US 12,071,235 B2
Fuel tank access panel heat exchanger
Matthew W. Orr, Kirkland, WA (US); Philip A. Van Seeters, Everett, WA (US); and Christopher B. Pastega, Woodway, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/383,757.
Prior Publication US 2023/0027644 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 3/34 (2006.01); B64D 37/04 (2006.01); B64D 37/34 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 3/34 (2013.01) [B64D 37/04 (2013.01); B64D 37/34 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel tank comprising:
a lower skin having an access aperture and a sealing land extended from an internal surface of the lower skin into the fuel tank and surrounding the access aperture; and
an access panel configured to be received in the access aperture from an exterior of the tank with a top surface of the access panel interior to the tank, the access panel having a sealing flange engaging the sealing land and an integral heat exchanger extending into the tank from the top surface; and
a plurality of fasteners extending through the sealing flange into the sealing land.