초록 ▼

An outflow valve includes a valve closure mechanism that automatically closes the outflow valve in the unlikely event the outflow valve actuator becomes inoperable. The valve closure mechanism includes a pulley, a load plate, a cable, and a spring. The pulley is coupled to a valve element is the out

An outflow valve includes a valve closure mechanism that automatically closes the outflow valve in the unlikely event the outflow valve actuator becomes inoperable. The valve closure mechanism includes a pulley, a load plate, a cable, and a spring. The pulley is coupled to a valve element is the outflow valve and is configured to eccentrically rotate therewith. The cable has a first end coupled to the pulley, and a second end coupled to the load plate. The spring is disposed between the valve and the load plate and surrounds a portion of the cable. The spring is configured to supply a bias force, via the load plate and the cable, to the pulley that biases the valve element toward the closed position.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An outflow valve, comprising: a valve body adapted to mount on the fuselage of an aircraft and having at least a first flow port, a second flow port, and a flow passage therebetween; a valve element rotationally disposed within the flow passage and configured to rotate between at least

We claim: 1. An outflow valve, comprising: a valve body adapted to mount on the fuselage of an aircraft and having at least a first flow port, a second flow port, and a flow passage therebetween; a valve element rotationally disposed within the flow passage and configured to rotate between at least a closed position and a full-open position; and a closure mechanism coupled to the valve body, the closure mechanism including: a pulley coupled to the valve element and configured to eccentrically rotate therewith, the pulley including a cable insertion cavity, a load plate including a cable opening extending therethrough, a cable extending through the load plate cable opening and having a first end, a second end, a first retention ball, and a second retention ball, the first retention ball coupled to the first end and disposed within the cable insertion cavity, the second retention ball coupled to the second end and engaging the load plate, and a spring disposed between the valve body and the load plate and surrounding a portion of the cable, the spring configured to supply a bias force, via the load plate and the cable, to the pulley that biases the valve element toward the closed position wherein the closure mechanism is configured such that, when the valve element is in the closed position, the spring supplies a non-zero pre-load force to the valve element. 2. The outflow valve of claim 1, further comprising: a shaft rotationally mounted in the valve body and coupled to the valve element and the pulley. 3. The outflow valve of claim 2, wherein: the shaft includes first and second ends; the shaft first end is adapted to receive a rotational drive force; and the shaft second end is coupled to the pulley. 4. The outflow valve of claim 3, further comprising: an actuator coupled to the valve body and configured to supply the rotational drive force to the shaft first end. 5. The outflow valve of claim 1, further comprising: a spring guide surrounding the spring and the load plate. 6. The outflow valve of claim 5, wherein: the spring guide includes an inner peripheral surface; the load plate includes a flange having an outer peripheral surface that slidingly engages the spring guide inner peripheral surface. 7. The outflow valve of claim 6, wherein: the load plate further includes a boss; and the spring surrounds the load plate boss and engages the load plate flange. 8. The outflow valve of claim 1, further comprising: a closure mechanism housing coupled to the valve body, the closure mechanism housing surrounding at least the pulley and including a close stop and an open stop, the close stop and open stop each configured to limit the eccentric rotation of the pulley. 9. The outflow valve of claim 8, wherein: the pulley engages the open stop when the valve element is in the full-open position; and the pulley engages the close stop when the valve element is in the closed position. 10. The outflow valve of claim 9, wherein the pulley includes a stop extension structure that extends radially outwardly therefrom and engages the close stop when the valve element is in the closed position. 11. The outflow valve of claim 8, wherein: the closure mechanism housing further includes a boss extending therefrom; and the spring surrounds the closure mechanism boss and engages the closure mechanism housing. 12. The outflow valve of claim 1, wherein the spring is a compression spring. 13. A valve closure mechanism for biasing a valve element toward a predetermined valve position, the mechanism comprising: a closure mechanism housing; a pulley adapted to couple to the valve element and configured to eccentrically rotate therewith, the pulley including a cable insertion cavity; a load plate including a cable opening extending therethrough; a cable extending through the load plate cable opening and having a first end, a second end, a first retention ball, and a second retention ball, the first retention ball coupled to the first end and disposed within the cable insertion cavity, the second retention ball coupled to the second end and engaging the load plate; and a spring disposed between the closure mechanism housing and the load plate and surrounding a portion of the cable, the spring configured to supply a bias force, via the load plate and the cable, to the pulley that biases the pulley to rotate the valve element toward the predetermined valve position wherein the closure mechanism is configured such that, when the valve element is in the closed position, the spring supplies a non-zero pre-load force to the valve element. 14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the predetermined valve position is a closed position. 15. The outflow valve of claim 13, further comprising: a spring guide surrounding the spring and the load plate and coupled to the closure mechanism housing. 16. The outflow valve of claim 15, wherein: the spring guide includes an inner peripheral surface; the load plate includes a flange having an outer peripheral surface that slidingly engages the spring guide inner peripheral surface. 17. The outflow valve of claim 16, wherein: the load plate further includes a boss; and the spring surrounds the load plate boss and engages the load plate flange. 18. The outflow valve of claim 13, wherein: the closure mechanism housing surrounds at least the pulley and includes a close stop and an open stop, the close stop and open stop each configured to limit the eccentric rotation of the pulley; and the pulley includes a stop extension structure that extends radially outwardly therefrom and engages the close stop when the valve element is in a closed position.