Common bulkhead cryogenic propellant tank

The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under NASA Contract No. NCC8-115 and is subject to provisions of Section 305 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2457). The present invention discloses a novel fuel structure for housing and delivering dispar...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Clark, William James, Wetherall, Robert John
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 23.07.2002
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Summary:The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under NASA Contract No. NCC8-115 and is subject to provisions of Section 305 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2457). The present invention discloses a novel fuel structure for housing and delivering disparate cryogenic fuels to combustion zones in an aerospace vehicle. The tank comprises a plurality of containers having volumes that are separated by common wall bulkheads and which are arranged substantially side-by-side in conformance with the interior of the aerospace vehicle. A tank support structure positioned within the vehicle interior includes lengthwise supports as well as cross-wise supports, with the latter including openings within which the rear ends of the containers are supported. Fuel from the containers is delivered to the vehicle's combustion system via appropriate fuel lines carried by dome shaped end caps at the rear ends of the containers.