GB489611A - Fuel tanks for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

489,611. Supplying fuel to aircraft engines. ELLOR, J. E. Jan. 26, 1937, No. 2293. [Class 69 (i)] [Also in Groups XVII and XXVIII] An aircraft fuel tank is divided into at least two unconnected compartments to each of which pressure air is independently admitted and from each of which an independent outflow pipe leads, and means are provided for opening an escape to atmosphere from each compartment when the fuel in it is exhausted, for example, when it is punctured by a bullet, so that air and fuel vapour is not forced from the tank to the pump. The tank shown is divided into four unconnected compartments A ... A<3> to which pressure air is supplied by forwardlydirected nozzles A<4>. In each compartment is a cylinder B, the space within which communicates with the compartment by upper and lower apertures B<1>, B<2>. The cylinders project below the bottom of the tank, and communicate with a common outlet pipe C through lightlyloaded valves (not shown). At the top of each cylinder is a spring-loaded valve D<3> which normally closes an air-escape to a rearwardlydirected nozzle D<5>. When the fuel in a compartment is exhausted, a float D slidable on a rod D<1> articulated to the valve stem rests on a flange E on the rod, and by its weight opens the valve. A filling-opening E, Fig. 4, is provided in the compartment A<1>, the other compartments being filled from this compartment by pipes E<5> extending from a tapered seating E<4> which is closed by a plug E<3> carried bv a stem E<2> on the closure-member E<1> of the filling-opening E, so isolating the compartments from one another. The pressure air may alternatively be supplied from a pump or other source, the pipes leading from such a common source to the compartments being relatively small so that release of pressure in one or more compartments will not appreciably affect the pressure in the others.