Self-Sealing Fuel Bladder Flaps for Rapid Leak Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional self-sealing fuel tanks using natural rubber are slow to seal punctures, ineffective for larger caliber penetrations, and are stiff, heavy, and difficult to install, making them inadequate for military and other applications where rapid and effective containment of fuel leaks is critical.

Innovation Solution

The development of self-sealing bladders with internal flaps that rapidly respond to holes by bending towards the opening to reduce fluid leakage, capable of sealing larger penetrations, lighter, more flexible, and easier to install than conventional systems, featuring a liquid impermeable material layer with inwardly extending sealing flaps that can cover holes up to 3 inches in diameter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional self-sealing bladders use natural rubber to seal punctures, then sealing capability is provided, but sealing time is excessive (2 minutes or more) and larger caliber penetrations cannot be sealed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing capabilityVSAvoidsealing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning multiple sealing flaps at different locations on the bladder interior surface before any puncture occurs. These flaps are strategically placed so that when a puncture happens, the nearest flaps can immediately respond and seal the opening, eliminating the delay inherent in conventional systems that rely on material swelling or flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the sealing function into multiple independent sealing flaps rather than relying on a single continuous material layer. Each flap acts as an independent sealing element that can respond to punctures in its vicinity, providing faster and more reliable sealing coverage across the entire bladder surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If conventional self-sealing bladders use natural rubber sealants, then puncture sealing is achieved, but the bladders become stiff, heavy, and difficult to install

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepuncture sealingVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sealing system into discrete, lightweight flaps that can be independently positioned and secured. This segmentation allows for easier handling and installation compared to conventional systems that require installing large amounts of heavy natural rubber material throughout the bladder structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses thin, flexible sealing flaps made from materials that provide effective sealing without the stiffness and weight of conventional natural rubber layers. These thin film structures maintain flexibility for easy installation while providing reliable puncture sealing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If conventional self-sealing bladders use thick natural rubber layers, then some sealing capability is provided, but the bladders become heavy and expensive to install

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing functionVSAvoidbladder weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces continuous thick natural rubber layers with multiple thin, segmented sealing flaps distributed across the bladder interior. This segmentation dramatically reduces the total material quantity and weight while maintaining effective sealing coverage through the distributed arrangement of multiple flaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies sealing material locally at specific flap positions rather than uniformly throughout the entire bladder structure. This local quality approach provides sealing capability exactly where needed (at potential puncture sites) without the excessive weight of comprehensive thick rubber layering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 self-sealing bladders provide rapid and effective sealing of fuel leaks, capable of handling larger wounds than conventional systems, are lighter and easier to install, and offer greater flexibility, reducing fuel loss and environmental risk in damaged containers.

Implementation Method 1

in response to a hole formed in the bladder wall that establishes an unwanted flow of liquid out of the bladder, at least one sealing flap responds to the unwanted liquid flow by bending towards the hole and at least partially reducing the rate at which the unwanted liquid flows out of the bladder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentUS9950613B2Use of flaps in fuel bladders to seal punctures

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A self-sealing bladder including a liquid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and a plurality of flexible sealing flaps extending inwardly from the interior surface of the liquid bladder wherein, in response to a hole formed in the bladder that establishes an unwanted flow of liquid from the bladder, at least one sealing flap responds to the unwanted flow of fluid by bending towards and at least partially covering the hole.