Fluid handling – Inflatable article – With pressure-responsive pressure-control means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-31
2001-06-05
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Inflatable article
With pressure-responsive pressure-control means
C137S505130, C137S068190, C222S003000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240951
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention is directed towards an inflation system and a valve for use in an inflation system. The present invention is particularly suited for inflating inflatable members, such as the emergency exit slides, life rafts, etc. carried on commercial aircraft.
The present invention inflation system utilizes the apparatus for rapid inflation of inflatable objects and related method described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,438 by Lewis et. al, and hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present state of the art in inflation systems for emergency exit slides and rafts in commercial aircraft includes a source of gas which flows into an aspirator, which then flows into the inflatable member. Regardless of which type of gas source is used (stored compressed gas, pyrotechnic gas generator etc.) there is a problem due to the wide ambient temperature range within which the inflation systems are required to operate. The temperature range over which these systems are required to function is from −40° F. to 140° F. The amount of gas available must be enough to pressurize the inflatable element at the coldest temperature. Because of the relationship between pressure and temperature with a fixed volume, as the ambient temperature rises above the minimum, the gas source provides too much pressure. To keep the inflatable member from failing due to stress from this high pressure, relief valves are incorporated into the inflatable member to maintain the desired pressure. Multiple relief valves are usually necessary. These relief valves add a significant amount of weight to the inflation system, take up a significant amount of space, and add cost. An inflation system is desired which can reduce the number and size of relief valves necessary, thereby significantly reducing the weight, cost, and required space of the inflation system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A valve comprising a valve body with an inlet port, a charging port, a first chamber, a neutral thrust diffuser, a second chamber, a neutral thrust over pressure relief vent, and an outlet port.
The inlet port, and the charging port are in fluid communication with the first chamber, and the first chamber has a first outlet and a second outlet. The first outlet is blocked by a blocking means, and the second outlet is blocked by a secondary burst disk. The blocking means prevents fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. An actuating means will rupture the blocking means at a predetermined actuation point. The second chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet port, and/or the neutral thrust over pressure relief vent.
A regulating piston comprises a piston and a regulating spring wherein the piston slidably moves within the second chamber such that the regulating piston allows fluid communication between the second chamber and the neutral thrust over pressure relief vent, or between the second chamber and the outlet port, or both.
The secondary burst disk prevents fluid communication between the first chamber and the neutral thrust diffuser.
Cross-sectional flow area one is the cross-sectional area of the outlet port which is in fluid communication with the second chamber, two examples of this are shown in Detail A and Detail B. Cross-sectional flow area two is the cross sectional area of the neutral thrust over pressure relief vent which is in fluid communication with the second chamber.
When the actuating means ruptures the blocking means, the fluid flows from the first chamber through the first outlet and into the second chamber. The fluid exerts pressure on the piston, and slidably moves the piston within the second chamber, such that increased fluid pressure causes the regulating piston to move in a manner which decreases the cross-sectional flow area one. As the fluid pressure continues to increase, the cross-sectional flow area one continues to decrease, and the piston slidably moves to a position which allows fluid communication between the second chamber and the neutral thrust over pressure relief vent. With increasing fluid pressure the cross-sectional flow area one continues to decrease, and the cross-sectional flow area two continues to increase, until the piston can no longer move due to the constraints of the second chamber in combination with the regulating spring.
As the fluid pressure decreases, the piston slidably moves such as to decrease the cross-sectional flow area two, and increase the cross-sectional flow area one.
If the fluid in the first chamber reaches a pressure equal to the burst pressure of the secondary burst disk, the secondary burst disk will burst, allowing the fluid to exit the first chamber through the neutral thrust diffuser.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3994312 (1976-11-01), Tanner et al.
patent: 4368009 (1983-01-01), Heimovics
patent: 5181977 (1993-01-01), Gneiding et al.
patent: 5195777 (1993-03-01), Cuevas
patent: 5590906 (1997-01-01), Faigle et al.
patent: 5609359 (1997-03-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5618057 (1997-04-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5988438 (1999-11-01), Lewis et al.
Bowen Kathleen K.
Rivell John
Ronyak David M.
Schoenfeld Meredith H.
The B. F. Goodrich Company
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