Hydrodynamic ram attenuating fuel tank
First Claim
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1. In an aircraft having an engine inlet duct, a fuel tank subject to penetration by a projectile comprising:
- a casing defining a hollow fuel storage compartment, said casing being comprised of a plurality of walls connected together to form said casing, one of said walls being a common wall of said inlet duct by also forming a portion of a wall of said inlet duct;
a liner in the form of a sheet positioned within said casing to partition said storage compartment into two cells, said liner forming only one side of each of said two cells, one cell being a main tank and the other cell being an auxiliary tank, said liner being constructed of a shock attenuating frangible membrane;
securing means fastening said liner to said common wall, said liner being spaced from said common wall by said securing means, said liner in combination with said securing means having preselected strength characteristics relative to said common wall such that said liner will deflect and rupture under hydrodynamic ram pulse energy sufficient to puncture said common wall created by shock waves resulting from the projectile penetrating within said fuel tank with hydrodynamic ram pulse energy attenuation by said deflection and rupture of said liner being substantially maximized, whereby impact damage to said common wall from said shock waves is reduced.
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Abstract
An aircraft fuel tank subject to penetration by projectiles that is improved by virtue of being a segmented container having a frangible liner secured to one internal wall of the fuel container thereby forming an auxiliary tank. Damage caused by hydrodynamic ram effects by a projectile penetrating the main tank is minimized by the rupturing and/or distortion of the frangible liner.
19 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In an aircraft having an engine inlet duct, a fuel tank subject to penetration by a projectile comprising:
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a casing defining a hollow fuel storage compartment, said casing being comprised of a plurality of walls connected together to form said casing, one of said walls being a common wall of said inlet duct by also forming a portion of a wall of said inlet duct; a liner in the form of a sheet positioned within said casing to partition said storage compartment into two cells, said liner forming only one side of each of said two cells, one cell being a main tank and the other cell being an auxiliary tank, said liner being constructed of a shock attenuating frangible membrane; securing means fastening said liner to said common wall, said liner being spaced from said common wall by said securing means, said liner in combination with said securing means having preselected strength characteristics relative to said common wall such that said liner will deflect and rupture under hydrodynamic ram pulse energy sufficient to puncture said common wall created by shock waves resulting from the projectile penetrating within said fuel tank with hydrodynamic ram pulse energy attenuation by said deflection and rupture of said liner being substantially maximized, whereby impact damage to said common wall from said shock waves is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification