1. Title of the invention

Aircraft Tank Fuel Pick-up Valves in Fuel transfer lines

2. Field of invention

It is a mechanical engineering design used for aircraft fuel system.

3. Use of invention

This invented valve finds its applicability in the civil aircrafts and military aircrafts which are having non pressurised fuel tanks.

4. Prior art

Presently in the world, in fuel system of an aircraft "Fuel No Air Valve" or "Refuel - Transfer -Stop Air - Valve" are used to pick up the fuel from the tanks at the transfer line tip which is kept near the bottom of the tank where fuel is expected all the time.

5. Draw backs of prior art

These valves has the limitations / draw backs as mentioned below

1) Complicated in nature and performance is getting affected due to contamination in the used fuel.

2) Number of parts involved is more and costly.

3) During inverted flying does not transfer the fuel and

4) Needs electrical energizing to refuel the tank.

6. Comparison between prior art and present invention

A new, economical, reliable and simple "Fuel Pick-up valve" has been invented using simple ball-gravity principle to allow fuel transfer in all aircraft attitudes including inverted flying without any discontinuity. Refueling does not need any electrical energizing of the valve. It performs satisfactorily even with contaminated fuel. Transfer line and refueling line uses common single line when this valve is used; results in less piping and system weight reduction.

7. Aim of the invention

Aim of the invention is to address the draw backs and limitations in the present valves mentioned prior art using a single simple valve.

8. Summary of the present invention

A new, economical, reliable and simple "Fuel Pick-up valve" has been invented using simple ball-gravity principle to allow fuel transfer in all aircraft attitudes including inverted flying without any discontinuity. Refueling does not need any electrical energizing of the valve. It performs satisfactorily even with contaminated fuel. It addresses the limitations / draw backs faced with present valves like "Fuel No Air Valve" or "Refuel - Transfer - Stop Air - Valve".

9. Brief description of drawings

Fig-l shows the default position of the fuel pick-up valve in which fuel is picked and transferred to the transfer line.

Fig-2 shows the operated position of the fuel pick-up valve in which the ball blocks the transfer as the air is expected to be exposed near the pick-up zone; the blocked passage will not allow fuel as well as air to the transfer line.

10. Statement of invention

A new, economical, reliable and simple "Fuel Pick-up valve" has been invented using simple ball-gravity principle to allow fuel transfer in ail aircraft attitudes including inverted flying without any discontinuity and in addition, during refueling, it does not need any electrical energizing.

11. Detailed description of invention

Refer Fig-l. Fuel pick-up valve is made of a tube (1) with increasing diameter and with eccentric cross section to form ajapered inner surface. Bigger opening works as inlet with screen (3) to filter any foreign body / contamination. Ball (2) is housed inside the tube (1) and which will be at default position as shown in Fig-1 due to gravity and slope of the tube (1). This pick-up valve is positioned on the bottom skin (5) of the tank (which are not air pressurized) so that it could pick-up more fuel from the tank. Installation orientation is to be ensured that a designed inclination (4) is maintained to keep the ball at default position. When the valve is given tilt more than the designed inclination, ball will roll over to throat area of the transfer line (6). It helps the air not to enter into transfer line if pick-up is exposed to air because of fuel movement during maneouver. A tank may be equipped with minimum 3 or many pick-up valves in different zones connected to common transfer line. These Pick-up valves are installed in such a way that each valve will help stopping air entering transfer line due to fuel movement to other sides during maneouver.The same valve pick-up mounted in upside down orientation and in such a way that during normal flying ball is at throat position (passage blocked) and during inverted flying, ball will roll down to default position so that fuel is continuously being picked and available at transfer line.

Claims

1. A new, economical, reliable and simple "Fuel Pick-up valve" has been invented using simple ball-gravity principle to allow fuel transfer in all aircraft attitudes including inverted flying without any discontinuity.

2. Refueling does not need any electrical energizing of the valve.

3. It performs satisfactorily even with contaminated fuel.

4. Transfer line and refueling line uses common single line when this valve is used; results in less piping and system weight reduction.