You are right=2C but with the cockpit module and baggage bay assembly the l
oad is spread out over a much greater area. If the tank sits on the floor t
he actual contact area is probably quite small. Just think of the weight=2C
and if you make a hard landing=2Cthe weight is double. Maybe there is a wa
y to re-enforce the floor=2C but I would find a qualified engineer to do so
me calculations=2C preferably someone from Europa/Swift.
karl
> From: asarangan@gmail.com
> Date: Fri=2C 6 Dec 2013 15:05:23 -0500
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: Alternative fuel tank mounting?
> To: europa-list@matronics.com
>
>
> Karl
>
> Thank you for the comment. This was my concern too. However=2C after
> staring at the canoe floor=2C I am not so sure if there is really any
> difference. Even with the standard installation=2C the majority of the
> load is borne by on the baggage bay wall=2C which is eventually bonded
> to the fuselage floor anyway. The floor where the baggage bay bonds
> and the floor directly beneath the tank are on the same piece of
> reinforced foam. So in terms of load=2C I can't see any difference
> whether the tank is directly sitting on the canoe floor or if it is
> supported by the baggage bay which is subsequently supported by the
> canoe floor.
>
> Also=2C I am also having a hard time understanding why the top ledge of
> the tank requires a separate support. My measurement says there is
> only about 2 gallons of fuel here=2C so 12 lbs is hardly worth bonding
> with 6 plies of glass for its entire length.
>
> If anyone has any insights into this=2C I'd love to hear.
>
> Thank you!
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri=2C Dec 6=2C 2013 at 1:42 AM=2C Karl Heindl <kheindl@msn.com> wrote
:
> > Hi Andrew=2C
> >
> > I think you are going out on a limb with this idea. A full tank is a ve
ry
> > heavy load and the fuselage floor is not designed to take this=2C or th
e
> > designers would have placed it on the floor.
> > The load should be taken up entirely by the cockpit module.
> >
> > Karl
> >
> >
> >
> >> From: asarangan@gmail.com
> >> Date: Fri=2C 6 Dec 2013 01:01:29 -0500
> >> Subject: Europa-List: Alternative fuel tank mounting?
> >> To: europa-list@matronics.com
> >
> >>
> >> I am hoping someone can comment on an alternative tank mounting
> >> strategy. A picture of what I am thinking is attached.
> >>
> >> To avoid any potential stresses developing due to tank expansion=2C I
am
> >
> >> thinking of horizontally bracing the fuel tank against the baggage
> >> bay wall using two fiberglass straps all the way around the tank - one
> >> strap below the tank ledge and the other just above the outlet bosses.
> >> These straps are for simply maintaining the fore/aft and lateral
> >> position of the tank. Vertically=2C the tank will simply sit on the
> >> fuselage floor. The tank bottom is nearly flush with the baggage bay
> >> floor=2C so it should sit nice and even on the fuselage. With this
> >> setup=2C I have satisfactory clearance between the spars=2C pitch tube
and
> >> the tank outlets. I plan to add a thin neoprene pad around the tank
> >> bottom to make sure there are no hard points of contact between the
> >> tank and the fuselage. The neoprene is oil resistant=2C non-absorbent
> >> and has fire resistance.
> >>
> >> Since this is such an irreversible step=2C I want to make sure I am
> >> thinking this through correctly. Probably the larger questions are=2C
> >> will the fuselage floor be able to take the entire tank load? Is there
> >> any issue with letting the top portion of the tank (the ledge)
> >> floating with no vertical support?
> >
> >
>
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