A device and system for collecting condensate from a pressure line

Abstract

The application discloses a device and system for collecting condensate water of a pressure pipeline. The device comprises a water storage cavity made of flexible material, an air inlet pipe interface, a quick plug type one-way water drainage interface and an anti-backflow structure. The water storage cavity has a large volume and an anti-backflow length-diameter ratio; the quick plug type water drainage interface is integrated with a one-way valve and a quick plug protection cap, and can realize quick water drainage and self-sealing; and the anti-backflow structure prevents backflow of the condensate water. The application effectively solves the problems of easy backflow, complicated water drainage operation and poor sealing of the existing device, has the advantages of high maintenance efficiency, good reliability and strong environmental adaptability, and significantly improves flight safety and attendance rate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of atmospheric data acquisition and processing systems, and in particular to a device and system for collecting condensate in pressure pipelines. Background Technology

[0002] Atmospheric data acquisition systems are a crucial component of modern aircraft. These systems calculate flight parameters such as speed, altitude, Mach number, and climb / fall rate by measuring total and static airflow pressure. Data acquisition requires converting airflow pressure signals into electrical signals. However, because the atmosphere contains water vapor molecules, these vapors condense into liquid water when they encounter the cooler pressure lines in the system. If this condensate is not collected and drained promptly, it can severely affect sensor accuracy and even cause icing and blockage of the lines, threatening flight safety. Existing condensate collection devices suffer from insufficient storage capacity, poor sealing reliability, cumbersome drainage operations, and a lack of effective backflow prevention mechanisms. Especially under high-altitude, low-temperature, low-pressure, and high-angle-of-attack flight conditions, existing condensate collection devices are unstable, resulting in heavy ground maintenance workload and frequent need for re-testing of airtightness after drainage, reducing aircraft operational efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a pressure pipeline condensate collection device and system that is structurally reasonable, reliably sealed, easy to operate, effectively prevents condensate backflow, and has a water level indication function.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: This invention discloses a device for collecting condensate from a pressure pipeline, comprising a water storage chamber, an air inlet port, a quick-connect one-way drain port, and an anti-backflow structure. The water storage chamber is made of a flexible material and has a length-to-diameter ratio that prevents condensate backflow. The air inlet port is located at one end of the water storage chamber and is used to connect to the pressure pipeline. The quick-connect one-way drain port is located at the other end of the water storage chamber and is used to drain the condensate. The anti-backflow structure is located inside the water storage chamber near the air inlet port.

[0005] In one embodiment, the water storage chamber includes a flexible rubber hose and a supporting spring disposed inside the hose, the water storage chamber having a volume of not less than 50 ml and a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 3:1.

[0006] In one embodiment, the anti-backflow structure is funnel-shaped, with its inlet facing the air inlet and its outlet facing the interior of the water storage chamber.

[0007] In one embodiment, the quick-connect one-way drain interface includes a drain interface body, a locking pin, a one-way valve, and a compression spring. The drain interface body is connected to the water storage chamber; the locking pin is disposed on the drain interface body; the one-way valve is disposed inside the drain interface body; and the compression spring is used to provide a sealing preload. In one embodiment, the device further includes a quick-connect protective cap, which is detachably attached to the outside of the drain port body.

[0008] In one embodiment, the quick-connect protective cap includes: a housing; a sealing mandrel movably disposed within the housing; a rubber sealing ring disposed on the sealing mandrel; and a compression spring for providing a compression force to the sealing mandrel; the quick-connect protective cap is fixed by rotation and engaging with the locking pin.

[0009] In one embodiment, the drain interface body and the water storage chamber, as well as the drain interface body and the quick-connect protective cap, are sealed connections, and the sealed connection parts are provided with sealing rings made of silicone rubber or fluororubber.

[0010] In one embodiment, the device further includes a water level indicator unit disposed in the water storage chamber, the water level indicator unit being a float and / or a water level sensor.

[0011] In one embodiment, the float is a bright color for visual cues, and / or the water level sensor is used to monitor the water level and output an electrical signal.

[0012] The present invention also discloses an atmospheric data acquisition system for an aircraft, the system including the above-mentioned device for collecting condensate from pressure pipelines.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the device for collecting condensate from pressure pipelines disclosed in this invention can produce at least the following beneficial effects: 1. With its large water storage chamber and unique length-to-diameter ratio design, it can meet the needs of multiple flights. The anti-backflow structure inside the water storage chamber can effectively prevent condensate from flowing back during high angle-of-attack flights.

[0014] 2. By integrating a one-way valve and a quick-connect interface, the drainage operation can be completed quickly and the self-sealing function can be achieved after drainage, eliminating the need for airtightness re-inspection and significantly improving maintenance efficiency.

[0015] 3. The sealing connection parts are made of silicone rubber / fluororubber sealing rings, which gives the device good airtightness and can prevent pressure leakage in the pipeline. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the device for collecting condensate from the pressure pipeline in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the water storage chamber and the quick-connect one-way drainage interface in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the quick-connect protective cap in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] In the diagram: 1-pipe connector; 2-water storage chamber; 3-quick-connect one-way drain interface; 4-quick-connect protective cap; 20-Connecting nut; 21-First locking ring; 22-Function funnel; 23-Rubber hose; 24-Support spring; 25-Float; 26-Second locking ring; 27-Sealing joint; 28, 33, 43-Rubber sealing rings; 30-Drainage interface body; 31-Locking pin; 32-One-way valve; 34-Compression spring; 40-Outer shell; 41-Compression spring; 42-Sealing mandrel; 44-Retaining ring. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this application. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this application from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. This application can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this application. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0020] This invention provides a condensate collection device for an atmospheric data system.

[0021] See Figure 1-3The device includes a water storage chamber 2, which is made of a flexible material. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible material is a low-temperature resistant rubber hose 23, such as a fluororubber or silicone rubber hose. It is understood that the flexible material is not limited to these, and those skilled in the art can select other flexible materials with similar properties according to actual working conditions. For example, the water storage chamber 2 can also be made of fluoroplastic hose, flexible nylon hose, thermoplastic polyurethane hose, or their composite film material to meet specific requirements for chemical resistance, mechanical strength, or permeability. Preferably, a transparent rubber hose 23 is selected as the main body of the water storage chamber 2 for easy observation of the water level. Both ends of the rubber hose 23 are provided with sealing joints 27. One end is crimped to the sealing joint 27 via a first fastening ring 21, and the other end is crimped to the sealing joint 27 and the drain interface body 30 via a second fastening ring 26, thereby forming a sealed cavity. To prevent condensate backflow during high angle-of-attack flight, the cavity volume is set to be no less than 50ml, meaning the water storage chamber 2 has a volume of no less than 50ml, achieving large-capacity water storage. Simultaneously, its length-to-diameter ratio is increased to greater than 3:1. For example, the rubber hose 4 of the water storage chamber 2 has an inner diameter of 20mm, a length of 200mm, an effective volume of 75ml, and a length-to-diameter ratio of 10:1. It can be understood that the volume of the water storage chamber can be increased by increasing the length of the rubber hose, such as to 100ml, to meet the requirements of long-endurance flight missions.

[0022] In this embodiment of the invention, the device further includes an air inlet interface, which is located at one end of the water storage chamber 2. The air inlet interface includes a pipe connector 1 and a connector nut 20. One end of the pipe connector 1 is directly connected to an external pressure pipeline. The connector nut 20 is fitted over the other end of the pipe connector 1 and connected to a sealing joint 27 via threads. One end of the sealing joint 27 is crimped and fixed to a rubber hose 23 via a first fastening ring 21. A rubber sealing ring (not shown in the figure) is provided at the mating end face of the sealing joint 27 and the pipe connector 1. The aforementioned air inlet interface constitutes the gas inlet of the device. Through threaded connection, end face sealing, and the sealing ring, a robust and reliable sealed connection with the external pressure pipeline is achieved, preventing high-pressure gas leakage.

[0023] In this embodiment of the invention, a support spring 24 is also provided inside the water storage cavity 2. The support spring 24 is lined inside the rubber hose 23. By providing the support spring 24, the water storage cavity 2 can be prevented from collapsing in the external low air pressure environment and always maintain an effective volume. At the same time, the flexible structure of the rubber hose 23 can effectively buffer the impact of water flow and flight vibration.

[0024] An anti-backflow structure is also provided at the end of the water storage chamber 2 near the air intake pipe interface. In a preferred embodiment, this anti-backflow structure is a funnel 22, installed inside the water storage chamber near the air intake pipe interface. The inlet of the funnel 22 faces the air intake pipe interface, and the outlet faces the inside of the water storage chamber 2. For example, a polypropylene funnel 22 is provided at the inlet of the water storage chamber, with an inlet diameter of 8mm and an outlet diameter of 4mm, used to guide condensate water unidirectionally into the water storage chamber and prevent backflow. Through the design of the water storage chamber with a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 3:1, combined with the guiding effect of the funnel 22, it is possible to effectively prevent condensate water from flowing back towards the pressure pipeline during high angle-of-attack and maneuvering flight.

[0025] The water storage chamber 2 is also equipped with a water level indicator unit. In a preferred embodiment, the water level indicator unit is a float 25, which is placed directly in the condensate water within the water storage chamber. The float is set to a conspicuous color. For example, a red polyurethane float 25 is provided in the middle of the water storage chamber, allowing for visual judgment of the water level through a transparent observation window. Of course, the color of the float is not limited to red; conspicuous colors such as blue and yellow are also acceptable and are not limited here. By setting a conspicuous color and floating with the water level, a visual water level indication is provided, improving maintenance and inspection efficiency. Alternatively, the water level indicator unit can be a water level sensor. The sensor body is fixedly installed on the water storage chamber at a preset position corresponding to the high water level to monitor the water level. When the condensate water level rises to the preset height, an electrical signal is output, realizing remote, real-time monitoring and early warning of the water level. Of course, the water level indicator unit can also be a combination of the above two methods, providing double assurance for water level determination, while also allowing ground personnel to conveniently select different methods to determine the water level as needed.

[0026] In this embodiment of the invention, the device further includes a quick-connect one-way drainage interface 3 and a quick-connect protective cap 4.

[0027] The quick-connect one-way drain interface 3 includes a drain interface body 30, a one-way valve 32, a compression spring 34, and a locking pin 31. The drain interface body 30 is pressed and fixed to the rubber hose 23 by a second fastening ring 26, and is sealed to the water storage chamber 2. The one-way valve 32 and the compression spring 34, which provides sealing pre-tightening force, are sequentially installed inside the drain interface body 30 to achieve self-sealing and prevent pressure loss. For example, the one-way valve 32 is composed of a polytetrafluoroethylene valve core and a stainless steel valve seat, and the elastic parameters of the compression spring 34 are a stiffness of 8 N / mm and a pre-compression of 2 mm. The outer wall of the drain interface body is provided with two silicone rubber sealing rings 28 and 33. The rubber sealing ring 28 achieves a sealed connection between the drain interface body 30 and the water storage chamber 2, and the rubber sealing ring 33 achieves a sealed connection between the one-way valve 32 and the drain interface body 30.

[0028] The quick-connect protective cap 4 is detachably connected to the outside of the drain interface body 30. The quick-connect protective cap 4 includes: a housing 40; a sealing spindle 42, which is movably disposed within the housing 40; a rubber sealing ring 43 disposed on the sealing spindle 42; and a compression spring 41 for providing compression force to the sealing spindle 42; and a retaining ring 44 installed inside the housing 40 for axially limiting the sealing spindle 42. A locking pin 31 is disposed on the drain interface body 30 and engages with a slot on the quick-connect protective cap 4.

[0029] For example, the quick-connect protective cap contains a nickel-plated stainless steel sealing mandrel 42. A compression spring 41 is provided between the sealing mandrel 42 and the protective cap housing 40. The sealing mandrel 42 is positioned and installed in the housing 40 by the compression spring 41. The sealing mandrel 42 can move axially within the housing 40 by the deformation of the compression spring 41, allowing the drain interface body 30 to enter or exit the sealing mandrel 42. The drain interface body 30 and the sealing mandrel 42 achieve an airtight seal through two layers of rubber sealing rings 43. After the quick-connect protective cap 4 is inserted into the drain interface body 30, simply rotate the quick-connect protective cap housing 40 by about 30° to engage and fix it with the locking pin 31 in the slot on the housing 40, thereby achieving a quick-connect seal. When the quick-connect protective cap 4 needs to be removed, simply rotate the housing 40 in the opposite direction. When the water level indicator unit indicates that drainage is required, simply remove the quick-connect protective cap 4 to drain the water. No tools are needed, the process is extremely quick, and after drainage, simply insert the quick-connect protective cap 4 to achieve a quick-connect seal, without the need for further airtightness checks.

[0030] In addition, the quick-connect protective cap 4 can be equipped with an anti-loss chain on the outer shell. The anti-loss chain can be connected to a fixed point on the aircraft fuselage to prevent loss during maintenance. All the above-mentioned sealing rings are made of fluororubber or silicone rubber, with a temperature resistance range of -60℃ to 200℃.

[0031] The working principle of the device described in this embodiment of the invention is as follows: Condensate enters the device through the air inlet and flows through funnel 22 into the water storage chamber 2 for storage. As the water level rises, float 25 rises to provide visual or electrical signal indication via a water level sensor. When drainage is required, ground personnel remove the quick-connect protective cap 4 and connect it to the dedicated water collection device. The water collection device opens the one-way valve 32, and the condensate is quickly discharged under system pressure and gravity. After drainage is complete, the water collection device is removed, and the one-way valve 32 resets and seals under the action of the compression spring 34. Reinstalling the quick-connect protective cap 4 completes the entire operation. Throughout the process, the device ensures that the system's airtightness is not affected through multiple sealing structures.

[0032] The device for collecting condensate from pressure pipelines provided in this invention can be applied to an aircraft atmospheric data acquisition system to collect the condensate generated by the system.

[0033] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for collecting condensate from a pressure pipeline, characterized in that, include: Water storage cavity (2), the water storage cavity (2) is made of flexible material and has an aspect ratio to prevent condensate backflow; An air inlet port is located at one end of the water storage chamber (2) and is used to connect to a pressure pipeline; A quick-connect one-way drain port (3) is located at the other end of the water storage chamber (2) for draining condensate; and An anti-backflow structure is installed inside the water storage chamber (2) at one end near the air inlet port.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water storage chamber (2) includes a flexible rubber hose (23) and a support spring (24) disposed inside the hose; the volume of the water storage chamber (2) is not less than 50ml and the length-to-diameter ratio is greater than 3:

1.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The anti-backflow structure is a funnel (22), with the inlet of the funnel (22) facing the air inlet port and the outlet facing the interior of the water storage chamber (2).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The quick-connect one-way drainage interface (3) includes: The drain interface body (30) is connected to the water storage cavity (2); A locking pin (31) is provided on the drain interface body (30); A one-way valve (32) is disposed inside the drain interface body (30); A compression spring (34) is used to provide a sealing preload to the one-way valve (32).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The device also includes a quick-connect protective cap (4), which is detachably connected to the outside of the drain interface body (30).

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The quick-connect protective cap (4) includes: a housing (40); a sealing mandrel (42) movably disposed within the housing (40); a rubber sealing ring (43) disposed on the sealing mandrel (42); and a compression spring (41) for providing a compression force to the sealing mandrel (42); the quick-connect protective cap (4) is engaged and fixed with the locking pin (31) by rotation.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drain interface body (30) and the water storage cavity are sealed together, as are the drain interface body (30) and the quick-connect protective cap (4); the sealed connection is provided with a sealing ring made of silicone rubber or fluororubber.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a water level indicator unit disposed in the water storage chamber (2), the water level indicator unit being a float (25) and / or a water level sensor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The float (25) is a bright color for visual cues, and / or the water level sensor is used to monitor the water level and output an electrical signal.

10. An airborne atmospheric data acquisition system, characterized in that, Includes the apparatus for collecting condensate from pressure pipelines as described in any one of claims 1-9.

Images