Energy absorbing fluid bladder systems and methods

• US 10,639,988 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudry, Atif H
• Application Number:
  US15/703,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20190077251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 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,

wherein the baffle structure comprises a perforated structure comprising at least a first perforation and a second perforation different in size from the first perforation,

wherein the first perforation is sized to increase flow resistance through the first perforation to direct less fluid to a first portion of the bladder body,

wherein the second perforation is sized to decrease flow resistance through the second perforation to direct more fluid to a second portion of the bladder body, and

wherein the perforated structure comprises a perforated polyhedron box.

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 at least one of the perforations is configured to deform responsive to absorbing at least the portion of the pulse.

5. The fluid bladder of claim 4, wherein the at least one deformed perforation is configured to decrease a flow path of the fluid through the at least one deformed perforation.

6. The fluid bladder of claim 1, wherein the polyhedron box comprises a perforated sheet.

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

8. The fluid bladder of claim 7, wherein the first perforated structure is coupled to the second perforated structure.

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

10. 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.

11. The vehicle comprising the fluid bladder of claim 10, 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.

12. 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,

wherein the baffle structure comprises a perforated structure comprising at least a first perforation and a second perforation different in size from the first perforation,

wherein the first perforation is sized to increase flow resistance through the first perforation to direct less fluid to a first portion of the bladder body, and

wherein the second perforation is sized to decrease flow resistance through the second perforation to direct more fluid to a second portion of the bladder body,

wherein the perforated structure comprises a cylinder with perforated walls.

13. 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,

wherein the baffle structure comprises a perforated structure comprising at least a first perforation and a second perforation different in size from the first perforation,

wherein the first perforation is sized to increase flow resistance through the first perforation to direct less fluid to a first portion of the bladder body,

wherein the second perforation is sized to decrease flow resistance through the second perforation to direct more fluid to a second portion of the bladder body,

wherein the perforated structure comprises a first perforated structure and a second perforated structure nested within the first perforated structure.

14. 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,

wherein the baffle structure comprises a perforated structure comprising at least a first perforation and a second perforation different in size from the first perforation,

wherein the first perforation is sized to increase flow resistance through the first perforation to direct less fluid to a first portion of the bladder body,

wherein the second perforation is sized to decrease flow resistance through the second perforation to direct more fluid to a second portion of the bladder body,

wherein the perforated structure comprises a first perforated structure and a second perforated structure, and

wherein the first perforated structure comprises a first volume and the second perforated structure comprises a second volume different from the first volume.

15. A method comprising:

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

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, wherein the baffle structure comprises a perforated structure comprising at least a first perforation and a second perforation different in size from the first perforation;

directing less fluid to a first portion of the bladder body by increasing flow resistance through the first perforation based on a size of the first perforation; and

directing more fluid to a second portion of the bladder body by decreasing flow resistance through the second perforation based on the size of the second perforation,

wherein the perforated structure comprises a perforated polyhedron box.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the baffle structure is configured to mitigate the pulse of fluid at least when the pulse is within a predetermined pulse range.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein mitigating the pulse of fluid moving within the bladder body comprises limiting a peak pulse pressure of the moving fluid.

18. The method of claim 15, 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.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid is fuel.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the perforated polyhedron box comprises a first perforated polyhedron box comprising a first volume and a second perforated polyhedron box comprising a second volume different from the first volume.