Disclosed is a liquid storage system comprising: an outer tank (e.g. an aircraft fuel tank) for containing a liquid (e.g. aircraft fuel), said outer tank enclosing a liquid storage space; an inner tank located within the outer tank and enclosing the liquid storage space; and spacing means associated with the outer tank and the inner tank for maintaining the tanks in a spaced apart relationship; wherein the spacing means are deformable such that, on application of a force to the inner tank, at least part of the inner tank moves relative to the outer tank.

A method and system for forming a self-sealing volume includes an elastomeric composite structure. The structure includes layers of a cast polyurethane derived from a neat polyurethane monomer reaction mixture that does not substantially react at room temperature. The polyurethane monomer reaction layer includes a reaction product of an organic polyisocyanate and a reactive hydrogen-containing material reacted with a mixture of a monomeric polyol and polymeric polyols. The structure may further include one or more layers of a fabric that have been precoated with an aliphatic polyurethane, and one or more sealing layers. A fuel impermeable inner liner may be positioned in an inner region. The sealing layers may comprise at least one of partially vulcanized natural rubber (NR), polyisoprene (IR), styrene butadiene (SBR), or a blend of SBR with NR or IR. A dimensionally correct, self-sealing volume may be created by inflating the volume during its cure.

A self-sealing bladder may automatically seal a puncture wound formed in a bladder wall thereof, such as due to being perforated by a projectile. Self-sealing bladders may be used in containers, such as fuel tanks, in order to prevent loss of fuel or other fluid from the container. Self-sealing bladders may contain a sealant material contained within one or more localized reservoirs formed within the bladder wall, the sealant material being pressurized within the bladder wall such that a localized reduction in pressure due to a perforation in the bladder wall causes the sealant material to migrate to the perforated site, whereupon the sealant material hardens, thereby sealing the wound. The localized reservoirs may include one or more channels and/or connecting layers extending therefrom and in fluid communication therewith, to facilitate migration of the sealant material away from the localized reservoirs and towards the perforated portion of the bladder wall.

A liquid storage system comprising: a tank for containing a liquid, the tank enclosing a liquid storage space; multiple layers of a fabric material; and attachment means attaching the multiple layers of the fabric material to an internal surface of the tank. The attachment means may comprise a non-permeable envelope attached to the internal surface of the tank. The multiple layers of the fabric material may be enclosed in the envelope such that the multiple layers of a fabric are isolated from a fluid in the tank. The envelope may contain a fluid (e.g. air) in addition to the multiple layers of the fabric material.

A self-sealing liquid bladder having a wall including plurality of connected cells each cell having an elastic wall portion and a stiffened wall portion and at least one source of pressure associated with one or more of the plurality of cells.

A self-sealing bladder including a liquid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and a plurality of flexible sealing flaps extending inwardly from the interior surface of the liquid bladder wherein, in response to a hole formed in the bladder that establishes an unwanted flow of liquid from the bladder, at least one sealing flap responds to the unwanted flow of fluid by bending towards and at least partially covering the hole.

A self-sealing liquid bladder having a plurality of layers including a liquid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and at least one sealing layer that is conformally arranged to span a surface area of the liquid impermeable material layer and that is separated from a liquid held in the bladder by the liquid impermeable layer, the sealing layer including a sealing means that, in response to a penetration of both the liquid impermeable material layer and the sealing layer, substantially seals the penetration.

A self-sealing liquid bladder having a plurality of layers including a liquid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and at least one sealing layer that is conformally arranged to span a surface area of the liquid impermeable material layer and that is separated from a liquid held in the bladder by the liquid impermeable layer, the sealing layer including a sealing means that, in response to a penetration of both the liquid impermeable material layer and the sealing layer, substantially seals the penetration.

A self-sealing liquid bladder having a plurality of layers including a liquid impermeable material layer that is compatible with a liquid held in the bladder and at least one sealing layer that is conformally arranged to span a surface area of the liquid impermeable material layer and that is separated from a liquid held in the bladder by the liquid impermeable layer, the sealing layer including a sealing means that, in response to a penetration of both the liquid impermeable material layer and the sealing layer, substantially seals the penetration.

BAFFLE Disclosed is a baffle (40) for locating in a tank (16) for containing liquid (e.g. an aircraft fuel tank). The baffle (40) is a tubular member through which a liquid may flow. The baffle (40) comprises: a first tubular portion (42) providing a tubular outer wall, and a second tubular portion (44) located within the first tubular portion (42) and providing a tubular inner wall. The first and second tubular portions (42, 44) are substantially parallel. The first and second tubular portions (42, 44) are spaced apart to define a chamber (46)therebetween. The baffle (42, 44) further comprises radial side walls between the first and second tubular portions (42, 44) such that the chamber (46) is a sealed chamber. The chamber (46) may be filled with a compressible gas or gaseous mixture.