External-bladder fuel system fluidly connectable to a fuel tank to receive excess
US9919807B2 · kind B2 · utility
3Cited by
60References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 2014 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/40
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A bladder external to a fuel tank of a vehicle that allows an operational range of the vehicle to be increased. Preferably the bladder is external to the rest of the vehicle and the vehicle is an aircraft. The external bladder allows fuel in the fuel tank to expand and contract without requiring additional space within the vehicle, thus allowing more fuel mass to be held by the vehicle and a smaller vehicle profile that is more aerodynamically efficient. More preferably, the bladder is disconnectable from the rest of the vehicle to allow increasing of aerodynamic efficiency and weight reduction during use.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.