Aircraft Air Distribution Panel With Fanless Venturi Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature sensing devices in aircraft require significant space, power, and generate noise, necessitating frequent maintenance due to the use of powered fans.
Innovation Solution
An air distribution panel that utilizes a Venturi effect to passively draw secondary air for environmental sensing, eliminating the need for fans by using a primary air inlet port, housing, and environmental sensors within a secondary air inlet chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If powered fans are used to draw cabin air into the air duct for temperature sensing, then air sampling is achieved, but noise increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fan component from the air distribution panel, eliminating the noise and maintenance issues associated with powered fans while preserving the air sampling function through alternative means (natural convection and pressure differentials)
Solution Approach 2:
The air distribution panel is designed to utilize natural air flow and pressure differentials created by the air handling system itself to draw air through the temperature sensor, making the system self-servicing without requiring external powered fans
2Reliability
If powered fans are used to draw cabin air into the air duct for temperature sensing, then air sampling is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the powered fan from the air distribution panel, eliminating the power consumption requirement while maintaining air sampling capability through passive air flow mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing pressure differentials and air flow patterns within the aircraft environmental control system to automatically draw air through the temperature sensor without requiring additional power input
3Reliability
If significant space is allocated for temperature sensing devices with powered fans, then air sampling is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the powered fan and associated mounting structure from the air distribution panel, reducing device complexity while maintaining air sampling function through the integrated housing design that utilizes existing system air flow
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor housing is merged with the air distribution panel structure, integrating the sensing function into the existing air flow path without requiring separate powered fan assemblies or additional space
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides efficient, quiet, and low-maintenance temperature and smoke sensing without the need for fans, reducing noise and power consumption while allowing for easy assembly and reduced service requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The housing is configured so that exhausting of the primary air through the air outlet chamber causes the secondary air to be passively drawn into the secondary air inlet chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
An air distribution panel (215) for aircraft comprises a primary air inlet port (305), a housing fluidly coupled to the primary air inlet port (305), and an environmental sensor (322). The primary air inlet port is configured to be fluidly coupled to and receive primary air from an air distribution plenum. The housing comprises an air outlet chamber (315) and a secondary air inlet chamber (320). The primary air is exhausted into an aircraft compartment via the air outlet chamber. Secondary air is drawn from the aircraft compartment via the secondary air inlet chamber. Exhausting of the primary air through the air outlet chamber causes the secondary air to be passively drawn into the secondary air inlet chamber. The environmental sensor (322) is positioned within the secondary air inlet chamber and along an airflow path of the secondary air (330). The secondary air is exhausted via the air outlet chamber back into the aircraft compartment after the secondary air passes the temperature sensor.