The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 21, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 12, 1994
Larry J Ashton, Mapleton, UT (US);
Michael G Allman, Spanish Fork, UT (US);
Benko Ta-Ala, Provo, UT (US);
AeroTrans, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Abstract
A fuel tank for aircraft includes a rigid securement for securing the tank to the aircraft, a skin connected to the securement, and a liner inside the skin. The skin includes an elastic fiber and a tensile fiber embedded in a flexible matrix. In one embodiment, the elastic fiber and the tensile fiber are wound in layers within the flexible matrix, and the elastic fiber is wrapped spirally about the tensile fiber. The elastic fiber is preferably an elastomeric fiber such as an elastic, segmented polyurethane fiber. The tensile fiber is preferably an aramid polymer fiber such as an aromatic polycarbonamide fiber. The flexible matrix may be formed of natural rubber or neoprene rubber. When the tank is filled, the elastic fiber lengthens until the tensile fiber resists further stretching. The elastic fiber tends to contract as the tank is emptied, substantially reducing the storage space required by the tank. The tank is nestable when empty, but is nonetheless substantially ready to receive fuel. A method for forming the fuel tank includes obtaining a mandrel, covering the mandrel with a liner, and fiber winding an elastic fiber and a tensile fiber in a flexible matrix about the mandrel.