John J Mark

US Patent:

8342453, Jan 1, 2013

Filed:

Feb 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/702385

Inventors:

John P. Mark - Oshkosh WI, US
Alan Cheeseman - Thunder Bay CA, US

Assignee:

Thunder Bay Aircraft Leasing Inc. - Thunder Bay, Ontario

International Classification:

B64D 1/00

US Classification:

244136, 244135 R, 244135 A

Abstract:

A system for airborne transport of flammable liquids with an aircraft. A fuel tank and a reservoir, each for storing flammable liquids, are joined to the aircraft. A fuel jettison subsystem is coupled between an interior portion and an exterior of the reservoir to selectably expel fuel from the reservoir to an exterior portion of the aircraft. The fuel jettison subsystem includes a jettison valve opening formed in the reservoir. A lid selectably closes off the opening. A biasing member urges the lid away from the jettison valve opening. A solenoid retains the lid in the jettison valve opening when unactuated and releases the lid when actuated. A jettison linkage is coupled to the solenoid, the jettison linkage being operable to actuate the solenoid. The t lid is urged away from the jettison valve opening by the biasing member when the t solenoid is actuated by the jettison linkage.