GB423060A - Improvements in or connected with aircraft fuselages - Google Patents

Abstract

423,060. Aircraft. BLACKBURN AEROPLANE & MOTOR CO., Ltd., Seaplane Base, and BUMPUS, F. A., Elloughton, both in Brough, near Hull. Nov. 30, 1933, No. 33601. [Class 4] The skin of an aircraft fuselage of the monocoque type is provided with one or more apertures through each of which a fuel tank may be bodily inserted or removed, each tank being furnished with a separate or integral cover, which is adapted to seal the aperture and complete the continuity of the skin, and is detachable from the fuselage to permit removal of the tank. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the aperture is located on the under side of the fuselage 12 at a point above which there is no obstructing framework, and the tank 10 is inserted from below, the base 11 of the tank having a projecting flange 11<a> that overlaps the edges of the aperture and is stiffened by an angle ring 13. The flange 11<a> is connected by bolts and nuts to a ring 14 on the fuselage surrounding the aperture. At its upper edge the tank is positioned by a ring 15 of triangular crosssection secured to the fuselage, while access to the filling-neck 23 is obtained by means of a removable cover 17. Pipes 21, 18 and 19 allow fuel to be pumped from the tank 10 to a gravity tank 20. A modification is described in which a large tank and a small tank are supported in close proximity with suitable draw-off pipes for the fuel. In this arrangement, for securing the tank 10 to the fuselage, a stiffening channel 41, Fig. 4, is connected to the base of the tank, and from its ends project the extremities 42 of an inner channel, bolts 43 being passed through the members 42 into members 44 attached to the fuselage 37 and being locked by looped wires 45. A cushioning element 40 is disposed between flanges 36, 39 on the tank 10 and on the fuselage 37 respectively.