US 12,358,629 B2 · Air distribution panel for distributing air and sensing environmental conditions

Abstract

An air distribution panel for aircraft comprises a primary air inlet port, a housing fluidly coupled to the primary air inlet port, and an environmental sensor. 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 and a secondary air inlet chamber. 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 is positioned within the secondary air inlet chamber and along an airflow path of the secondary air. The secondary air is exhausted via the air outlet chamber back into the aircraft compartment after the secondary air passes the temperature sensor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An air distribution panel for an aircraft comprising:

a primary air inlet port to be fluidly coupled to and receive primary air from an air distribution plenum;
a housing fluidly coupled to the primary air inlet port, wherein the housing comprises:
an air outlet chamber through which the primary air is exhausted into an aircraft compartment;
and
a plurality of nozzles fluidly coupled to the primary air inlet port to direct primary air to the air outlet chamber, wherein the nozzles are separated by gaps therebetween;
and
a secondary air inlet chamber through which secondary air is drawn from the aircraft compartment, wherein exhausting of the primary air through the air outlet chamber causes the secondary air to be passively drawn through the gaps into the secondary air inlet chamber to be mixed with the primary air.

4 more elements

A method for controlling temperature of a compartment of an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving primary air via a primary air inlet port that is fluidly coupled to an air distribution plenum;
exhausting the primary air into an aircraft compartment via a plurality of nozzles, wherein at least some of the nozzles are separated by a gap therebetween, and wherein at least some of the nozzles are coupled to an air outlet chamber of a housing that is fluidly coupled to the primary air inlet port;
and
drawing in secondary air from the aircraft compartment through the gaps via a secondary air inlet chamber of the housing to be mixed with the primary air, wherein exhausting of the primary air through the air outlet chamber causes the secondary air to be passively drawn into the secondary air inlet chamber.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Air distribution panel for distributing air and sensing environmental conditions

Life of this patent

Air distribution panel for distributing air and sensing environmental conditions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20