TANK WITH A COLLECTION DEVICE THAT WORKS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE TANK'S INCLINATION, AIRCRAFT THAT INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE SUCH TANK

Description

[0001] The present application relates to a tank comprising a capture device operating independently of the inclination of the tank as well as to an aircraft comprising at least one such tank.

[0002] As illustrated in the figure 1 , an aircraft 10 comprises a fuselage 12 which extends along a longitudinal axis AL between a front tip 12.1 and a rear tip 12.2. Depending on the flight phases, the aircraft 10 can be tilted backwards (its rear tip 12.2 being lower than its front tip 12.1), in particular during a takeoff phase, or it can be tilted forwards (its front tip 12.1 being lower than its rear tip 12.2), in particular during a descent phase.

[0003] According to one configuration, the aircraft 10 comprises at least one double-walled tank 14 for storing liquid hydrogen, for example. This tank 14 comprises a cylindrical body 16 which extends between first and second ends 16.1, 16.2 closed by dome-shaped end walls 18.1, 18.2. According to one arrangement, the cylindrical body 16 has an axis of revolution A16 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis AL, the first end 16.1 being oriented towards the front of the aircraft and the second end 16.2 towards the rear.

[0004] The aircraft 10 also comprises a fuel circuit comprising a capture device, positioned in the tank 14, making it possible to capture the fuel in order to remove it from the tank 14. According to one embodiment, this capture device comprises a conduit, one end of which opens at or near the bottom of the tank 14.

[0005] In the case of a tank positioned in an aircraft, the low point of the tank is not always located at the same place depending on the flight phase. Thus, the low point of the tank 14 is located at the first end 16.1 of the tank 16 when the aircraft 10 is tilted forward or is located at the second end 16.2 when the aircraft is tilted rearward.

[0006] Regardless of its position, the capture device does not allow for optimal emptying of the tank. Thus, it is necessary to provide an additional volume of fuel in the tank, which is not used but is necessary to ensure that the capture device is always submerged, regardless of the aircraft's inclination, when the quantity of fuel in the tank is low and the fuel level in the tank is low.

[0007] According to an embodiment described in document KR20060064914, a tank comprises a capture device which comprises an orifice positioned near the bottom of the tank, a valve movable between an open position in which the valve clears the orifice and a closed position in which the valve closes the orifice and a float connected to the valve to move it between the closed and open positions. This capture device is relatively complex.

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art. To this end, the invention relates to a tank configured to store a liquid, comprising: at least one enclosure comprising a bottom which extends between first and second ends, at least one capture device comprising at least one conduit positioned on the bottom or near the latter, each conduit having a lower face oriented towards the bottom of the enclosure as well as an upper face opposite the lower face.

[0009] According to the invention, the capture device comprises at least a first section of conduit near the first end and at least a second section of conduit near the second end, each of the first and second sections comprising at least one orifice located on the upper face of the conduit. In addition, the capture device comprises, for each orifice, a floating shutter movable between an open position in which the floating shutter is spaced from the orifice and a closed position in which the floating shutter closes the orifice, the floating shutter having a density lower than that of the liquid stored in the tank.

[0010] This solution optimizes tank emptying. Regardless of the tank's tilt, there is at least one orifice that is always submerged through which liquid can be captured and extracted from the tank, even when the liquid level in the tank is low.

[0011] According to another characteristic, the capture device comprises, for each floating shutter, a pivoting support which has a first end connected by a first pivoting connection to the conduit or to the enclosure as well as a second end connected to the floating shutter.

[0012] According to another characteristic, each conduit comprising a median plane separating the lower and upper faces, the first pivoting connection connects the pivoting support as well as the conduit and comprises a first pivoting axis, substantially perpendicular to the axis of the conduit, contained in the median plane or in a plane parallel to the median plane.

[0013] According to another characteristic, each pivoting support comprises two branches, parallel to each other and positioned on either side of the conduit and the floating shutter, configured to pivot in planes perpendicular to the first pivot axis, each of the branches connecting the conduit and the floating shutter.

[0014] According to another characteristic, for each first section located near the first end as well as for each pair comprising an orifice and a floating shutter, the first pivot axis of the pivoting support of the floating shutter is closer to the first end than the orifice. In addition, for each second section located near the second end as well as for each pair comprising an orifice and a floating shutter, the first pivot axis of the pivoting support of the floating shutter is closer to the second end than the orifice.

[0015] According to another characteristic, each floating shutter is a sphere, each orifice being substantially circular.

[0016] According to another characteristic, the first section describes a U-shaped trajectory having a base oriented towards the first end, the second section describing a U-shaped trajectory having a base oriented towards the second end.

[0017] According to another characteristic, each capture device comprises a conduit comprising in series a first part exiting the enclosure, the first U-shaped section positioned near the first end of the enclosure, a rectilinear intermediate section as well as the second U-shaped section positioned near the second end.

[0018] The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one tank according to one of the preceding characteristics.

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description of the invention which follows, a description given by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings, among which: There figure 1 is a perspective view of an aircraft, The figure 2 is a perspective view of a double-walled tank, The figure 3 is a perspective view of an interior portion of a tank equipped with a capture device illustrating an embodiment of the invention, The figure 4 is a perspective view of part of a capture device, The figure 5 is a perspective view of an orifice and a floating shutter in the open position illustrating an embodiment of the invention, The figure 6 is a side view of an orifice and a floating shutter in the closed position illustrating an embodiment of the invention, The figure 7 is a side view of a first part of a collection device, when the tank is inclined in a first direction, illustrating an embodiment of the invention, and The figure 8 is a side view of a second part of a collection device, when the tank is inclined in the first direction, illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] According to an embodiment visible on the figure 3 , a tank 20 comprises at least one enclosure 22 which comprises a cylindrical body 24 extending between first and second ends 24.1, 24.2 as well as end walls 26.1, 26.2 configured to close the first and second ends 24.1, 24.2 of the cylindrical body 24. The cylindrical body 24 has an axis of revolution A24.

[0021] According to one application, an aircraft comprises at least one tank 20 positioned so that its axis of revolution A24 is parallel to the longitudinal axis AL and configured to store hydrogen in the liquid state. In operation, the tank 20 can be inclined forward or backward depending on the flight phases.

[0022] Of course, the invention is not limited to this application. Whatever the embodiment, the reservoir 20 is configured to store a liquid 28 (visible on the figures 7 et 8 ) and comprises at least one enclosure 22 comprising a bottom 30 which extends between first and second ends 24.1, 24.2 oriented in a first direction. The liquid 28 has a surface F28, visible on the figure 8 , corresponding to the interface between the liquid 28 and the gas located above the liquid 28. In operation, the tank 20 can tilt in a tilting plane, vertical and passing through the first direction, around a tilting axis substantially perpendicular to the tilting plane.

[0023] The enclosure 22 comprises a transverse median plane PT perpendicular to the axis of revolution A24 and positioned equidistant from the first and second ends 24.1, 24.2.

[0024] The reservoir 20 comprises at least one capture device 32 making it possible to capture the liquid 28 present in the reservoir 20 to make it exit the enclosure 22.

[0025] According to a configuration visible on the figures 3 And 4 , the reservoir 20 comprises two collection devices 32, 32'.

[0026] Each capture device 32, 32' comprises at least one conduit 34, positioned on the bottom 30 or very close to the latter, which has at least one section 36 positioned close to the first or second end 24.1, 24.2. Each conduit 34 has a first closed end 35, located in the enclosure 22, at the bottom 30, as well as a second end located outside the enclosure 22.

[0027] According to a first configuration not shown, the capture device 32, 32' comprises two conduits 34, a first conduit comprising a section positioned near the first end 24.1 and a second conduit comprising a section positioned near the second end 24.2.

[0028] According to a second configuration visible on the figure 3 , the capture device 32, 32' comprises a first section 36 near the first end 24.1 and a second section 36' near the second end 24.2, the first and second sections 36, 36' being arranged in series.

[0029] According to one arrangement, each section 36, 36' describes a U-shaped trajectory comprising first and second branches 38.1, 38.2 substantially parallel to each other.

[0030] According to one embodiment, each capture device 32, 32' comprises a conduit 34 comprising in series a first part 34.1 exiting the enclosure 22, a first U-shaped section 36 positioned near a first end 24.1 of the enclosure 22, the base of the U of which is oriented towards the first end 24.1, a rectilinear intermediate section 34.2 as well as a second U-shaped section 36' positioned near a second end 24.2 of the enclosure 22, the base of the U of which is oriented towards the second end 24.2.

[0031] Of course, the invention is not limited to this arrangement. Whatever the configuration, the capture device 32, 32' comprises at least a first section 36 of conduit 34 near the first end 24.1 as well as at least a second section 36' of conduit 34 near the second end 24.2.

[0032] For each section 36, 36', the conduit 34 comprises a lower face 34I facing downwards and the bottom 30 of the enclosure 22 as well as an upper face 345 opposite the lower face 34I and facing upwards, the lower and upper faces 34I, 34S being separated by a median plane PM. According to one configuration, the median plane PM is perpendicular to the tilting plane.

[0033] Each of the first and second sections 36, 36' of conduit 34 comprises an orifice 40, substantially circular, located on the upper face 34S of the conduit 34. According to one configuration, each branch 38.1, 38.2 of each section 36, 36' of each conduit 34 comprises several regularly spaced orifices 40.

[0034] The capture device 32 comprises, for each orifice 40, a floating shutter 42 movable between an open position, visible on the figure 5 , in which the floating shutter 42 is spaced from the orifice 40 and a closed position, visible on the figure 6 , in which the floating shutter 42 closes the orifice 40. The floating shutter 42 has a density lower than that of the liquid 28.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the floating shutter 42 has a spherical shape which has a diameter greater than that of the orifice 40.

[0036] The orifice 40 and the floating shutter 42 are not limited to these geometries. Regardless of the embodiment, the orifice 40 and the floating shutter 42 are configured such that in the closed position, the floating shutter 42 blocks the orifice 40 and prevents a flow of a fluid between the inside and the outside of the conduit 34. When the floating shutter 42 blocks the orifice 40, this further prevents loss of prime of a pump used to pump the liquid 28 into the reservoir 20.

[0037] For each floating shutter 42, the capture device 32 comprises a pivoting support 44 which has a first end 44.1 connected by a first pivoting connection 46 to the conduit 34 as well as a second end 44.2 connected to the floating shutter 42. At right angles to the first pivoting connection 46, the conduit 34, substantially cylindrical, has a conduit axis A34. The first pivoting connection 46 comprises a first pivoting axis A46 contained in the median plane PM or in a plane parallel to the median plane PM and substantially perpendicular to the conduit axis A34.

[0038] According to another embodiment, the first pivoting connection 46 connects the floating shutter 42 and the enclosure 22.

[0039] According to one configuration, the second end 44.2 and the floating shutter 42 are connected by a second pivoting connection which has a second pivoting axis substantially parallel to the first pivoting axis A46. Alternatively, the second end 44.2 and the floating shutter 42 are connected by a rigid connection or any other connection.

[0040] According to a non-limiting embodiment, each pivoting support 44 comprises two branches 48.1, 48.2, parallel to each other and positioned on either side of the conduit 34 and the floating shutter 42, configured to pivot in planes perpendicular to the first pivot axis A46, each of the branches 48.1, 48.2 connecting the conduit 34 and the floating shutter 42. According to one embodiment, each branch 48.1, 48.2 is cut from a plate.

[0041] Alternatively, a pivoting support 44 may comprise a single pivoting leg, positioned on only one side of the floating shutter 42.

[0042] According to one arrangement, for a given floating shutter 42, its center C42 and the first pivot axis A46 of the pivoting support 44 of the shutter 42 are separated by a distance D substantially equal to a distance separating the first pivot axis A46 and the center C40 of the orifice 40 associated with the floating shutter 42.

[0043] For each pair comprising an orifice 40 and a floating shutter 42, the first pivot axis A46 of the pivoting support 44 of the floating shutter 42 is separated from the transverse median plane PT by a distance greater than that separating the orifice 40 and the transverse median plane PT.

[0044] Thus, for each first section 36 located near the first end 24.1 as well as for each pair comprising an orifice 40 and a floating shutter 42, the first pivot axis A46 of the pivoting support 44 of the floating shutter 42 is closer to the first end 24.1 than the orifice 40, as illustrated in the figures 4 à 6 . For each second section 36' located near the second end 24.2 as well as for each pair comprising an orifice 40 and a floating shutter 42, the first pivot axis A46 of the pivoting support 44 of the floating shutter 42 is closer to the second end 24.2 than the orifice 40, as illustrated in the figure 7 .

[0045] The operating principle of the capture device 32, 32' is as follows: When the floating shutters 42 are submerged, they are in the open position and the liquid 28 present in the enclosure 22 is captured via the orifices 40 of the conduit 34.

[0046] When the tank 20 tilts in a first direction and the first end 24.1 is lower than the second end 24.2 as illustrated in the figures 7 et 8 , the floating shutters 42 located at the level of the first section 36 are always submerged and in the open position, as illustrated in the figure 7 . At the level of the second section 36' located near the second end 24.2, certain floating shutters 42 are always submerged and in the open position while other floating shutters 42, outside the liquid 28, pivot until they close the corresponding orifices 40, as illustrated in the figure 8 . Thus, the liquid 28 present in the enclosure 22 is extracted via the orifices 40 of the first section 36 of the conduit 34 and via the orifices 40 of the second section 36' for which the floating shutters 42 are immersed and in the open position.

[0047] When the tank 20 tilts in a second direction and the second end 24.2 is lower than the first end 24.1, the floating shutters 42 located at the second section 36' are always submerged and in the open position. At the first section 36 located near the first end, some floating shutters 42 are always submerged and in the open position while other floating shutters 42, outside the liquid 28, pivot until they close the corresponding orifices 40. Thus, the liquid 28 present in the enclosure 22 is extracted via the orifices 40 of the second section 36' of the conduit 34 and via the orifices 40 of the first section 36 for which the floating shutters 42 are submerged and in the open position.

[0048] Regardless of the inclination of the tank 20, there is at least one orifice 40 always submerged via which the liquid 28 can be captured to extract it from the tank 20 even when the quantity of liquid in the tank is low and the level F28 of the liquid in the tank 20 is low. The orifices 40 located outside the liquid 28 are automatically closed by the floating shutters 42.

[0049] This solution makes it possible to optimize the emptying of the tank 20 so that it is no longer necessary to provide an additional volume of liquid to guarantee that an orifice of the collection device is always submerged regardless of the inclination of the tank 20.

Claims

1. Tank configured to store a liquid (28), comprising: - at least one chamber (22) comprising a bottom (30) which extends between first and second ends (24.1, 24.2), - at least one capture device (32, 32') comprising at least one line (34) positioned on the bottom (30) or in the vicinity thereof, each line (34) having a lower face (34I) oriented toward the bottom (30) of the chamber (22) and an upper face (34S) opposite to the lower face (34I), the capture device (32, 32') comprising at least a first portion (36) of line (34) in the vicinity of the first end (24.1) and at least a second portion (36') of line (34) in the vicinity of the second end (24.2), characterized in that each of the first and second portions (36, 36') comprises at least one orifice (40) situated on the upper face (34S) of the line (34), and in that the capture device (32, 32') comprises, for each orifice (40), a floating shut-off device (42) that is movable between an open position in which the floating shut-off device (42) is spaced apart from the orifice (40) and a closed position in which the floating shut-off device (42) shuts off the orifice (40), the floating shut-off device (42) having a density lower than that of the liquid (28) stored in the tank.

2. Tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capture device (32, 32') comprises, for each floating shut-off device (42), a pivoting support (44) which has a first end (44.1) connected to the line (34) or to the chamber (22) by a first pivoting connection (46) and a second end (44.2) connected to the floating shut-off device (42).

3. Tank as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein each line (34) comprises a median plane (PM) separating the lower and upper faces (34I, 34S), and in that the first pivoting connection (46) connects the pivoting support (44) and the line (34) and comprises a first pivot axis (A46) that is substantially perpendicular to the axis (A34) of the line (34) and that is contained in the median plane (PM) or in a plane parallel to the median plane (PM).

4. Tank as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein each pivoting support (44) comprises two branches (48.1, 48.2) that are parallel to one another and positioned on either side of the line (34) and of the floating shut-off device (42) and that are configured to pivot in planes perpendicular to the first pivot axis (A46), each of the branches (48.1, 48.2) connecting the line (34) and the floating shut-off device (42).

5. Tank as claimed in one of claims 3 to 4, wherein, for each first portion (36) situated in the vicinity of the first end (24.1) and for each pair comprising an orifice (40) and a floating shut-off device (42), the first pivot axis (A46) of the pivoting support (44) of the floating shut-off device (42) is closer to the first end (24.1) than the orifice (40), and in that, for each second portion (36') situated in the vicinity of the second end (24.2) and for each pair comprising an orifice (40) and a floating shut-off device (42), the first pivot axis (A46) of the pivoting support (44) of the floating shut-off device (42) is closer to the second end (24.2) than the orifice (40).

6. Tank as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein each floating shut-off device (42) is a sphere, and in that each orifice (40) is substantially circular.

7. Tank as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion (36) describes a trajectory in the shape of a U having a base oriented toward the first end (24.1), and in that the second portion (36') describes a trajectory in the shape of a U having a base oriented toward the second end (24.2).

8. Tank as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein each capture device (32, 32') comprises a line (34) comprising, in series, a first part (34.1) exiting the chamber (22), the first U-shaped portion (36) positioned in the vicinity of the first end (24.1) of the chamber (22), a rectilinear intermediate portion (34.2) and the second U-shaped portion (36') positioned in the vicinity of the second end (24.2).

9. Aircraft comprising at least one tank as claimed in one of the preceding claims.