阅读说明：本技术 用于载具的受压机身的压力舱壁 (Pressure bulkhead for a pressurized fuselage of a vehicle ) 是由 马尔克·韦塞洛 安娜莉娜·梅尔滕 于 2019-06-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于载具的受压机身(6)的压力舱壁(4),所述压力舱壁具有轴向内表面(10)和轴向外表面(12),其特征在于至少安放在所述内表面(10)和所述外表面(12)之一上并且沿轴向方向延伸的储箱(14),所述储箱具有至少一个用于导入和/或导出流体的接口。(A pressure bulkhead (4) for a pressurized fuselage (6) of a vehicle, said pressure bulkhead having an axially inner surface (10) and an axially outer surface (12), characterized by a tank (14) placed at least on one of said inner surface (10) and said outer surface (12) and extending in an axial direction, said tank having at least one interface for the introduction and/or the removal of a fluid.)

1. A pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) for a pressurized fuselage (6) of a vehicle (56), the pressure bulkhead having an axially inner surface (10) and an axially outer surface (12),

characterized by at least one tank (14, 30, 31) which is placed on the inner surface (10) or the outer surface (12) and extends in the axial direction and has at least one port (38, 39) for introducing and/or removing a fluid.

2. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to claim 1, wherein the tank (14, 30) is of rigid design.

3. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tank (14, 30, 31) has a shell (16, 33, 34) resting on the outer surface (12), wherein the shell (16, 33, 34) has a curvature at least corresponding to or larger than the curvature of the outer surface (12).

4. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to claim 3, wherein the tank (14, 30, 31) has an inner shell (32, 35) with a curvature following the curvature of the outer surface (12), and wherein the inner shell (32, 35) and the outer shell (16, 33, 34) are connected to each other fluidtightly.

5. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the local spacing between the outer shell (16, 33, 34) and the outer surface (12) becomes larger from a radially outer region towards the center of the pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41).

6. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tank (14, 30, 31) has a shell (16, 33, 34) resting on the inner surface (10), wherein the shell (16, 33, 34) has a curvature at most corresponding to the curvature of the inner surface (10) or smaller than the curvature.

7. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to claim 6, wherein the tank (14, 30, 31) has an inner shell (32, 35) with a curvature following the curvature of the inner surface (10), and wherein the inner shell (32, 35) and the outer shell (16, 33, 34) are connected to each other fluidtightly.

8. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the local spacing between the outer shell (16, 33, 34) and the inner surface (10) becomes larger from a radially outer region towards the center of the pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41).

9. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to one of the claims 3 to 8, wherein the inner shell (32, 35) has a smaller area than the outer shell (16, 33, 34), and the outer shell (16, 33, 34) has an edge strip (52) protruding from the inner shell (32, 35), which edge strip is connected to a flange or web (44) of the outer surface (12) or the inner surface (10) concerned.

10. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner surface (10) or the outer surface (12) concerned has a surrounding flange or abuts against said flange, wherein at least one component of the tank (14, 30, 31) is fixed at the surrounding flange.

11. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to claim 10, wherein the tank (14, 30, 31) at least partially overlaps the surrounding flange.

12. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer surface (12) is convexly curved.

13. The pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a first tank (14, 30, 31) is arranged on the outer surface (12) and a second tank (14, 30, 31) is arranged on the inner surface (10).

14. A vehicle (56) having a pressurized fuselage (6) and a pressure bulkhead (4, 28, 29, 41) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The vehicle (56) according to claim 14, wherein the storage tank (14, 30, 31) is a waste water tank, a fuel tank, a lubricant tank, or a hydraulic reservoir.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a pressure bulkhead for a pressurized fuselage of a vehicle and to a vehicle with a pressurized fuselage and such a pressure bulkhead.

Background

In aircraft with a pressurized aircraft fuselage, the pressure bulkhead is usually located at the rear end of the aircraft fuselage and defines a pressurized region there. Where the pressure bulkhead extends substantially over the entire cross section of the aircraft fuselage. Known pressure bulkheads typically have a convex curvature directed towards the non-pressurized area. In a traffic aircraft, the pressure bulkhead withstands pressure differences of up to about 0.5bar and is therefore of very high mechanical strength. However, the pressure bulkhead is usually designed such that it has as little weight as possible.

For example, DE 102015205934B 3 shows a pressure bulkhead with material layers which are each made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

DE 102012005451 a1 discloses a pressure fuselage of an aircraft with a fuselage shell and a pressure bulkhead arranged therein for forming a pressure region inside the fuselage, which pressure bulkhead is mounted on the fuselage shell inside the edge, wherein the pressure bulkhead has a lens-shaped cross section and possesses a sandwich structure comprising a foam core enclosed between two opposite outer shells.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a pressure bulkhead for a pressurized fuselage of a vehicle, which achieves an alternative solution to known pressure bulkheads and, in this case, improved space utilization and/or more advantageous weight.

This object is achieved by a pressure bulkhead having the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments can be gathered from the dependent claims and the following description.

A pressure bulkhead for a pressurized fuselage of a vehicle is provided, said pressure bulkhead having an axial inner surface and an axial outer surface, said pressure bulkhead being characterized by at least one tank placed on said inner or outer surface and extending in an axial direction and having at least one interface for the introduction and/or the exit of fluids.

Thus, the pressure bulkhead of the invention may have a shape based on a common pressure bulkhead shape. The axially inner surface defines a surface of the pressure bulkhead that is in contact with the pressurized space. This surface may span the entire fuselage cross-section at the location of interest in the aircraft fuselage. The axially outer surface is arranged on the opposite side of the pressure bulkhead and projects to the non-pressure side of the aircraft fuselage. The contour of the pressure bulkhead depends on the contour of the aircraft fuselage and can be oval, perfectly circular, rounded or designed in another suitable manner.

One feature of the pressure bulkhead of the invention is a tank seated on at least one of the inner and outer surfaces and extending therefrom in an axial direction. Thus, a tank is arranged on said inner or outer surface or on both surfaces each.

A tank is to be understood as a container which, according to the invention, can in particular receive and discharge liquid again. The tank is arranged on the mechanical structure of the pressure bulkhead and therefore uses structural space that is not normally used for storing liquids.

In addition, axial extension is also to be understood as: the tank has a specific structural depth or thickness which extends the tank along the central axis of the pressure bulkhead. The thickness and thus the extension in the axial direction depend on the requirements on the tank volume and the structural space present at the pressure bulkhead.

At least one of the ports may be a separate port which can be used both for filling the tank and for emptying the tank or for withdrawing the stored liquid. Such an interface may for example be arranged at the bottom side of the pressure bulkhead according to the invention. Alternatively, two separate ports can be provided, which can be used for introducing and/or removing fluids. These two connections may be arranged at opposite ends of the tank in the vertical direction, for example to compensate the extracted fluid volume by delivering air on the upper side. Such an interface on the upper side can also be used for: when arranged in an aircraft, pressure fluctuations due to different flight heights, due to the introduction or discharge of air, are allowed.

In an advantageous embodiment, the tank is of rigid design. The tank therefore has a geometry independent of the degree of filling. For this purpose, the tank may be made of a material that ensures sufficient rigidity for this purpose. In addition to metal structures, the use of plastics, which may be fiber-reinforced, is also contemplated for increased rigidity.

In an advantageous embodiment, the tank has a shell which rests on the outer surface, wherein the shell has a curvature which at least corresponds to the curvature of the outer surface or is greater than said curvature. The outer shell of the tank is the shell which, together with the outer surface of the pressure bulkhead, encloses a region which can be used as the tank volume. The shape of the housing also depends on the curvature of the outer surface. If the outer surface is convexly curved and thus extends into the non-stressed area in the axial direction, the housing must at least partially follow this shape. It can therefore be provided that the housing has a curvature which at least corresponds to the curvature of the outer surface. Curvature refers to the inverse of the radius of curvature of the outer surface. Thus, the radius of curvature of the housing is at most equal to the radius of curvature of the outer surface. The distance between the housing and the outer surface increases from the radially outer edge region to the center of the housing or outer surface. If the pressure bulkhead is implemented flat, the housing may likewise be flat, but in order to achieve a usable tank volume, there must be an axial spacing between the housing and the outer surface. This may be achieved by suitable fixing means, such as a flange or an optional spacer. However, in this construction it may be provided that the housing is given a curvature such that it extends in a convex manner from the flat pressure chamber wall into the non-pressurized region. The same applies to convexly curved outer surfaces. If the shell follows the curvature of the outer surface exactly, it may be necessary to arrange the shell at a distance from the outer surface in order to be able to provide the tank volume. It may be proposed to make the housing more curved. This ensures that the distance between the housing and the outer surface increases inwards.

In an advantageous embodiment, the tank may have an inner shell having a curvature following the curvature of the outer surface, and wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are connected to each other fluid-tightly. The tank is thus composed of an inner shell and an outer shell, which enclose a usable tank volume between them. The tank volume is therefore dependent on the size of the surface and the curvature or the spacing between the two shells. In order to make the most efficient use of the installation space possible, it is proposed to connect the inner shell as flush as possible to the outer surface. The inner shell may especially follow the curvature of the outer surface. In order to allow a certain deformability of the pressure bulkhead, which is predetermined by the way of construction of the pressure bulkhead, it may be proposed to provide a certain spacing between the inner shell and the outer shell and/or to make the degree of bending of the inner shell slightly larger than the outer surface. Whereby the tank can be prevented from being damaged by deformation.

Preferably, the local spacing between the outer shell and the outer surface may become larger from the radially outer region towards the centre of the pressure bulkhead, whereby the available tank volume is defined by the outer shell and the outer surface or the inner shell arranged thereon.

In a further embodiment, the tank may have a shell resting on an inner surface, wherein the shell has a curvature at most corresponding to or smaller than the curvature of the inner surface. It is thus also possible to arrange a tank on the pressure side of the pressure chamber wall. This embodiment is implemented like a tank on the outside of the pressure bulkhead (i.e. on the non-pressurized side). A lesser curvature may also include a curvature that is numerically greater but extends toward the opposite side. If the pressure bulkhead is based on a flat construction, it can therefore make sense: the tank shell is curved so that it extends in a convex form from the inner surface into the compression zone of the fuselage.

In this arrangement, the tank may also have an inner shell having a curvature following the curvature of the inner surface, wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are connected to each other fluid-tightly.

Also preferably, the local spacing between the outer shell and the inner surface may become larger from the radially outer region towards the centre of the pressure bulkhead. Thus, a usable tank volume is defined between the inner surface or the inner and outer shells arranged at the inner surface.

In a variant with an inner shell and an outer shell, the inner shell can have a smaller area than the outer shell, and the outer shell can have an edge strip projecting from the inner shell, which edge strip is connected to a flange or a connecting piece of the outer or inner surface concerned. The two shells are connected to each other, so that the function of the tank is also ensured independently of the fixation. Thus, a sealing and mechanical connection between the two housings can be made according to different standards and in a different connection method than the connection of the pressure bulkhead to the vehicle structure.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner or outer surface in question may have a surrounding flange or abut the flange, wherein at least one component of the tank is fixed at said surrounding flange. The pressure bulkhead may thus have a flange or abut such a flange in order to connect the pressure bulkhead itself to the structure of the aircraft. The flange may also be used for connecting a tank. The inner or outer surface itself may have a flange which is only used for the purpose of fixing the tank. This may depend on: whether the pressure bulkhead according to the invention is subsequently equipped with a tank or whether the pressure bulkhead according to the invention is provided with a tank arranged at the pressure bulkhead directly at the time of manufacture of the aircraft. The flange does not necessarily have to be continuously wound, but can also be realized in the form of a separate web arranged on the wound track.

The tank may at least partially overlap the surrounding flange. The edge strip may, for example, overlap the flange, in order to be riveted, welded or adhesively bonded thereto.

The outer surface of the pressure bulkhead may be convexly curved. Such an outer surface extending in a convex manner into the non-pressurized region can be found in particular in traffic aircraft.

It may be advantageous to have a first tank arranged on the outer surface and a second tank arranged on the inner surface. The structural space occupied by the pressure bulkhead can thus be used effectively for other functions.

The invention further relates to a vehicle having a pressurized fuselage and a pressure bulkhead with the above-mentioned features.

The storage tank may be a waste water tank, a fuel tank, a lubricant tank, or a hydraulic reservoir. The waste water tank may be implemented for storing grey or black water. The water tank may store, for example, service water or drinking water. The fuel tank does not necessarily have to be used for storing conventional propulsion fuel for a propeller generating thrust, but may also be used for storing liquid propulsion fuel for fuel units which are arranged in non-pressurized or pressurized regions of the aircraft fuselage. In addition, a hydraulic reservoir can also be realized by a tank, which is connected to the hydraulic system and can receive and discharge hydraulic liquid without applying pressure.

In addition, the tank may have an inlet for introducing an inert gas in order to fill the volume of the tank not occupied by the liquid with the aid of a protective gas. The shielding gas may be nitrogen enriched or oxygen depleted air provided by the OBIGGS, OBOGS and/or fuel units.

These embodiments relate to a main pressure bulkhead arranged at the aft end of an aircraft fuselage. But may also be a pressure bulkhead of another construction type, which is arranged, for example, in a wing-fuselage transition or at the head of an aircraft fuselage.

Drawings

Further features, advantages and possibilities of application of the invention result from the following description of embodiments and the figures. All described and/or illustrated features form the subject matter of the invention both by themselves and in any combination, independently of their relationship in the individual claims or in the claims cited therein. Further, in the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar objects.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the pressure bulkhead according to the invention in a cross-sectional side view.

Fig. 3a, 3b and 3c each show a further embodiment in a side sectional view.

Fig. 4 shows the pressure bulkhead on the tank in a front view.

Figures 5 and 6 show different variants for connecting the tank to the flange.

Fig. 7 shows an aircraft with a pressurized fuselage and a pressure bulkhead according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an aircraft fuselage 2 with a pressure bulkhead 4 separating a pressurized region 6 from a non-pressurized region 8. The pressure bulkhead 4 has an inner surface 10 and an outer surface 12. The inner surface 10 is in contact with the compressed area 6, while the outer surface 12 is directed towards the non-compressed area 8.

On the outer surface 12, there is, by way of example, a tank 14 which here has only a housing 16 resting on the outer surface 12. The curvature of the housing 16 is slightly greater than the curvature of the outer surface 12. Thus, the radius of curvature of the housing 16 is less than the radius of curvature of the outer surface 12. In addition, the extension of the housing 16 in the radial direction is slightly smaller than the extension of the outer surface 12. The reservoirs 14 thus form a lens-like supplement on the outer surface 12. The tank 14 is then provided for receiving, in particular, a liquid.

In fig. 1, a passenger cabin 18, a cargo compartment 20 and waste water tanks 22 and 24 in a waste water chamber 26 provided for this purpose are illustrated by way of example in the pressurized region 6. The waste water chamber is dimensioned such that it can store a certain amount of waste water. Thereby, the existing volume of the cargo hold 20 is exemplarily reduced.

As shown in fig. 2, the waste water tank 24 can be saved, for example, by using the storage tank 14, so that the cargo compartment 20 can be enlarged in the axial direction by a waste water chamber 26 which is dimensioned smaller. The pressure bulkhead 4 of the present invention significantly increases the cargo compartment 20 by taking advantage of the relatively slim structural space directly on the exterior surface 12.

Fig. 3a illustrates a variant in the form of a pressure bulkhead 28, in which a tank 30 is provided, which has an inner shell 32 and an outer shell 34. Inner shell 32 directly abuts outer surface 12 and follows the curvature of outer surface 12. However, the curvature of outer shell 34 is slightly greater such that, at least in a cross-sectional view, the spacing between inner shell 32 and outer shell 34 decreases outward in a radial direction as viewed from central axis 36.

Illustratively, the interface 38 for the outgoing fluid is indicated. Connected thereto is a conduit 40 which extends, by way of example, over the inner surface 10 and the outer surface 12. The liquid received in the tank 30 can thus be withdrawn and delivered to the consumer. In this case, the tank 30 may be, for example, a use tank or a fresh tank.

However, the interface 38 may also be an inlet that may be used to receive, for example, waste water.

Access to the interior of the tank 30 may be required for maintenance purposes. The housing 34 has a closable manhole 42 for this purpose. In case the tank 30 is emptied, the manhole 42 can be opened so that a person can at least see or enter the tank 30. It is thereby possible, for example, to clean the tank 30.

Fig. 3b shows a pressure bulkhead 29 with a tank 31 at the inner surface 10. The pressure bulkhead has a housing 33 which extends away from the inner surface 10 and thus provides a usable tank volume. At the same time, an inner shell 35 is arranged next to the inner surface 10, which inner shell substantially follows the curvature of the inner surface 10. Illustratively, the outer shell 33 also has a manhole 42 through which the interior of the tank 31 can be reached. The conduit 37 is connected to the port 39 of the tank 31.

Fig. 3c shows the combination of pressure bulkheads 28 and 29 in the form of a pressure bulkhead 41 with a reservoir 30 on the outer surface 12 and a reservoir 31 on the inner surface 10.

Fig. 4 shows a pressure bulkhead 28 according to the invention in an exemplary plan view in the direction of flight. It may be noted that when the tank is arranged on the side facing the compression zone, it is possible to present in the same way a plan view opposite to the direction of flight.

Thus, in the embodiment shown here, the housing 34 can be seen, which is fixed to a separate web 44 arranged on the outer surface 12. For this purpose, a connecting element 46 is provided, which is provided with the housing 34. The webs 44 are circumferentially arranged around the central axis 36 and spaced apart from each other. Illustratively, eight tabs 44 are shown here, but more or fewer tabs are possible. The web 44 may also constitute a completely circumferential edge strip to which the shell 34 may be connected.

Fig. 5 shows a possible connection between the tank 30 and the connecting piece 44 by means of a bolted connection. For this purpose a fork 50 can be provided which is connected to the eyelet 48 by means of a bolt.

Also shown in fig. 6 is a tab 44 that is connected to a strip 52 of the outer shell 34 of the tank 30. Thus, a riveted or screwed connection 54 is provided in the overlap between the edge strip 52 and the connecting piece 44.

Fig. 7 shows an aircraft 56 which is equipped with a fuselage 6 and can be equipped with a pressure bulkhead 28 (or a pressure bulkhead 4) according to the invention in an aft region 58.

It may additionally be noted that "having" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. It may furthermore be mentioned that also combinations of features already described with reference to one of the above embodiments with other features of the further embodiments described above may be used. Reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting.