US 12,139,027 B2
Self-healing containment gels for aircraft fuel cells
David Allen Pettey, Westport, MA (US); Edmund F. Bard, Cumberland, RI (US); and Lao Vang, Providence, RI (US)
Assigned to RESPONSE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Coventry, RI (US)
Filed by Response Technologies, LLC, Coventry, RI (US)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/228,993.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/012,864, filed on Apr. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0024325 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B60L 50/75 (2019.01); B32B 1/00 (2024.01); B32B 5/02 (2006.01); B32B 7/12 (2006.01); B32B 27/12 (2006.01); B32B 27/40 (2006.01); B64D 37/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 50/75 (2019.02) [B32B 1/00 (2013.01); B32B 5/02 (2013.01); B32B 7/12 (2013.01); B32B 27/12 (2013.01); B32B 27/40 (2013.01); B64D 37/06 (2013.01); B32B 2250/40 (2013.01); B32B 2307/762 (2013.01); B32B 2439/40 (2013.01); B32B 2605/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel cell containing fuel for an aircraft, the fuel cell consisting of:
an innermost layer configured to contact the fuel;
a textile inner intermediate layer;
a textile outer intermediate layer;
an outermost layer; and
a containment gel having a plurality of states including an unpenetrated state and a penetrated state, the containment gel in the unpenetrated state formed from unseparated isocyanate and polyol interposed between the innermost and outermost layers, the containment gel configured to expand in the penetrated state to self-seal a ballistically formed hole therein, thereby reducing leakage of the fuel from the fuel cell;
wherein, the containment gel is nonreactive with the fuel in the penetrated state.