Aviatorial valve assembly

Abstract

A valve for use in aircraft comprises a body, a selective interrupter positioned inside the body for rotation therein, a flow arrangement between the selective interrupter and the body, a bonnet connected to the body and in contact with the selective interrupter, an arm extending through the bonnet and connected to the selective interrupter, and an actuator movably connected to the arm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a divisional application of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 612,354, filed Jul. 7, 2000 and entitled “Aviatorial Valve Assembly”, hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Acrobatic and mock emergency maneuvers place undue stress on the pneumatic gyroscopes within aircraft instrumentation. Most of the time, the gyroscopes in aircraft instrumentation are unaccustomed to withstanding routine acrobatic and mock emergency maneuvers. Because extremes in pitch and roll can damage the flight instruments' gimbals and bearings, common practice has been to disconnect the instrumentation's driver source prior to flight. This practice makes it impossible to return to instrument flight should nighttime or inclement weather arise prior to landing. Further, opening the instrument air system may allow airborne contaminants to harm the delicate gyroscopic instruments. Another common practice during testin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]According to one aspect of the present invention, a unique configuration and application for a valve is provided. According to this aspect of the invention, a low-pressure valve functions over a wide range of temperature, and selectively interrupts the driver source directed to the pneumatic-gyroscopic flight instruments. The stress that instrument air sources endure is limited by preventing spikes in and maintaining the pneumatic flow, and thus, the back pressure. The valve is lightweight, easily installed, and designed to fit within a standard hole of a small airplane instrument panel. Further, the valve interfaces with existing air and vacuum sources and other equipment within the airplane. This aspect of the present invention permits acrobatic maneuvers without disconnecting the driver source prior to flight. Moreover, the present aspect enables a remarkably rapid return to instrument flight, which safety alone warrants in the event of inclement weather or nighttime flight.

[0007]According to another aspect of the invention, a realistic simulation of instrument failure conditions during testing and training procedures is provided. Because, in this aspect, the present invention can prevent pneumatic flow to the instrument, the instrument becomes non-operational, and thereby mimics an in-flight instrument failure condition. But the ability to return to instrument flight ensures that safety is coupled to realism in producing the simulated instrument failure.

Problems solved by technology

The stress that instrument air sources endure is limited by preventing spikes in and maintaining the pneumatic flow, and thus, the back pressure.

Images