Pressure equalization vent for use in an aircraft assembly
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMarcus K. Richardson, Clyde Robert Tuohimaa, Michael James Tonks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure equalization vent for use in an aircraft assembly is provided. The pressure equalization vent includes an opening having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The vent further includes a plurality of louvers positioned within the opening. Each louver is positioned a predetermined distance from an adjacent louver to form a gap therebetween. Each louver includes an airfoil-shaped cross-section configured to increase airflow efficiency across the vent.
Claims19
A pressure equalization vent for use in an aircraft assembly, said pressure equalization vent comprising:
- an opening having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, and a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said first and second sides extending between said first and second ends;
- and
- a plurality of louvers positioned within the opening and spanning from said first side to said second side, each louver positioned a predetermined distance, along a direction from said first end to said second end, from an adjacent louver to form a gap therebetween, each said louver comprising an airfoil-shaped cross-section comprising a plurality of leading surfaces facing said first end and a trailing surface facing said second end, said plurality of leading surfaces including a first planar surface extending at an angle away from an exterior surface of the aircraft assembly, when the vent is installed on the exterior surface of the aircraft assembly, from said first end to said second end and positioned within the opening such that said first planar surface deflects, away from said vent, air flowing across said vent in the direction from said first end to said second end and from said plurality of leading surfaces to said trailing surface.
A method of manufacturing a pressure equalization vent for an aircraft assembly, said method comprising:
- forming an opening having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first and second sides extending between the first and second ends;
- and
- positioning a plurality of louvers within the vent opening and spanning from the first side to the second side, each louver positioned a predetermined distance, along a direction from the first end to the second end, from an adjacent louver to form a gap therebetween, wherein each louver includes an airfoil-shaped cross-section comprising a plurality of leading surfaces facing the first end and a trailing surface facing the second end, the plurality of leading surfaces including a first planar surface extending at an angle away from an exterior surface of the aircraft assembly, when the vent is installed on the exterior surface of the aircraft assembly, from the first end to the second end and positioned within the opening such that the first planar surface deflects, away from the vent, air flowing across the vent in the direction from the first end to the second end and from the plurality of leading surfaces to the trailing surface.
A pressure equalization vent for use in an aircraft assembly, said pressure equalization vent comprising:
- an opening having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, and a first side and a second side opposite said first side, said first and second sides extending between said first and second ends;
- and
- a plurality of louvers positioned within the opening and spanning from said first side to said second side, each louver positioned a predetermined distance, along a direction from said first end to said second end, from an adjacent louver to form a gap therebetween, each said louver comprising an airfoil-shaped cross-section comprising a plurality of leading surfaces facing said first end and a trailing surface facing said second end, said plurality of leading surfaces including:
- a first surface extending at an angle away from an exterior surface of the aircraft assembly, when the vent is installed on the exterior surface of the aircraft assembly, from said first end to said second end and positioned within the opening such that said first surface deflects, away from said vent, air flowing across said vent in the direction from said first end to said second end and from said plurality of leading surfaces to said trailing surface;
- a second surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction across said vent from said first end to said second end;
- and
- a third surface angled towards the exterior surface of the aircraft assembly from said plurality of leading surfaces to said trailing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.