Embraer S.a.

Embraer - Empresa Brasileira De Aeronautica S.a.

Paulo Henrique Hasmann

Marcos Vinicius

Gabriel Kendjy Koike

Regis Assao

Reinaldo Pinto Dias Junior

Weber De Brito Barbosa

Rodrigo Pinto Moreira Piedras

Weber Brito Barbosa

Cristian Escobar Santiago

Luciano Magno Fragola Barbosa

Marcos VINÍCIUS

Alexandre Osti Fraccaroli

Viviam Lawrence Takase

Barbosa Weber De Brito

Cargo aircraft having a cargo ramp and cargo door oppositely hinged relative to one another to allow access to the aircraft's cargo space may be provided with a flying boom mast that is physically mounted at the aft portion of the fuselage so as to configure such cargo aircraft for aerial refueling operations. The flying boom mast may therefore be operably associated with the aft portion of the fuselage and moveable between a stowed and deployed conditions relative to the aft portion of the fuselage, while a fuel supply line fluid-interconnects the flying boom mast with an on-board fuel supply of the aircraft so as to allow aerial refueling of a receiver aircraft when the flying boom mast is in the deployed condition thereof.

Flying boom mast for multi-purpose aerial refueling aircraft

Methods and systems are provided to comply with structural load requirements applicable to aircraft additional fuel tank systems. A plurality of aircraft fuel tanks may be positioned adjacent to one another, preferably within the fuselage (e.g., a cargo compartment) of the aircraft so as to be disposed generally along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The tank body defining an interior space for holding aircraft fuel, an intercommunication conduit assembly between the fuel tank modules configured to refuel and transfer fuel from the tank modules by a cascade mode and an intentional air-filled ullage space are operatively associated with the tank body to prevent an overpressure condition within the interior space of the fuel tank body. The intentional air-filled ullage is obtained through the predetermined positioning of the terminal open end of the intercommunication tube inside the respective fuel tank module. The intentional air-filled ullage can be configured in all or in only some of the fuel tank modules according to the design of the auxiliary fuel tanks or aircraft structural loads requirements.

Systems and methods to provide compliance with structural load requirements for aircraft with additional fuel tankage

Auxiliary fuel tanks are provided with an inner barrier wall defining an interior volume for containing aircraft fuel, an outer barrier wall adjacent the inner barrier wall so as to define a space therebetween, and a drain part having a port in fluid communication with the space to allow leaked fuel within the space to be discharged therefrom. The drain part may be positioned at a corner junction between at least side and bottom walls of the outer barrier wall. In some advantageous embodiments, the drain part is positioned at a corner junction between the side wall, the bottom wall and an end wall of the outer barrier wall. One or more drain parts may be provided on each auxiliary aircraft fuel tank. If a plurality of drain parts are provided, then each drain part will preferably have a port in fluid communication with the space between the inner and outer barrier walls to allow leaked fuel within the space to be discharged therefrom, and each drain part will be positioned at respective corner junctions between at least side and bottom walls of the outer barrier wall, preferably between the side wall, the bottom wall and an end wall of the outer barrier wall. Aircraft may thus be provided with one or more of such auxiliary fuel tanks.

Auxiliary aircraft fuel tanks, systems and methods providing visual leak detection

Aircraft fuel tanks, systems and methods increase an aircraft's fuel capacity. The fuel tanks have a tank body defining an interior space for holding aircraft fuel, and a relief manifold assembly operatively associated to the tank body to prevent an overpressure condition within the interior space of the fuel tank body. The relief manifold assembly preferably includes a buffer vessel defining a buffer chamber in fluid communication with the interior space defined by the fuel tank body. The buffer vessel may advantageously be fixed to the tank body within the interior space thereof. At least one of a fuel vent manifold assembly for venting the interior space of the fuel tank and a fuel refill/transfer manifold assembly for supplying fuel to and withdrawing fuel from the interior space of the fuel tank. At least one control box (e.g., containing valves, pumps and/or sensors) external of the fuel tank may be provided so as to fluid-connect the at least one fluid manifold assembly to the main fuel system of the aircraft. A plurality of aircraft fuel tanks may therefore be positioned adjacent to one another, preferably within the fuselage (e.g., a cargo compartment) of the aircraft so as to be disposed generally along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

Aircraft fuel tanks, systems and methods for increasing an aircraft's on-board fuel capacity

Growing community of inventors

Sao José dos Campos, Brazil

Paulo Henrique Hasmann