ENERGY ABSORBING FLUID BLADDER SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20190077251A1
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Published: 03/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Kozar, Michael Patrick, Wilenski, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03177 made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material B60K15/03006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/077 with means modifying or controlling distribution or motion of fuel, e.g. to prevent noise, surge, splash or fuel starvation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0344 comprising baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0775 for reducing movement or slash noise of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0777 in-tank reservoirs or baffles integrally manufactured with the fuel Tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/50 Aeroplanes, Helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/52 Helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/04 Helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/08 Internal partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/32 Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions extinguishing or preventing fires in aircraft A62C
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/22 specially adapted for transport associated with vehicles, see the relevant subclasses of B60 - B64
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/52 Anti-slosh devices vehicle fuel tanks with means modifying or controlling distribution or motion of fuel, e.g. to prevent noise, surge, splash or fuel starvation B60K15/077
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0166 divided in several chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0171 comprising a communication hole between chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/016 Preventing slosh
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86212 Plural compartments formed by baffles

Abstract

Various techniques are provided for an energy absorbing fluid bladder. In one example, the fluid bladder includes a bladder body and a perforated baffle structure. The perforated baffle structure can be disposed within the bladder body and configured to mitigate a pulse of fluid (e.g., fuel) moving within the bladder body before the pulse reaches the bladder body. Related methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fluid bladder comprising:

a bladder body; and

a baffle structure disposed within the bladder body and configured to mitigate a pulse of fluid moving within the bladder body before the pulse reaches the bladder body.

2. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the baffle structure is configured to mitigate the pulse of fluid at least when the pulse is within a predetermined pulse range.

3. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein mitigating the pulse of fluid moving within the bladder body comprises limiting a peak pulse pressure of the moving fluid.

4. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein mitigating the pulse of fluid moving within the bladder body comprises absorbing at least a portion of the pulse, wherein the baffle structure comprises a material configured to deform responsive to absorbing at least the portion of the pulse, and wherein the baffle structure comprises a perforated structure comprising one or more perforations and at least one of the one or more perforations is configured to deform responsive to absorbing at least the portion of the pulse.

5. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the baffle structure comprises a first perforation and a second perforation different in size from the first perforation.

6. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the baffle structure comprises a cylinder with perforated walls.

7. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the baffle structure comprises a perforated polyhedron box.

8. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the baffle structure comprises a perforated sheet.

9. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the baffle structure comprises a first perforated structure and a second perforated structure.

10. The fluid bladder of claim 9, wherein the second perforated structure is nested within the first perforated structure.

11. The fluid bladder of claim 9, wherein the first perforated structure is coupled to the second perforated structure.

12. The fluid bladder of claim 9, wherein the first perforated structure comprises a first volume and the second perforated structure comprises a second volume different from the first volume.

13. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the baffle structure is coupled to the bladder body via an elastic coupling.

14. A vehicle comprising the fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a vehicle structure and the fluid bladder is disposed internally within the vehicle structure and/or outside the vehicle structure.

15. The vehicle comprising the fluid bladder of claim 14, wherein the fluid is fuel, and wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the vehicle structure comprises:

a fuselage; and

a wing, wherein the fluid bladder is disposed within at least the fuselage or the wing.

16. A method comprising:

receiving a force to move fluid disposed within a bladder body of a fluid bladder; and

moving at least a portion of the fluid through a baffle structure disposed within the bladder body to mitigate a pulse of the fluid moving within the bladder body before the pulse reaches the bladder body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the baffle structure is configured to mitigate the pulse of fluid at least when the pulse is within a predetermined pulse range.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein mitigating the pulse of fluid moving within the bladder body comprises limiting a peak pulse pressure of the moving fluid.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein mitigating the pulse of fluid moving within the bladder body comprises absorbing at least a portion of the pulse, and wherein the baffle structure comprises a material configured to deform responsive to absorbing at least the portion of the pulse.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the baffle structure comprises a first perforated structure and a second perforated structure, and wherein the fluid is fuel.