US3710549A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel tank inerting system
Assignee: Parker Hannifin Corp
•
Filing: 1971-01-29
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Granted: 1973-01-16
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Expires: 1991-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A system for maintaining the oxygen content in the fuel vapor space of an aircraft fuel tank at less than 10 percent by volume, such system including an aspirating type mixing nozzle that draws an inert gaseous mixture from the tank vapor space and mixes it with liquid fuel being supplied to the tank whereby said inert gaseous mixture scrubs dissolved oxygen from the fuel and returns to the vapor space with the scrubbed oxygen therein. The tank includes a vent means for venting excess gasses from the vapor space to the tank exterior as the tank fills with fuel and also includes means for further scrubbing of oxygen from the fuel during climb of the aircraft and for pressurizing the tank with inert gas during descent while excluding air from the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 R Nichols
- 👤 J Ulanovsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:06
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D37/00; B64D37/32; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/22; B65D90/38; B65D90/44; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A fuel tank inerting system comprising a fuel tank having a vapor space containing inert gas, a separate supply of inert gas communicating with the vapor space in the tank, mixing means located within said tank having an inlet for liquid fuel containing dissolved oxygen therein and an outlet that discharges the fuel into the tank; and means for conducting said inert gas to said mixing means for mixing with the fuel to scrub oxygen therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A fuel tank inerting system comprising a fuel tank having a vapor space containing inert gas, a separate supply of inert gas communicating with the vapor space in the tank, mixing means located within said tank having an inlet for liquid fuel containing dissolved oxygen therein and an outlet that discharges the fuel into the tank; and means for conducting said inert gas to said mixing means for mixing with the fuel to scrub oxygen therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said mixing means comprises an aspirator having a suction port to which said conducting means is connected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said outlet is at the bottom of said tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said mixing means includes an elongated tube on the outlet side thereof in which continued mixing occurs as the fuel-inert gas mixture flows through the tube into the tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A fuel tank inerting system comprising a fuel tank having a vapor space containing inert gas, a separate supply of inert gas communicating with the vapor space in the tank, and having a fueling port to which fuel is supplied into said tank; an aspirator within the tank having an inlet port communicating with the fueling port, an outlet port in the tank, and a suction port communicating with said vapor space thus to mix inert gas from the vapor space with the incoming fuel as it flows through said aspirator to scrub oxygen from the fuel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A fuel tank inerting system comprising a fuel tank having a vapor space containing inert gas, a separate supply of inert gas communicating with the vapor space in the tank, and having a fueling port to which fuel is supplied into said tank; an aspirator within the tank having an inlet port communicating with the fueling port, an outlet port in the tank, and a suction port communicating with said vapor space thus to mix inert gas from the vapor space with the incoming fuel as it flows through said aspirator to scrub oxygen from the fuel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The inerting system of claim 5 in which the tank has a means for venting excess gases in said vapor space to the tank exterior as the tank fills with fuel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The inerting system of claim 6 wherein said suction port is communicated to the vapor space by way of a conduit having an inlet in said vapor space and said vent means is located remote from said conduit inlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
A fuel tank inerting system comprising a tank having a refueling port through which liquid fuel containing dissolved oxygen is conducted into said tank; first mixing means for introducing an inert gas for mixing with the incoming fuel to scrub oxygen therefrom as the fuel enters the tank; pump means operative to circulate fuel in said tank; second mixing means for introducing an inert gas for mixing with the fuel as it is discharged from said pump means to further scrub oxygen from the fuel; and vent means in the vapor space of said tank through which gases, including oxygen scrubbed from the fuel during refueling of the tank and during recirculation of the fuel in the tank are vented.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
A fuel tank inerting system comprising a tank having a refueling port through which liquid fuel containing dissolved oxygen is conducted into said tank; first mixing means for introducing an inert gas for mixing with the incoming fuel to scrub oxygen therefrom as the fuel enters the tank; pump means operative to circulate fuel in said tank; second mixing means for introducing an inert gas for mixing with the fuel as it is discharged from said pump means to further scrub oxygen from the fuel; and vent means in the vapor space of said tank through which gases, including oxygen scrubbed from the fuel during refueling of the tank and during recirculation of the fuel in the tank are vented.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 8 wherein each of said mixing means has elongated tube means through which the fuel-inert gas mixture flows for continued mixing prior to flow into said tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 8 wherein one of said mixing means comprises an aspirator having an inlet port for fuel, a suction port communicated with an inert gas supply source, and an outlet port through which the fuel-iNert gas mixture flows into said tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the vapor space of said tank contains inert gas and constitutes said inert gas supply source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |