Flexible Sump Impact Absorption via Elastic Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional rigid sumps in fuel structures are prone to damage and fuel leaks during crashes due to insufficient impact resistance, as they are not strong enough to withstand impact forces, leading to potential fuel contamination and system failures.

Innovation Solution

A flexible sump design featuring a sump cavity with flexible walls and a platform coupled to its upper edge, which can bend and retract during impact, ensuring the sump cavity remains within the fuel structure and preventing fuel leaks by using flexible materials such as elastomeric components and metallic components integrated for added strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional rigid sumps are used, then structural integrity is provided, but impact resistance deteriorates leading to fuel leaks during crashes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidfuel leak prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sump is constructed from flexible material that can deform under impact forces, allowing the sump to absorb crash energy without cracking or leaking fuel. The flexible walls and floor can bend and retract during impact while maintaining fuel containment integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sump design changes the mechanical properties of the sump material from rigid to flexible, fundamentally altering how the sump responds to impact forces. This parameter change enables the sump to dynamically adapt to crash conditions while preventing fuel leaks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If rigid materials are used for sump construction, then structural integrity is maintained, but deformation capability deteriorates under impact forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoiddeformation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sump transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can change shape in response to impact forces. The flexible walls and floor can deform, bend, and retract during crash events, allowing the sump to adapt to varying impact conditions while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sump utilizes flexible material construction that enables controlled deformation under load. The flexible shell structure can bend and flex during impact without compromising fuel containment, providing both structural integrity and deformation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the sump is positioned to protrude from the lower surface, then fuel drainage is improved, but impact damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel drainageVSAvoidimpact damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible sump construction allows the protruding portion to deform under impact forces rather than fracture. The flexible walls can bend and retract during crash, reducing impact damage risk while maintaining the drainage function provided by the protruding configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible material inherently provides cushioning against impact forces before damage can occur. This pre-existing flexibility acts as a protective mechanism that absorbs crash energy and prevents the kind of catastrophic failure that would occur with rigid materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flexible sump design effectively absorbs impact forces, maintaining the integrity of the fuel system by preventing cracks and leaks, thus meeting crashworthy regulations and ensuring uninterrupted fuel flow even in the event of a crash.

Implementation Method 1

the flexible walls and/or the lower surface of the sump cavity may be configured to bend when a force is applied to a lower surface of the sump cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2629997B1Flexible sump

Publication Date: 2015.04.15 ZODIAC AEROSAFETY SYST

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AI summary

Described are flexible sumps including a sump cavity comprising flexible walls and a platform coupled to an upper edge of the sump cavity. Some examples of the flexible sumps may also include a flange having a coupling section and an exposed section and/or an interface coupled to a lower surface of the sump cavity. In some examples, at least two coupling tabs are coupled to the platform and are configured to couple the platform to a lower surface of a fuel structure, which may include a sump aperture that is configured to surround the flexible walls of the sump cavity when the platform is coupled to the lower surface of the fuel structure.