Puncture-Resistant Fuel Bladder Liner for Aircraft Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft fuel systems lack effective puncture resistance, particularly when equipped with external cargo hooks that can penetrate fuel cells during crashes, posing a risk to occupant safety due to potential fuel leaks and ignition.
Innovation Solution
A puncture-resistant liner made from woven materials, such as metallic or non-metallic fibers, is integrated into the fuel cell walls or compartments, providing protection against puncture damage and optionally coated or impregnated with leak-resistant materials, and electrically bonded to the aircraft's frame for enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional fuel storage systems are used, then the system is simple and easy to manufacture, but the system lacks puncture resistance during catastrophic events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a puncture-resistant liner (made from materials like Kevlar, Terylene, or other high-strength fabrics) with the traditional fuel storage bladder structure. This composite construction provides puncture resistance while maintaining flexibility and fuel containment capabilities, resolving the contradiction between strength improvement and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing a puncture-resistant liner inside the fuel storage bladder, creating a nested structure where the liner is contained within the bladder. This nested configuration allows the liner to provide protection without requiring a complete redesign of the external storage system structure, thus improving puncture resistance while limiting complexity increase.
2Strength
If a puncture-resistant liner is added to the fuel cell, then puncture resistance is improved, but the weight of the storage system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible shells and thin films by using a thin puncture-resistant liner material that provides adequate protection against puncture forces while minimizing additional weight. The liner is designed as a thin but high-strength barrier that conforms to the fuel cell geometry, achieving puncture resistance with minimal weight penalty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials with high strength-to-weight ratio (such as aramid fibers, carbon fibers, or advanced polymer composites) for the puncture-resistant liner. These materials provide the necessary puncture resistance while keeping the added weight minimal, thus resolving the contradiction between strength improvement and weight increase.
3Strength
If the liner is made from woven materials, then puncture resistance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes flexible thin-film woven materials that can be easily formed and fitted to the fuel cell bladder shape. These flexible materials allow for relatively simple manufacturing processes such as cutting, stitching, or bonding, avoiding complex fabrication steps while maintaining high puncture resistance through the woven structure.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A storage system (420) is provided in one example embodiment and may include a storage device (422a, 422b, 600) that may include a plurality of outer walls (602); and a liner (610) that covers one or more of the outer walls (602), wherein the liner (610) comprises a woven material that is puncture-resistant. A storage device (800) is provided in another example embodiment and may include a plurality of outer walls (802), wherein at least one of the outer walls (802) comprises a woven material (810) that is puncture-resistant. A vehicle (100,200) is provided in another example embodiment and may include a fuel system (520) that includes a fuel cell (522). The fuel cell (522) may include a plurality of outer walls, and at least one of: a puncture-resistant liner (510) covers one or more of the outer walls; and one or more of the outer walls comprises a woven material that is puncture resistant.