An air intake system comprising at least one helical partition and an aircraft comprising at least one such air intake system

Abstract

Air intake device comprising at least one helical partition and aircraft comprising at least one such air intake device. The invention relates to an air intake device (42) comprising an intake duct (46), a valve (48), and at least one helical partition (58) positioned within the intake duct (46), said helical partition (58) having an outer edge in contact with the intake duct (46) and defining at least one helical channel (60) within the intake duct (46). This helical partition (58) increases the distance traveled by an airflow entering the intake duct (46) to reach the valve (48) in the closed state. The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one such air intake device. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Air intake device comprising at least one helical partition and aircraft comprising at least one such air intake device

[0001] The present application relates to an air intake device comprising at least one helical partition and to an aircraft comprising at least one such air intake device.

[0002] According to one embodiment, an aircraft 10 comprises a fuselage 12, wings 14 provided on either side of the fuselage 12, and propulsion units 16 connected to the wings by pylons 18. The aircraft 10 comprises at least one air intake device 20, visible in [Fig. 2], which opens at an aerodynamic wall 22 in contact with an airflow 24 when the aircraft 10 is in flight. This air intake device 20 is configured to capture a portion of the airflow 24 and direct it towards equipment of the aircraft. The aerodynamic wall 22 may be provided at the fuselage 12, a wing 14, a propulsion unit 16, or a pylons 18.

[0003] According to one configuration, the air intake device 20 comprises an intake duct 26, which extends between a first end 26.1 connected to the aerodynamic wall 22 and a second end 26.2, and a valve 28 connected to the second end 26.2 of the intake duct 26 and configured to occupy a passing state in which the valve 28 allows a flow of air channeled through the intake duct 26 to pass through it and a closed state in which the valve 28 blocks the flow of air in the intake duct 26.

[0004] According to one configuration, the first end 26.1, which opens at the level of the aerodynamic wall 22, is flared and forms a flush-type air inlet.

[0005] The air intake device 20 is optimized to reduce aircraft drag when the valve 28 is in the open state.

[0006] When the valve 28 is in the closed state, the inlet duct 26 and the valve 28 in the closed state form a cavity 30, schematically represented in [Fig.3], which opens at the level of the aerodynamic wall 22. The airflow 24 flowing over the cavity 30 generates a vibro-acoustic phenomenon, with a frequency of the order of 200 Hz, which produces an aerodynamic noise.

[0007] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an air intake device comprising an intake duct, which extends between a first end designed to open at the level of an aerodynamic wall and a second end, as well as a valve connected to the second end of the intake duct.

[0009] According to the invention, the air intake device comprises at least one helical partition, positioned in the intake duct, having an outer edge in contact with the intake duct and delimiting at least one helical duct in the intake duct.

[0010] The helical partition makes it possible to lengthen the distance traveled by an airflow entering the intake duct to reach the valve in the closed state, which makes it possible to reduce the resonance frequency of the airflow entering the intake duct and, ultimately, the noise.

[0011] According to another feature, the air intake device includes an axial support around which each helical partition is wound.

[0012] According to another feature, each helical partition is connected in a sealed manner to the axial support and / or the intake duct.

[0013] According to another feature, the intake duct comprises at least a first section delimited by a substantially cylindrical tubular wall which extends from the second end of the intake duct and has an axis of revolution.

[0014] According to another feature, each helical partition is positioned in the first section of the intake duct and has a length substantially equal to that of the first section.

[0015] According to another feature, the axial support is a cylindrical rod which has an axis coinciding with the axis of revolution of the tubular wall, the axial support having a length greater than or equal to that of the first section of the intake duct.

[0016] According to another feature, the air intake device comprises several helical partitions.

[0017] According to another characteristic, the helical partitions have the same winding direction, the same pitch and are spaced from each other by the same spacing.

[0018] According to another feature, the air intake device comprises two helical partitions, each of which has an upstream edge located at or closest to the first end of the intake duct, the upstream edges of the two helical partitions being aligned.

[0019] The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one aerodynamic wall and an air intake device according to one of the preceding characteristics which opens at the level of the aerodynamic wall.

[0020] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0021] [Fig-1] is a side view of an aircraft,

[0022] [Fig.2] is a longitudinal section of an air intake device illustrating a method of implementation of the prior art,

[0023] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of the air intake device, visible on [Fig.2], forming a cavity as well as airflows circulating above and within said cavity,

[0024] [Fig.4] is a side view of an air intake device comprising a partition helical illustrating one embodiment of the invention,

[0025] [Fig.5] is a top view of the air intake device visible in [Fig.4],

[0026] [Fig.6] is a longitudinal section of the air intake device visible on the [Fig.4],

[0027] [Fig.7] is a top view of an air intake device comprising two helical partitions, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention,

[0028] [Fig.8] is a schematic representation of an air intake duct, of a helical partition and an air intake duct equipped with a helical partition illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

[0029] According to an embodiment visible in [Fig.4], an aircraft comprises at least one aerodynamic wall 40 and at least one air intake device 42.

[0030] The aerodynamic wall 40 has an outer face F40 against which an airflow 44 flows in a flow direction when the aircraft is in flight. The aerodynamic wall 40 may be provided at the level of the fuselage, a wing, a propulsion assembly or a mast of the aircraft.

[0031] Although described as applied to an aircraft, the invention is not limited to this application. The air intake device 42 can be fitted to any type of vehicle and open at the level of an aerodynamic wall of a vehicle.

[0032] The air intake device 42 includes an intake duct 46, which extends between a first end 46.1, also called an air inlet, connected to the aerodynamic wall 40 and a second end 46.2, and a valve 48 connected to the second end 46.2 of the intake duct 46 and configured to occupy a passing state in which the valve 48 allows a flow of air channeled through the intake duct 46 to pass through it and a closed state in which the valve 48 blocks the flow of air in the intake duct 46.

[0033] According to one configuration, the first end 46.1, which forms the air inlet of the intake duct 46, opens at the level of the aerodynamic wall 40 and has a shape that flares out towards the outer face F40 of the aerodynamic wall 40. According to this configuration, the first end 46.1 of the intake duct 46 forms a flush-type air inlet.

[0034] When the valve 48 is in the closed state, the inlet duct 46 and the valve 48 in the closed state form a cavity 50 which opens at the level of the aerodynamic wall 40.

[0035] This cavity 50 is delimited by the inlet duct 46 and a bottom 52 (corresponding to the valve 48 in the closed state) distant from the aerodynamic wall 40.

[0036] In the case of a flush-type air inlet, the inlet duct 46 comprises a first section, delimited by a substantially cylindrical tubular wall 54 which extends from the second end 46.2 of the inlet duct 46, and a second section, delimited by a flared connecting wall 54', connecting the tubular wall 54 and the aerodynamic wall 40.

[0037] The tubular wall 54 has an axis of revolution A54 substantially parallel to an intake direction DD which can be perpendicular or inclined with respect to the outer face F40 of the aerodynamic wall 40. By way of example, the reference direction DD forms an angle of about 60° with the outer face F40 of the aerodynamic wall 40.

[0038] According to one arrangement, the bottom 52 is substantially perpendicular to the reference direction DD and to the axis of revolution A54.

[0039] As illustrated in [Fig.8], the intake duct 46 has a depth L1 corresponding to a distance measured at the axis of revolution A54 between a surface containing the outer face F40 of the aerodynamic wall 40 and the bottom 52 as well as a volume VL The first section of the intake duct 46 delimited by the tubular wall 54 has a length L54.

[0040] According to a simplified schematic representation shown in [Fig. 8], the inlet duct 46 comprises only a first section directly connected to the aerodynamic wall 40 and does not include a connecting wall 54'. Furthermore, the axis of revolution A54 of the tubular wall 54 is substantially perpendicular to the outer face F40 of the aerodynamic wall 40. In this case, the depth L1 is substantially equal to the length L54 of the tubular wall 54.

[0041] When the axis A54 is inclined with respect to the normal to the outer face F40 as illustrated in [Fig.4], the inlet duct 46 can comprise two sections delimited by a tubular wall 54 and a connecting wall 54'. In this case, the depth L1 is greater than the length L54.

[0042] Of course, the invention is not limited to these embodiments for the air intake device. Regardless of the embodiment, the air intake device 42 comprises an intake duct 46, which extends between a first end 46.1 opening onto an aerodynamic wall 40 and a second end 46.2, as well as a valve 48 connected to the second end 46.2 of the inlet duct 46 and configured to occupy a passing state in which the valve 48 allows a flow of air channeled through the inlet duct 46 to pass through it and a closed state in which the valve 48 blocks the flow of air in the inlet duct 46. According to a preferred embodiment, the inlet duct 46 comprises at least a first section delimited by a substantially cylindrical tubular wall 54 which extends from the second end 46.2 of the inlet duct 46 and has an axis of revolution A54.

[0043] According to a particular feature of the invention, the air intake device 42 comprises an axial support 56, positioned at the axis of revolution A54 of the tubular wall 54 of the intake duct 46, and at least one helical partition 58, positioned around the axial support 56, which extends between an inner edge 58.1 connected to the axial support 56 and an outer edge 58.2 adjacent to the intake duct 46. This helical partition 58 makes it possible to lengthen the distance traveled by a flow entering the intake duct 46 to reach the bottom 52, which makes it possible to reduce the resonance frequency of the air flow entering the intake duct 46 and, ultimately, the noise.

[0044] According to one configuration, the axial support 56 has a length greater than or equal to the length L54 of the first section of the inlet conduit 46 delimited by the tubular wall 54.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the axial support 56 is a cylindrical rod which has an axis coinciding with the axis of revolution A54 of the tubular wall 54.

[0046] In one configuration, each helical partition 58 is sealed to the axial support 56 and / or the inlet duct 46. Each helical partition 58 extends into the first section of the inlet duct 46, delimited by the tubular wall 54, and has a length substantially equal to that of the first section. Alternatively, at least one helical partition 58 extends into the second section of the inlet duct 46, delimited by the flared connecting wall 54'.

[0047] According to an embodiment visible in particular in [Fig.7], the air intake device 42 comprises several helical partitions 58, 58'. These have the same direction of winding around the same axial support 56, the same pitch and are spaced from each other by the same spacing.

[0048] According to a configuration visible in [Fig. 7], the air intake device 42 comprises two helical partitions 58, 58' which separate the intake duct 46 into two helical ducts 60, 60'. As schematically illustrated in [Fig. 8], the two helical ducts 60, 60' have substantially identical lengths L2 and are significantly greater than the depth L1 of the cavity 50 as well as volumes V2 substantially identical, each volume V2 being substantially equal to half of the volume VI of cavity 50.

[0049] Each helical partition 58, 58' has an upstream edge 58.3, 58.3, connecting the inner and outer edges 58.1, 58.2, located at the level of the first end 46.1 or closest to the latter.

[0050] According to one arrangement, each upstream edge 58.3, 58.3' is substantially parallel to the flow direction of the airflow 44 flowing against the outer face F40 of the aerodynamic wall 40. When the air intake device 42 comprises two helical partitions 58, their upstream edges 58.3, 58.3' are aligned and substantially parallel to the flow direction of the airflow 44 flowing against the outer face F40 of the aerodynamic wall 40.

[0051] Each helical partition 58, 58' is wound in a specific direction around the axial support 56. According to a first embodiment, the direction of winding of each helical partition 58, 58' is clockwise. According to a second embodiment, the direction of winding of each helical partition 58, 58' is counterclockwise.

[0052] Regardless of the embodiment, the air intake device comprises at least one helical partition 58, 58' which has an outer edge 58.2 in contact with the intake duct 46, said helical partition 58, 58' being configured to delimit in the intake duct 46 at least one helical duct 60, 60'. The latter has a length L2, a volume V2 and a passage cross-section S2.

[0053] It is possible to modulate the length L2 of the helical conduits 60, 60' by adjusting the pitch of the helical partitions 58, 58'. Thus, the smaller the pitch of the helical partitions 58, 58', the greater the length L2 of the helical conduits 60, 60' and the lower the resonance frequency.

[0054] It is also possible to modulate the volume V2 and the cross-sectional area S2 of the helical conduits 60, 60' by adjusting the number of helical partitions 58, 58'. Thus, the greater the number of helical partitions 58, 58', the more the volume V2 and the cross-sectional area S2 of each helical conduit 60, 60' are reduced, and the lower the resonance frequency.

[0055] Thus, it is possible to adjust the resonance frequency of an air intake device 42 by adjusting at least one characteristic among the number of helical partitions 58, 58', the pitch of each helical partition 58, 58', the winding direction of each helical partition 58, 58' and the geometry of each helical partition 58, 58' at the first end 46.1 (corresponding to the inlet of the intake duct 46).

Claims

Demands

1. Air intake device (42) comprising an intake duct (46), which extends between a first end (46.1) intended to open at the level of an aerodynamic wall (40) and a second end (46.2), and a valve (48) connected to the second end (46.2) of the intake duct (46); characterized in that the air intake device (42) comprises at least one helical partition (58, 58') positioned in the intake duct (46), having an outer edge (58.2) in contact with the intake duct (46) and delimiting at least one helical conduit (60, 60') in the intake duct (46).

2. Air intake device (42) according to claim 1, characterized in that the air intake device (42) comprises an axial support (56) around which each helical partition (58, 58') is wound.

3. Air intake device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each helical partition (58) is connected in a sealed manner to the axial support (56) and / or to the intake duct (46).

4. Air intake device according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the intake duct (46) comprises at least a first section delimited by a substantially cylindrical tubular wall (54) which extends from the second end (46.2) of the intake duct (46) and has an axis of revolution (A54).

5. Air intake device (42) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each helical partition (58) is positioned in the first section of the intake duct (46) and has a length substantially equal to that of the first section.

6. Air intake device (42) according to any one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the axial support (56) is a cylindrical rod which has an axis coinciding with the axis of revolution (A54) of the tubular wall (54), the axial support (56) having a length greater than or equal to that of the first section of the intake duct (46).

7. Air intake device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air intake device (42) comprises several helical partitions (58, 58').

8. Air intake device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the helical partitions (58, 58') have the same winding direction, the same pitch and are spaced from each other by the same spacing.

9. Air intake device according to claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the air intake device (42) comprises two helical partitions (58, 58') each having an upstream edge (58.3, 58.3) located at or closest to the first end (46.1) of the intake duct (46), the upstream edges (58.3) of the two helical partitions (58, 58') being aligned.

10. Aircraft comprising at least one aerodynamic wall (40) and an air intake device (42) according to any one of the preceding claims which opens at the level of the aerodynamic wall (40).

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