초록 ▼

An aircraft drainmast assembly including a drainmast for ejection of waste water from an aircraft and a grounding plate for protection against lightning strike currents. The grounding plate is made of an electrically conductive material and is attached to the metallic drain tube in such manner (e.g.

An aircraft drainmast assembly including a drainmast for ejection of waste water from an aircraft and a grounding plate for protection against lightning strike currents. The grounding plate is made of an electrically conductive material and is attached to the metallic drain tube in such manner (e.g., welding) that a conductive path is established between the grounding plate and the drain tube. The grounding plate is placed in contact with the aircraft fuselage during installation of the drainmast whereby an electrically conductive path is formed thereby allowing lightning strike currents to travel from the drain tube to the grounding plate to the aircraft fuselage. The grounding plate may be pressed against the outside surface of the fuselage by an elastomeric gasket installed between the grounding plate and a flange of the drainmast's fairing thereby allowing for a simple lightning protection installation from the outside of the aircraft.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A drainmast assembly comprising a drainmast for ejection of waste water from an aircraft and a grounding plate for protection against lightning strike currents;the drainmast comprising a fairing and a drain tube; the fairing being made of an electrically non-conductive material and including a mo

1. A drainmast assembly comprising a drainmast for ejection of waste water from an aircraft and a grounding plate for protection against lightning strike currents;the drainmast comprising a fairing and a drain tube; the fairing being made of an electrically non-conductive material and including a mounting flange, an exit cap, and an aerodynamically advantageously shaped mast extending from the mounting flange to the exit cap; the drain tube being made of an electrically conductive material, positioned at least partially within the fairing, and including an inlet which communicates with an aircraft waste water system and an outlet positioned within the fairing's exit cap; the grounding plate being made of an electrically conductive material and being attached to the drain tube in such manner that a conductive path is established between the grounding plate and the drain tube; the grounding plate being positioned relative to the fairing's mounting flange so that it may be placed in contact with the aircraft fuselage during installation of the drainmast whereby an electrically conductive path is formed thereby allowing lightning strike currents to travel from the drain tube to the grounding plate to the aircraft fuselage.