초록 ▼

This invention relates to a collapsible fuel storage tank for storing fuel on an aircraft. According to this invention, there is provided an aircraft including a fuselage portion, a wing portion connected thereto and an expandable fuel storage tank disposed adjacent the intersection of the wing port

This invention relates to a collapsible fuel storage tank for storing fuel on an aircraft. According to this invention, there is provided an aircraft including a fuselage portion, a wing portion connected thereto and an expandable fuel storage tank disposed adjacent the intersection of the wing portion and the fuselage portion. The fuel storage tank has an external surface which includes spanwise spaced inner and outer edge regions extending in a generally chordwise direction. The inner edge region of the tank extending alongside the fuselage portion and the outer edge region being attached to the wing portion to allow movement of the external surface between an empty position in which it lies generally flush with the surrounding surface of the wing portion and a fuel storing position in which it lies at an acute angle to said surrounding surface forming a fillet region between the wing portion and the fuselage portion. By this arrangement when the external surface is in a fuel storing position the wetted area of the aircraft is decreased, rather than increased. In addition, the external surface moves to its fuel storing position without creating large gaps or slots.

대표청구항 ▼

An aircraft including a fuselage portion, a wing portion connected thereto and expandable fuel storage means entirely disposed at a wing root location adjacent the intersection of said wing portion and said fuselage portion, said fuel storage means having external surface-defining means which includ

An aircraft including a fuselage portion, a wing portion connected thereto and expandable fuel storage means entirely disposed at a wing root location adjacent the intersection of said wing portion and said fuselage portion, said fuel storage means having external surface-defining means which includes spanwise spaced inner and outer edge regions extending in a generally clockwise direction, said inner edge region extending alongside and moveably mounted to pass over said fuselage portion and said outer edge region being hingedly attached to said wing portion to allow movement of the surface-defining means between an empty position in which the surface-defining means forms a contiguous and coplanar surface with the surrounding surface of the wing portion and a fuel storing position in which it lies at an acute angle to said surrounding surface and forms a fillet region between the wing portion and the fuselage portion and such that the wetted area of said aircraft is greater with the surface-defining means in said empty position than with the surface-defining means in said fuel storing position.