US 12,391,399 B1
Temporary back-shell cover for an aircraft fuel tank
Richard Woods, Litchfield, AZ (US); and Michael Williamson, Peoria, AZ (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed by Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/500,532.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/585,644, filed on Sep. 27, 2023.
Int. Cl. B64D 37/32 (2006.01); B64F 5/60 (2017.01)
CPC B64D 37/32 (2013.01) [B64F 5/60 (2017.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft comprising:
a fuel tank includes a top wall with an access opening therein, a bottom wall having bulkhead fitting through which a wire harness passes through, and a back shell for the wire harness at the bulkhead fitting within the fuel tank;
a temporary protective cover including a protecting portion and a securing portion extending from the protecting portion;
wherein the protecting portion has a body forming a hollow interior space configured to receive the back shell therein, a bottom side with an opening configured for passage of the back shell therethrough into and out of the hollow interior space, and a side with an upwardly extending slot therein for passage of the wire harness through the side into the hollow interior space;
wherein the bottom side is configured to engage the floor within the fuel tank when the back shell is located within the hollow interior space,
wherein the upwardly extending slot has an open lower end for passage of the wire harness vertically into the slot; and
wherein the securing portion extends from the protecting portion and is configured to secure the protecting portion over the back shell.