Fuel tank dam

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016159490-A1
Application number	US-201414907735-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2014
Priority date	Sep 11, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel tank dam closes a gap that is formed between a first structural component and a second structural component. The fuel tank dam includes a first portion disposed on a first structural component side, a second portion disposed on a second structural component side, an elastic member that is supported by the first portion at one end while supported by the second portion at the other end and closes a gap that is formed between the first portion and the second portion, and a sealing mechanism that seals between the first member and the elastic member.

First claim

1 . A fuel tank dam closing a gap formed between a first structural component and a second structural component comprising:
a first portion disposed on a first structural component side; a second portion disposed on a second structural component side; an elastic member supported by the first portion at one end while supported by the second portion at the other end, and closing a gap formed between the first portion and the second portion; and a sealing mechanism configured to seal between the first portion and the elastic member, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a lip seal portion of the elastic member.

2 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises:
a first member disposed on the first structural component; and a second member disposed on the first member, and wherein the one end of the elastic member is sandwiched between the first member and the second member so as to be supported by the first member and the second member.

3 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 2 ,
wherein the lip seal portion comprises a first lip seal portion and a second lip seal portion which are configured to sandwich a part of the first portion.

4 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 3 , wherein one member of the first member and the second member comprises a contact portion contacting the other member of the first member and the second member,
wherein the sealing mechanism comprises:
a first extending portion extending from the contact portion such that a space is formed between the first extending portion and the other member; and
a second extending portion extending from the first extending portion toward the other member, and
wherein the first lip seal portion and the second lip seal portion sandwich the second extending portion.

5 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 4 , wherein the sealing mechanism further comprises a third extending portion extending from the first extending portion toward the other member on a tip side of the second extending portion, and
wherein the one end of the elastic member is sandwiched between the third extending portion and the other member.

6 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 4 , wherein the first lip seal portion is disposed on an inner side of the second extending portion in the space,
wherein the sealing mechanism further comprises a support portion, and wherein the support portion is disposed between the first lip seal portion and a wall surface of the space such that the lip seal portion is pushed against the second extending portion.

7 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 6 ,
wherein the support portion is a part of the elastic member.

8 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 6 , wherein the support portion includes a support member provided separately from the elastic member.

9 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 6 , wherein the support portion comprises a sealant portion filled between the first lip seal portion and the wall surface of the space.

10 . A fuel tank dam closing a gap formed between a first structural component and a second structural component comprising:
a first portion disposed on a first structural component side; a second portion disposed on a second structural component side; an elastic member supported by the first portion at one end while supported by the second portion at the other end, and closing a gap formed between the first portion and the second portion; and a sealing mechanism configured to seal between the first portion and the elastic member, wherein the first portion comprises:
a first member disposed on the first structural component; and
a second member disposed on the first member, and
wherein the one end of the elastic member is sandwiched between the first member and the second member so as to be supported by the first member and the second member.

11 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 10 ,
wherein one member of the first member and the second member comprises a contact portion contacting the other member of the first member and the second member, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises:
a first extending portion extending from the contact portion such that a space is formed between the first extending portion and the other member; and
a second extending portion extending from the first extending portion toward the other member;
a seal portion of the elastic member; and
a support portion disposed on an inner side of the second extending portion in the space,
wherein the seal portion is disposed on the inner side of the second extending portion in the space, and wherein the support portion is disposed between the seal portion and a wall surface of the space such that the seal portion is pushed against the second extending portion.

12 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 10 , wherein one member of the first member and the second member comprises a contact portion contacting the other member of the first member and the second member,
wherein the sealing mechanism comprises:
an extending portion extending from the contact portion such that a space is formed between the extending portion and the other member; and
a compressed portion formed on the one end of the elastic member, and
wherein the compressed portion is sandwiched between the extending portion and the other member so as to be compressed.

13 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 10 , wherein one member of the first member and the second member comprises a contact portion contacting the other member of the first member and the second member,
wherein the sealing mechanism comprises:
an extending portion extending from the contact portion such that a space is formed between the extending portion and the other member; and
a compressed member disposed in the space, wherein the one end of the elastic member is disposed in the space, and
wherein the compressed member is disposed between the one end of the elastic member and the extending portion while being compressed.

14 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 10 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises:
a first sealant portion disposed between the one end of the elastic member and the first member; and a second sealant portion disposed between the one end of the elastic member and the second member.

15 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 10 , wherein the sealing mechanism has a labyrinth seal structure formed by the first portion and a shape of the one end of the elastic member, and
wherein the labyrinth seal structure is filled with a sealant.

16 . The fuel tank dam according to claim 10 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises:
a first member contact portion of the first member contacting the second member; a first member extending portion extending from the first member contact portion such that a space is formed between the first member extending portion and the second member; a first member holding portion extending from the first member extending portion toward the second member; a second member contact portion of the second member contacting the first member contact portion; a second member extending portion extending from the second member contact portion such that the space is formed between the second member extending portion and the first member; a second member holding portion extending from the second member extending portion toward the first member; a first lip seal portion of the elastic member pushed against the first member in the space; and a second lip seal portion of the elastic member pushed against the second member in the space, and wherein the

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Yamaguchi Eizaburo
• Okuda Akihisa

Classifications

• B64C3/34

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

• B64D37/08 Primary

  Internal partitioning · CPC title