System and method of heat distribution in engine powered craft

A unit for selective distribution of heated air in a selected area, said air being heated by mixing of a selected volume of hot air supplied under pressure from a hot air source with air at ambient temperature from said selected area in said unit, said unit comprising:

• valving means for selective conduct of said hot air therethrough and including an inlet terminal connected with said hot air source, at least a first outlet terminal and fluid flow control means positioned between said inlet and outlet terminals for controlling the volume of said hot air flowing through said valving means;
• conduit means having at least said outlet terminal and said fluid flow control means of said valving means positioned therein, said conduit means including an inlet port for receipt therethrough of said air at ambient temperature from said selected area and an outlet port for distribution of said heated air to said selected area therethrough, said outlet terminal of said valving means being positioned between said ports and oriented so that when hot air is conducted into said conduit means through said valving means said hot air is moving in a direction having a component toward said outlet port of said conduit means;
• directing means having a mounting portion mounted adjacent to said outlet port of said conduit means and a hand movable portion movable in said mounting portion for selectively directing said heated air into said selected area;
• and
• actuating means connected with said movable portion of said directing means and with said fluid flow control means of said valving means for selectively actuating said fluid flow control means so that a selected volume of said hot air is conducted through said outlet terminal of said valving means into said conduit means to thus mix said hot air and said air at ambient temperature in said conduit means and so that said heated air is distributed through said outlet port of said conduit means to said selected area.

A system for distributing heated air in the cabin of a helicopter having an engine, at least a forward facing pilot seat and first passenger seat and a center console dividing said seats, said seats having front, rear and outer side frame members for supporting seating units thereon and for housing helicopter control members therebetween beneath said seating units, said frame members having inner and outer facing surfaces, said system comprising:

• a main hot air supply conduit connected at one end thereof with said engine for receipt therethrough of hot bleed air from said engine and having a second end, said main hot air supply conduit being receivable adjacent to said center console and adjacent to said inner facing surface of said front frame member of one of said pilot seat and said passenger seat beneath said seating units;
• main valving means positioned adjacent to said inner facing surface of said front frame member of one of said pilot seat and said passenger seat beneath said seating units, said main valving means having inlet and outlet ports, said inlet port being connected to said second end of said main hot air supply conduit, and having a control mechanism for opening and closing said main valving means, said control mechanism positioned adjacent to said outer facing surface of said front frame member of one of said pilot seat and said passenger seat;
• and
• a zone supply conduit connected to said outlet port of said main valving means and having a plurality of outlets therefrom, said zone supply conduit being positioned adjacent to at least some of said inner facing surfaces of said front, rear and outer side frame members of said seats and spaced from said helicopter control members.

A method for distributing heated air in the cabin of a helicopter having an engine and at least forward facing pilot seat and a first passenger seat, said method comprising:

• directing hot bleed air from said engine to a main valve;
• selectively directing said hot bleed air from said main valve to a plurality of distribution units each one of which is located in a different zone of said cabin of said helicopter;
• providing air at ambient temperature from said cabin at said plurality of distribution units;
• controlling the flow of said hot bleed air through said main valve to said plurality of distribution units from a position easily accessible from said pilot seat;
• individually controlling the flow of said hot bleed air into each one of said distribution units from positions easily accessible to occupants of said different zones to thus selectively introduce said hot bleed air into said distribution units;
• and
• mixing said hot bleed air and said air at ambient temperature in said distribution units for selective distribution of heated air therefrom to said different zones in said cabin of said helicopter.