Systems and methods for containing ignition within equipment dry bays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9850000-B2
Application number	US-201414193002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2014
Priority date	Feb 28, 2014
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

An equipment dry bay is provided. The equipment dry bay includes at least one partition that subdivides the equipment dry bay into a plurality of compartments, wherein the at least one partition includes a plate, and at least one flame arrestor positioned within the plate and providing vapor and fluid communication between a first compartment and a second compartment of the plurality of compartments, the at least one flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in the first compartment into the second compartment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An equipment dry bay, said equipment dry bay comprising:
at least one wall enclosing said equipment dry bay and configured as a barrier against fuel entry into said equipment dry bay;
at least one partition coupled to said at least one wall and extending within said equipment dry bay, said at least one partition subdivides said equipment dry bay into a first compartment filled with air and a second compartment filled with air, wherein said at least one partition comprises:
a plate; and
at least one flame arrestor positioned within said plate such that airflow communication is provided between said first compartment and said second compartment, said at least one flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in said first compartment into said second compartment;

a first independent circuit positioned within said first compartment; and
a second independent circuit positioned within said second compartment, wherein said at least one partition is configured to preclude an electrical fault within said first independent circuit from propagating around said at least one partition into said second independent circuit such that an ignition caused by at least one of said first independent circuit or said second independent circuit is restricted from spreading between said first compartment and said second compartment.

2. An equipment dry bay in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one flame arrestor is configured to vent combustion gases from the ignition in said first compartment into said second compartment such that a peak pressure in said equipment dry bay resulting from the ignition is no greater than approximately 37 pounds per square inch absolute.

3. An equipment dry bay in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one flame arrestor comprises two flame arrestors.

4. An equipment dry bay in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one flame arrestor comprises a substantially cylindrical flame arrestor.

5. A fuel tank assembly comprising:
a fuel storage compartment;
at least one pump dry bay positioned within said fuel storage compartment; and
an equipment dry bay positioned within said fuel storage compartment and comprising at least one wall enclosing said equipment dry bay, said at least one wall configured as a barrier against fuel entry into said equipment dry bay, said equipment dry bay further comprises at least one partition coupled to said at least one wall, wherein said at least one partition extends within said equipment dry bay and subdivides said equipment dry bay into a first compartment filled with air and a second compartment filled with air, wherein said at least one partition comprises:
a plate; and
at least one internal flame arrestor positioned within said plate such that airflow communication is provided between said first compartment and said second compartment, said at least one internal flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in said first compartment into said second compartment;
a first independent circuit positioned within said first compartment; and
a second independent circuit positioned within said second compartment, wherein said at least one partition is configured to preclude an electrical fault within said first independent circuit from propagating around said at least one partition into said second independent circuit such that an ignition caused by at least one of said first independent circuit or said second independent circuit is restricted from spreading between said first compartment and said second compartment.

6. A fuel tank assembly in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said at least one internal flame arrestor is configured to vent combustion gases from the ignition in said first compartment into said second compartment such that a peak pressure in said equipment dry bay resulting from the ignition is no greater than approximately 37 pounds per square inch absolute.

7. A fuel tank assembly in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising drain lines coupled between said equipment dry bay and said at least one pump dry bay.

8. A fuel tank assembly in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising at least one external flame arrestor coupled between said equipment dry bay and said drain lines.

9. A fuel tank assembly in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising:
a first external flame arrestor coupled between said first compartment and said drain lines; and
a second external flame arrestor coupled between said second compartment and said drain lines.

10. A fuel tank assembly in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising at least one external flame arrestor coupled between said at least one pump dry bay and said drain lines.

11. A fuel tank assembly in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said at least one internal flame arrestor comprises two flame arrestors.

12. A fuel tank assembly in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said at least one internal flame arrestor comprises a substantially cylindrical flame arrestor.

13. A fuel tank assembly in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said plate comprises a metallic plate.

14. A method for containing ignitions within an equipment dry bay, said method comprising:
subdividing the equipment dry bay into a first compartment filled with air and a second compartment filled with air using at least one partition, the equipment dry bay including at least one wall enclosing the equipment dry bay, the at least one wall configured as a barrier against fuel entry into the equipment dry bay, the at least one partition coupled to the at least one wall and extending within the equipment dry bay, wherein the at least one partition includes a plate and at least one flame arrestor positioned within the plate such that airflow communication is provided between the first compartment and the second compartment;
positioning a first independent circuit within the first compartment and a second independent circuit within the second compartment, wherein the at least one partition is configured to preclude an electrical fault within the first independent circuit from propagating around the at least one partition into the second independent circuit such that an ignition caused by at least one of the first independent circuit or the second independent circuit is restricted from spreading between the first compartment and the second compartment; and
venting combustion gases from the ignition in the first compartment into the second compartment through the at least one flame arrestor.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein venting combustion gases comprises venting combustion gases such that a peak pressure in the equipment dry bay resulting from the ignition is no greater than approximately 37 pounds per square inch absolute.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein subdividing the equipment dry bay comprises subdividing the equipment dry bay using at least one partition that includes a pair of flame arrestors positioned within a metallic plate.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Tweet Tracy Lee
• Dove Michael Kent

Classifications

• B64D37/08

  Internal partitioning · CPC title

• B64D2045/009

  Fire detection or protection; Erosion protection, e.g. from airborne particles · CPC title

• A62C3/08

  in aircraft {(A62C3/0207 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A62C3/065

  for containers filled with inflammable liquids · CPC title

• A62C4/00

  Flame traps allowing passage of gas but not of flame or explosion wave · CPC title