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:
Jul. 27, 1999
Filed:
May. 15, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Paul Francis Geders, Florissant, MO (US);
John David Groeneveld, Maryland Heights, MO (US);
Robert Henry Wille, St. Charles, MO (US);
Assignee:
McDonnell Douglas, , US;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64D / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
2441 / ; 2441 / ;
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.