Outer fuel tank access cover, wing and aircraft description

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9315276-B2
Application number	US-201313828499-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	May 16, 2012
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

An outer fuel access tank cover (FTAC) of an aircraft, a wing including such outer FTAC of an aircraft, and an aircraft are disclosed. The outer FTAC of an aircraft is related to designing auxiliary pieces in the wing of aircrafts to control the risk of gases from an explosion occurred in the FTAC entering the fuel tank.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An outer fuel tank access cover (outer FTAC) of an aircraft configured to cover an outer opening of a void area of a manhole for accessing an interior of a wing of an aircraft wherein the interior of the wing comprises a fuel tank, the outer FTAC comprising:
an explosion gases relief for letting explosion gases escape from the void area to an atmosphere and comprising an open vent such that the void area of the manhole is in communication with an outer part of the outer FTAC.

2. The outer FTAC according to claim 1 wherein the relief comprises a frangible line located on the cover and calibrated for being ruptured once a predetermined level of pressure due to explosion gases is reached.

3. The outer FTAC according to claim 1 wherein the relief comprises a frangible region, preferably a disk, adapted to be opened once a predetermined level of pressure is reached.

4. The outer FTAC according to claim 1 wherein the relief comprises a door comprising clipping for fixing the door to the FTAC wherein such door is adapted to pop-off and the clipping adapted to be broken or deflected once a predetermined level of pressure due to explosion gases is reached.

5. The outer FTAC according to claim 4 wherein the relief comprises a door and the void area comprises a fire trap.

6. The outer FTAC according to claim 1 wherein the explosion gases relief comprises a door made of plastic.

7. The outer FTAC according to claim 1 wherein the open vent comprises at least one orifice.

8. The outer FTAC according to claim 7 wherein the open vent comprises a number of orifices of the at least one orifice, which are located in such a way that the orifices follow a direction according to the streamlines of the air flow when the aircraft is flying under cruise conditions.

9. The outer FTAC according to claim 8 wherein the outer FTAC is elongated showing two ends wherein the outer FTAC comprises:
two pluralities of orifices, which are clusters distributed as a line according to the stream lines the air flow close to each end, providing a two hole pattern, one pattern in each end.

10. The outer FTAC according to claim 1 wherein the outer FTAC comprises:
an inner cover located in an inner side of the outer FTAC between which a chamber is enclosed such that:
the open vent is in communication with the chamber and,
the chamber is also in communication with the void area by an opening.

11. The outer FTAC according to claim 10 wherein the inner cover or the outer FTAC comprises:
a pressure baffle such that the chamber is divided at least in two sub-chambers:
a first sub-chamber in communication with the void area through the opening; and,
a second sub-chamber in communication with the first sub-chamber and also in communication with the open vent.

12. A wing of an aircraft comprising at least one fuel tank access comprising an outer FTAC according to claim 1 .

13. An aircraft comprising a wing according to claim 12 .

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sl

Inventors

• Alazraki Marcos

Classifications

• B64C1/14

  Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens {accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipers}(fairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06) · CPC title

• B64C1/1446

  Inspection hatches (for engine cowls B64D29/08) · CPC title

• B64D37/005

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

• B64D37/32 Primary

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

• Y02T50/44

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic