Device for removing incendiary matter from the interior of an aircraft

Abstract

Flammable fluid or other incendiary matter (204) contained aboard an aircraft may be removed from the aircraft's interior by means of a special purpose disposal device that utilizes the differential in pressure between the pressurized interior of a modern aircraft and the external airstream. The device itself comprises a main intake nozzle, an intermediate wand portion which is connected to the intake nozzle and in fluid communication therewith and a flexible hose provided with a quick connect fitting for connecting the device to a suitable outlet fitting in the skin of the aircraft. Preferably, several such outlet fittings are provided so that the device can be utilized at different locations within the aircraft's interior without requiring an excessively long hose. Each of the outlets is normally closed by means of a disk-shaped plug held in a flush position with respect to the aircraft's outer surface by means of a removable retainer ring. The plug itself is provided with an ejecting mechanism which may be a pyrotechnic fuse in the vicinity of the disk's periphery which, when activated, ejects the central portion of the plug into the external airstream. In order to make the device more convenient to use during the emergency conditions for which it is intended, it may be equipped with a balanced flow regulator that may be operated by a cabin attendant with minimal force and which will nevertheless accurately regulate the force with which the nozzle will pick up fluids and other incendiary material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.