Pressure Regulator Nozzle for High-Pressure Slide Inflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure regulators for aircraft evacuation slides are complex, costly, and require frequent maintenance due to their mechanical nature, and non-mechanical solutions for maintaining inflation pressure are inefficient in sustaining high pressure levels during inflation.
Innovation Solution
A pressure regulator utilizing a convergent-divergent nozzle with a radially expanding outlet pipe and a flow recirculation conduit to introduce secondary fluid, maintaining high pressure levels by adjusting shock strength and reducing pressure drop through fluid recirculation, allowing for supersonic flow and efficient inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical valves (spool or slide valves) are used for pressure regulation, then effective pressure control is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical valve system (spool or slide valves with spring-loaded control elements) with a purely fluid dynamic system using a convergent-divergent nozzle. This substitution eliminates moving parts while maintaining pressure regulation functionality through shock wave control and fluid recirculation, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses fluid dynamic principles including shock waves, expansion fans, and recirculating flow within the nozzle system to achieve pressure regulation. The convergent-divergent nozzle creates controlled shock patterns that regulate pressure without mechanical components, while the recirculation conduit uses hydraulic feedback to maintain stable operation.
2Reliability
If mechanical valves are used for pressure regulation, then pressure control is maintained, but manufacturing and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing complex mechanical valve assemblies with a simple convergent-divergent nozzle geometry, the invention dramatically reduces manufacturing complexity and cost. The nozzle is a single-piece component with no moving parts, eliminating the need for precision machining of multiple components, assembly procedures, and ongoing maintenance, while maintaining effective pressure control.
3Quantity of substance
If non-mechanical arrangements (Venturi conduit) are used to increase gas volume, then gas flow volume is augmented, but pressure sustainability during inflation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the flow parameters within the nozzle by creating controlled shock waves and expansion patterns. The convergent-divergent geometry transforms the flow from subsonic to supersonic, creating a standing shock pattern that sustains high pressure at the outlet while allowing high volume flow, thereby resolving the contradiction between quantity and pressure sustainability.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation conduit provides hydraulic feedback by taking a portion of the outlet flow and redirecting it back into the nozzle at the secondary inlet. This feedback mechanism maintains stable shock patterns and sustains outlet pressure while allowing high overall flow volume, addressing both the quantity and pressure sustainability requirements.
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 maintains high outlet pressure levels during inflation, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and ensuring rapid inflation of aircraft evacuation slides with minimal fluid recirculation, achieving effective pressure regulation without moving parts.
Implementation Method 1
The configuration of the nozzle is such that when the high pressure fluid is supplied to the nozzle from the source, the nozzle will operate as an underexpanded nozzle, so as to produce supersonic flow in the outlet pipe
Implementation Method 2
supplying fluid from the high pressure fluid source to an inlet of a convergent-divergent nozzle... the pressure of the fluid source and configuration of the nozzle being such that the nozzle operates in an underexpanded condition
Implementation Method 3
The outlet pipe comprises a radially expanding section at its upstream end adjacent the nozzle, and the radially expanding section expands from smaller to larger dimension in a downstream direction
Implementation Method 4
a flow recirculation conduit connected at a first end to the secondary fluid inlet and configured to be connected at a second end to the space... introducing a secondary fluid into the outlet pipe at a location adjacent the outlet of the divergent section of the nozzle
Data Source
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AI summary
A pressure regulator (8) comprises a primary fluid inlet (20) for connection to a source (6) of high pressure fluid , a fluid outlet (36) for connection to a space (4) to receive the high pressure fluid, a convergent-divergent nozzle (22) having an upstream convergent section (24), a throat (26) and a downstream divergent section (28), the primary fluid inlet (20) being in fluid communication with the convergent section (24) of the nozzle (22); and an outlet pipe (30) having an upstream end (32) arranged around but radially spaced from the outlet (34) of the divergent section (28) of the nozzle (22), the outlet pipe (30) arranged to receive fluid flow from the outlet (34) of the divergent section (28) of the nozzle (22) and conduct the fluid flowing from the nozzle (22) to the fluid outlet (36). The radial spacing (38) between the upstream end (32) of the outlet pipe (30) and the outlet (34) of the divergent section (28) of the nozzle (22) forms a secondary fluid inlet (42) for introduction of a fluid into the outlet pipe (30) from outside the nozzle (22) at a location adjacent the outlet (34) of the divergent section (28) of the nozzle (22).