Aircraft fuel tank system

摘要

An aircraft fuel tank system is disclosed in which a vent tank is provided with a compact vent pipe comprising one or more built-in flame barrier elements providing high liquid fuel outflow rate.

主权项

1. An aircraft fuel tank system comprising:
one or more aircraft fuel tanks for holding and supplying aircraft fuel to aircraft engines within said aircraft; an aircraft vent tank comprising an inlet connected to said one or more fuel tanks and an ullage vent means in a lower surface of said aircraft fuel tank, said aircraft vent tank being arranged to provide a predetermined maximum fuel capacity and having a minimal ullage at said maximum fuel capacity; a vent pipe having a first open end in fluid communication with said ullage vent means and a second open end positioned within said minimal ullage of said aircraft vent tank, said vent pipe being arranged to provide a substantially direct nominally vertical fluid flow path between said minimal ullage and said ullage vent means; and flame barrier means arranged within said vent pipe so as to provide a barrier to ingress to said vent tank of a flame front external to said vent tank and to enable egress of liquid fuel from said vent tank though said ullage vent means via said vent pipe.