US 7,556,223 B2 · Vent system for an aerospace vehicle

Abstract

An improved vent system for venting an internal cavity of an aerospace vehicle to an exterior surface of the aerospace vehicle generally includes a substantially concave vent inlet surface recessed with respect the exterior surface, and a duct opening formed therein. The vent inlet surface has a major axis substantially parallel to the local external flow direction. The upstream surface contour and the downstream surface contour of the vent inlet surface are substantially oblique to the local external flow direction. The placement and orientation of the duct opening, as well as the geometry of the vent inlet surface, may be selected to achieve a particular pressurization of the internal cavity with respect to the external environment under a variety of conditions.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

an aerospace vehicle having an exterior surface;
and
a vent in the aerospace vehicle, the vent comprising:
a vent inlet surface that comprises a recessed portion of the exterior surface of the aerospace vehicle;
and,
a duct opening in the vent inlet surface for directing air from a local external air flow to an internal cavity in the aerospace vehicle, and for purging air from the internal cavity,
wherein the vent inlet surface has a vent inlet surface shape that is concave with respect to the exterior of the aerospace vehicle, and has a major axis substantially parallel to a direction of the local external air flow, and a minor axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of the local external air flow, and wherein the vent inlet surface further has an oblique surface contour upstream of the duct opening with respect to the direction of the local external airflow and an oblique surface contour downstream of the duct opening with respect to the direction of the local external air flow, and wherein the vent inlet surface is rounded at an intersection of the vent inlet surface and the duct opening.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vent system for an aerospace vehicle

Life of this patent

Vent system for an aerospace vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17