
Priority date	Jun 1, 2021
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

A bladder. The bladder includes a bladder wall include first dimensions. The bladder also includes a first port disposed in the bladder wall. The bladder also includes knitted seams stitched into a first pattern in the bladder wall. The first pattern is configured such that when the bladder wall is subjected to a compressive force, the bladder collapses into a first pre-determined shape that has second dimensions less than the first dimensions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bladder comprising:
a bladder wall comprising first dimensions;
a first port disposed in the bladder wall;
a first plurality of knitted seams stitched into a first pattern in the bladder wall, wherein the first pattern is configured such that when the bladder wall is subjected to a compressive force, the bladder collapses into a first pre-determined shape comprising second dimensions less than the first dimensions; and
a second plurality of knitted seams stitched into a second pattern in the bladder wall, wherein the second pattern is configured such that when the bladder wall is subjected to the compressive force, the bladder collapses into a combination of the first pre-determined shape and a second pre-determined shape different than the first pre-determined shape.

2. The bladder of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second port disposed in the bladder wall.

3. The bladder of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second port disposed in the bladder wall,
wherein the first port comprises a vacuum port, and
wherein the second port comprises a fuel port.

4. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the bladder comprises a rectangular block,
the first pattern comprises the first plurality of knitted seams radiating from a center of a first face of the rectangular block to corner edges of the rectangular block and from the center of the first face to a plurality of additional faces of the rectangular block, and
the first pre-determined shape comprises a collapsed cross.

5. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein the bladder comprises a rectangular block, and wherein the bladder further comprises:
a second port in a first face of the rectangular block, and wherein:
the first port is a vacuum port,
the second port is a fuel port,
the first pattern comprises the first plurality of knitted seams radiating from the fuel port to corners of the rectangular block.

6. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein the bladder comprises a rectangular block, and wherein the bladder further comprises:
a second port in a first face of the rectangular block, and wherein:
the first port is a vacuum port,
the second port is a fuel port,
the first pattern comprises the first plurality of knitted seams radiating from the fuel port to additional faces of the rectangular block.

7. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the bladder comprises a cylinder, and
the first pattern comprises the first plurality of knitted seams forming a helix disposed along an outer surface of the bladder.

8. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of pyramids.

9. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of pyramids,
edges of the plurality of pyramids are stitched with a stitching pattern,
and at least one of a plurality of faces of the plurality of pyramids are stitched from apexes of the plurality of pyramids to bases of the plurality of pyramids.

10. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of parallel rows of stitches of pre-determined widths.

11. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of parallel rows of stitches of pre-determined widths, and
the plurality of parallel rows are one of: co-equal widths and different widths.

12. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of parallel rows of stitches of pre-determined widths, and
the plurality of parallel rows comprise pluralities of alternating inserts along the plurality of parallel rows.

13. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of rows of stitches of pre-determined widths, and
the plurality of rows form a complex pattern of shapes.

14. The bladder of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of rows of stitches of pre-determined widths, and
the plurality of rows form a complex pattern of shapes comprising one of: a flower pattern and a bracket pattern.

15. The bladder of claim 1 , further comprising:
a thermoplastic material infused into at least one of the first plurality of knitted seams and the bladder wall.

16. A bladder comprising:
a bladder wall comprising first dimensions;
a first port disposed in the bladder wall; and
a first plurality of knitted seams stitched into a first pattern in the bladder wall, wherein the first pattern is configured such that when the bladder wall is subjected to a compressive force, the bladder collapses into a first pre-determined shape comprising second dimensions less than the first dimensions, wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of rows of stitches of pre-determined widths; and
the plurality of rows form a complex pattern of shapes.

17. The bladder of claim 16 , wherein the complex pattern of shapes comprises one of: a flower pattern and a bracket pattern.

18. A bladder comprising:
a bladder wall comprising first dimensions;
a first port disposed in the bladder wall; and
a first plurality of knitted seams stitched into a first pattern in the bladder wall, wherein the first pattern is configured such that when the bladder wall is subjected to a compressive force, the bladder collapses into a first pre-determined shape comprising second dimensions less than the first dimensions, wherein:
the first plurality of knitted seams comprise stitching patterns that form a plurality of rows of stitches of pre-determined widths; and
the plurality of rows comprise pluralities of alternating inserts along the plurality of rows.

19. The bladder of claim 18 , further comprising:
a second port disposed in the bladder wall, wherein the first port comprises a vacuum port, and wherein the second port comprises a fuel port.

20. The bladder of claim 18 , wherein:
the bladder comprises a rectangular block;
the first pattern comprises the first plurality of knitted seams radiating from a center of a first face of the rectangular block to corner edges of the rectangular block and from the center of the first face to a plurality of additional faces of the rectangular block; and
the first pre-determined shape comprises a collapsed cross.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Nevinsky Michael D
• Misciagna David T

Classifications

• B64D37/02

  Tanks (tanks constructed integrally with aircraft wings B64C3/34) · CPC title

• B64D37/04

  Arrangement thereof in or on aircraft · CPC title

• B60K15/03177

  made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material (B60K15/03006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64D37/005

  Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28 · CPC title

• B65D88/52 Primary

  collapsible, i.e. with walls hinged together or detachably connected · CPC title