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:
Aug. 02, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 02, 2005
Franklin George Tichborne, Whitchurch, GB;
Kim Michael Ley, Frampton Cotterel, GB;
Franklin George Tichborne, Whitchurch, GB;
Kim Michael Ley, Frampton Cotterel, GB;
Airbus UK Limited, Bristol, GB;
Abstract
Unsafe electric energies can exist in aircraft fuel tanks as a result of static build-up or induced currents from lightning strikes. The invention provides an aircraft fuel tank including two discharge paths for the safe discharge of electricity from the tank before it reaches levels where an arc, spark or other electric discharge, able to ignite fuel in the tank, could occur. The failure of both the discharge paths would significantly increase the risk of an ignition causing electrical discharge occurring. The tank thus also includes a circuit for monitoring the integrity of each discharge path. By having at least two discharge paths, should one discharge path fail (which failure being detected by the monitoring circuit, at least one alternative discharge path exists for the safe discharge of electrical energy from the fuel tank, until the failed discharge path is repaired.