Cryogenic tank support system

1 . A cryogenic tank support apparatus comprising:

a cryogenic tank;

a first saddle bracket;

a second saddle bracket;

a first support collar connected to the cryogenic tank, the first support collar connected to the first saddle bracket; and

a second support collar connected to the cryogenic tank, the second support collar connected to the second saddle bracket;

wherein the first support collar carries radial loads of the cryogenic tank and carries axial loads of the cryogenic tank and wherein the second support collar carries only the radial loads of the cryogenic tank and allows axial expansion and axial contraction of the cryogenic tank,

wherein the first support collar comprises structural elements to enable the first support collar to carry axial load of the cryogenic tank, wherein the structural elements include at least one of a plurality of ribs and a plurality of gussets, and

wherein the second support collar is configured to be devoid of the structural elements to carry an axial load of the cryogenic tank allowing movement of the second support collar in an axial direction of the cryogenic tank in response to an axial load of the cryogenic tank to thereby allow axial expansion and axial contraction of the cryogenic tank.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first support collar and the second support collar comprises:

an inner ring;

a web connected to the inner ring;

an outer ring connected to the web; and

a flange extending radially outward from the outer ring.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the inner ring is connected to an inner wall of the cryogenic tank and the outer ring is connected to an outer wall of the cryogenic tank.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of ribs of the first support collar is connected to the inner ring and the outer ring between the inner ring and the outer ring, the plurality of ribs extending from the web,

wherein the plurality of ribs provides rigidity of the first support collar in the axial direction relative of the cryogenic tank, and

wherein the second support collar is devoid of the plurality of ribs to allow expansion and contraction of the cryogenic tank in the axial direction of the cryogenic tank.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the inner ring is wider than the outer ring.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first support collar and the second support collar are welded or bonded to the cryogenic tank.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first saddle bracket and the second saddle bracket comprises:

a saddle having a contour that matches a shape of a respective support collar and the cryogenic tank;

a saddle flange extending from the saddle; and

a shear bolt for connecting the saddle flange to a flange extending from the respective support collar.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first saddle bracket carries the radial loads of the cryogenic tank and wherein the first saddle bracket further comprises a strut that carries the axial loads of the cryogenic tank and wherein the second saddle bracket only carries the radial loads of the cryogenic tank and allows axial expansion and axial contraction of the cryogenic tank.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of the first saddle bracket and the second saddle bracket further comprises a mount surface positioned opposite the saddle, the mount surface for connection to a fuselage of an aircraft.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first saddle bracket and the second saddle bracket are connected to a frame of a fuselage of an aircraft in a crown region of the aircraft.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first saddle bracket and the second saddle bracket are connected to a frame of a fuselage of an aircraft in a side region of the aircraft.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cryogenic tank comprises:

an inner wall; and

an outer wall encasing the inner wall and separated from the inner wall by a vacuum insulation layer.