Expandable fuel cell
First Claim
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1. An expandable fuel cell for an aircraft, comprising:
- a collapsible fuel cell bladder; and
a reinforced elastomer structure covering the collapsible fuel cell bladder, the reinforced elastomer structure having a tapered leading edge, a tapered trailing edge, and a connecting center section, the reinforced elastomer structure having a perimeter attached to an airframe of the aircraft, the reinforced elastomer structure having a retracted position conforming substantially to a moldline of the aircraft and continuously expanding to a full position, in which the reinforced elastomer structure forms a smooth curvilinear bulge in the moldline of the aircraft.
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Abstract
An expandable fuel cell (72) for an aircraft (70) has a flexible structure (126) having a perimeter (124) attached to an airframe of the aircraft (70). The flexible structure (126) has an empty position, in which the flexible structure (126) approximately conforms to a moldline (76) of the aircraft (70), and a full position, in which the flexible structure (126) forms a smooth curvilinear protrusion from the moldline (76) of the aircraft (70). A fuel bladder (152) is positioned between the flexible structure (126) and the airframe.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An expandable fuel cell for an aircraft, comprising:
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a collapsible fuel cell bladder; and a reinforced elastomer structure covering the collapsible fuel cell bladder, the reinforced elastomer structure having a tapered leading edge, a tapered trailing edge, and a connecting center section, the reinforced elastomer structure having a perimeter attached to an airframe of the aircraft, the reinforced elastomer structure having a retracted position conforming substantially to a moldline of the aircraft and continuously expanding to a full position, in which the reinforced elastomer structure forms a smooth curvilinear bulge in the moldline of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An expandable fuel cell for an aircraft, comprising:
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a flexible structure having a perimeter attached to an airframe of the aircraft, the flexible structure having an empty position, in which the flexible structure approximately conforms to a moldline of the aircraft, and a full position, in which the flexible structure forms a smooth curvilinear protrusion from the moldline of the aircraft; and a fuel bladder positioned between the flexible structure and the airframe. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An expandable fuel cell for an aircraft comprising:
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a fuel liner; and an elastomer structure having a perimeter attached to the airframe and mating with the fuel liner, the elastomer structure having a retracted position in which the elastomer structure approximately conforms to a moldline of the aircraft and the elastomer structure having a full position in which the elastomer structure forms a smooth curvilinear bulge on the moldline of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An aircraft, comprising:
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a fuselage; an engine attached to the fuselage; a pair of wings attached to the fuselage; and an expandable fuel cell connected to the wing wherein the expandable fuel cell has fuel liner and an elastomer structure having a perimeter attached to the airframe and mating with the fuel liner, the elastomer structure having a retracted position in which the elastomer structure approximately conforms to a moldline of the aircraft and the elastomer structure having a full position in which the elastomer structure forms a smooth curvilinear bulge on the moldline of the aircraft.
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Specification