Ram air inlets for use with aircraft environmental control systems and other aircraft and non-aircraft systems
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B64D-033/02
B64D-033/00
출원번호
UP-0599245
(2006-11-13)
등록번호
US-7618006
(2009-11-27)
발명자
/ 주소
Parikh, Pradip G.
Hastings, E. Dale
출원인 / 주소
The Boeing Company
대리인 / 주소
Perkins Coie LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
7
초록▼
Ram air inlets for use with aircraft environmental control systems and other aircraft and non-aircraft systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a ram air inlet configured in accordance with the present invention includes an inlet lip spaced apart from an inlet housing. An inlet door is move
Ram air inlets for use with aircraft environmental control systems and other aircraft and non-aircraft systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a ram air inlet configured in accordance with the present invention includes an inlet lip spaced apart from an inlet housing. An inlet door is moveably attached to the inlet housing, and includes a first surface portion, a second surface portion, and a transition region extending between the first and second surface portions. The first surface portion is moveably positioned at least approximately forward of the inlet lip. The second surface portion is fixed at an angle relative to the first surface portion, and is moveably positioned at least approximately aft of the inlet lip. The transition region is positioned at least approximately adjacent to the inlet lip to form an inlet opening therebetween. Movement of the inlet door in a first direction reduces the size of the inlet opening to thereby decrease the flow of ram air through the inlet. Conversely, movement of the inlet door in a second direction enlarges the inlet opening to increase the flow of ram air through the inlet.
대표청구항▼
We claim: 1. A ram air inlet comprising: an inlet lip portion; an inlet sidewall portion positioned downstream of the inlet lip portion; an inlet housing portion spaced apart from the inlet lip portion, and an inlet door movably positioned at least approximately adjacent to the inlet lip portion to
We claim: 1. A ram air inlet comprising: an inlet lip portion; an inlet sidewall portion positioned downstream of the inlet lip portion; an inlet housing portion spaced apart from the inlet lip portion, and an inlet door movably positioned at least approximately adjacent to the inlet lip portion to form a variable inlet opening therebetween, the inlet door including: a first surface portion positioned upstream of the inlet lip portion, wherein the first surface portion includes a forward edge region pivotally attached to the inlet housing portion, and wherein the forward edge region is spaced apart from the inlet lip portion by a first distance; and a second surface portion fixed at an angle relative to the first surface portion and positioned downstream of the inlet lip portion opposite the inlet sidewall portion, wherein the second surface portion includes an aft edge region spaced apart from the forward edge region by a second distance that is greater than the first distance, wherein movement of the inlet door in a first direction reduces the inlet opening to decrease a flow of ram air through the inlet opening, and wherein movement of the inlet door in a second direction enlarges the inlet opening to increase the flow of ram air through the inlet opening. 2. The ram air inlet of claim 1 wherein the inlet door further includes a transition region extending between the first surface portion and the second surface portion, wherein the transition region is movably positioned at least approximately adjacent to the inlet lip portion to form the variable inlet opening therebetween. 3. The ram air inlet of claim 2 wherein rotation of the inlet door in the first direction reduces the inlet opening, and wherein rotation of the inlet door in the second direction enlarges the inlet opening. 4. The ram air inlet of claim 2, further comprising a hinge pivotally attaching the forward edge region of the first surface portion to the inlet housing portion, wherein rotation of the inlet door in the first direction about the hinge reduces the inlet opening, and wherein rotation of the inlet door in the second direction about the hinge enlarges the inlet opening. 5. The ram air inlet of claim 2, further comprising: a hinge pivotally attaching the forward edge region of the first surface portion to the inlet housing portion; and an actuator operably coupled to the inlet door, wherein operation of the actuator in a first way causes the inlet door to rotate about the hinge in the first direction and reduce the inlet opening, and wherein operation of the actuator in a second way causes the inlet door to rotate about the hinge in the second direction and enlarge the inlet opening. 6. The ram air inlet of claim 2 wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door at least partially forms a variable diffusing passage in flow communication with the inlet opening, and wherein the ram air inlet further comprises: a hinge pivotally attaching the forward edge region of the first surface portion to the inlet housing portion; and a fixed diffusing passage having a fixed surface portion positioned downstream of the variable diffusing passage, wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door is optionally positionable in alignment with the fixed surface portion of the fixed diffusing passage, wherein rotation of the inlet door in the first direction about the hinge decreases the size of the variable diffusing passage, and wherein rotation of the inlet door in the second direction about the hinge increases the size of the variable diffusing passage. 7. The ram air inlet of claim 1 wherein the first surface portion is at least generally planar and the second surface portion is at least generally planar, and wherein the second surface portion is fixed at an angle from about 130 degrees to about 178 degrees relative to the first surface portion. 8. The ram air inlet of claim 1 wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door at least partially forms a variable diffusing passage in flow communication with the inlet opening. 9. The ram air inlet of claim 1 wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door at least partially forms a variable diffusing passage in flow communication with the inlet opening, wherein the ram air inlet further comprises a fixed diffusing passage positioned adjacent to the variable diffusing passage. 10. The ram air inlet of claim 1 wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door at least partially forms a variable diffusing passage in flow communication with the inlet opening, and wherein the ram air inlet further comprises a fixed diffusing passage having a fixed surface portion positioned downstream of the variable diffusing passage at an acute angle relative to the inlet sidewall portion, wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door is optionally positionable in alignment with the fixed surface portion of the fixed diffusing passage. 11. The ram air inlet of claim 1 wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door at least partially forms a variable diffusing passage in flow communication with the inlet opening, wherein the inlet door further includes a third surface portion fixedly attached to the aft edge region of the second surface portion, the third surface portion extending away from the variable diffusing passage, and wherein the ram air inlet further comprises: a fixed diffusing passage having a fixed surface portion positioned downstream of the variable diffusing passage at an angle relative to the inlet sidewall portion, wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door is optionally positionable in alignment with the fixed surface portion of the fixed diffusing passage, wherein movement of the second surface portion away from the fixed surface portion in the first direction causes the third surface portion of the inlet door to form an aft-facing step between the variable diffusing passage and the fixed diffusing passage. 12. The ram air inlet of claim 1, further comprising an actuator operably coupled to the inlet door, wherein actuator is configured to move the inlet door in the first and second directions by direct actuation. 13. The ram air inlet of claim 1 wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door at least partially forms a variable diffusing passage in flow communication with the inlet opening, and wherein the ram air inlet further comprises: a fixed diffusing passage having: a fixed surface portion positioned downstream of the variable diffusing passage; and a forward surface portion extending away from the fixed surface portion toward the inlet housing portion; wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door is optionally positionable in alignment with the fixed surface portion of the fixed diffusing passage; and wherein movement of the second surface portion away from the fixed surface portion in the second direction causes the forward surface portion of the fixed diffusing passage to form a forward-facing step between the variable diffusing passage and the fixed diffusing passage. 14. An aircraft system, comprising: an aircraft structure having an aerodynamic surface; and a ram air inlet positioned at least proximate to the aerodynamic surface, the ram air inlet including: an inlet housing; an inlet lip spaced apart from the inlet housing; and an inlet door movably attached to the inlet housing, the inlet door including: a forward surface portion movably positioned at least approximately forward of the inlet lip, wherein the forward surface portion includes a forward edge region pivotally attached to the inlet housing and spaced apart from the inlet lip by a first distance; an aft surface portion fixed at an angle relative to the forward surface portion, wherein the aft surface portion includes an aft edge region movably positioned aft of the inlet lip and spaced apart from the forward edge region by a second distance that is greater than the first distance; and a transition region extending between the forward surface portion and the aft surface portion, wherein the transition region is movably positioned at least approximately adjacent to the inlet lip to form an inlet opening therebetween, wherein movement of the inlet door in a first direction decreases the size of the inlet opening, and wherein movement of the inlet door in a second direction increases the size of the inlet opening. 15. The aircraft system of claim 14, further comprising: a fuselage; and a wing extending outwardly from the fuselage, wherein the aircraft structure is a wing-to-fuselage fairing and the aerodynamic surface is a fairing surface that forms a relatively smooth transition between the wing and the fuselage. 16. The aircraft system of claim 14 wherein the aircraft structure is a fuselage and the aerodynamic surface includes at least a portion of an external surface of the fuselage. 17. The aircraft system of claim 14 wherein the aerodynamic surface includes at least a portion of an airfoil surface. 18. The aircraft system of claim 14, further comprising an environmental control system positioned to receive ram air from the ram air inlet. 19. The aircraft system of claim 14 wherein the ram air inlet further comprises a fixed diffuser surface positioned aft of the aft surface portion of the inlet door, wherein the aft surface portion of the inlet door is optionally positionable in alignment with the fixed diffuser surface during operation of the inlet door. 20. The aircraft system of claim 14 wherein the ram air inlet further comprises: an inlet sidewall positioned downstream of the inlet lip; and a fixed diffuser surface positioned aft of the aft surface portion of the inlet door at an acute angle relative to the inlet sidewall, wherein the aft surface portion of the inlet door is optionally positionable in alignment with the fixed diffuser surface during operation of the inlet door. 21. The aircraft system of claim 14 wherein the aft surface portion of the inlet door is flat, and wherein the ram air inlet further comprises: a flat inlet sidewall positioned downstream of the inlet lip; and a flat fixed diffuser surface positioned aft of the aft surface portion of the inlet door at an acute angle relative to the inlet sidewall, wherein the aft surface portion of the inlet door is optionally positionable in a coplanar relationship with the fixed diffuser surface during operation of the inlet door. 22. A ram air system for providing air to a portion of an aircraft, the ram air system comprising: an inlet lip portion; an inlet door positioned at least proximate to the inlet lip portion, the inlet door including: a first surface portion having a forward edge region; an second surface portion fixed at an angle relative to the first surface portion, the second surface portion having an aft edge region; and a transition region extending between the first surface portion and the second surface portion; means for movably positioning the first surface portion of the inlet door at least approximately forward of the inlet lip portion, whereby the forward edge region is spaced apart from the inlet lip portion by a first distance; means for movably positioning the second surface portion of the inlet door at least approximately aft of the inlet lip portion, whereby the aft edge region is spaced apart from the forward edge region by a second distance that is greater than the first distance; and means for moving the inlet door relative to the inlet lip portion to vary the size of an inlet opening between the transition region of the inlet door and the inlet lip portion. 23. The ram air system of claim 22 wherein the second surface portion of the inlet door at least partially forms a variable diffusing passage in flow communication with the inlet opening, and wherein the ram air system further comprises: an inlet housing portion spaced apart from the inlet lip portion, wherein the means for movably positioning the first surface portion of the inlet door include means for movably attaching the inlet door to the inlet housing portion; means for flowing ram air through the variable diffusing passage; and while flowing ram air through the variable diffusing passage, means for preventing the ram air flowing through the variable diffusing passage from flowing into a space between the inlet housing portion and the inlet door. 24. The ram air system of claim 22 wherein the means for movably positioning the first surface portion of the inlet door at least approximately forward of the inlet lip portion include hinge means for pivotally connecting the forward edge region of the first surface portion to a housing. 25. The ram air system of claim 22 wherein the means for moving the inlet door relative to the inlet lip portion include a linear actuator.
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