Patent ID: 7185853
Filing Date: 2007-03-06
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
1. A combination of an aircraft body and an air discharge valve for discharging air under an interior pressure (Pi) from the interior of said aircraft body ( 14 ) to an exterior atmosphere having an exterior pressure (Pa), said combination comprising said aircraft body having an outer skin and a configuration defining a flight direction (FD) and said air discharge valve, an opening in said outer skin, said air discharge valve being installed in said opening, said air discharge valve comprising a first pivotable valve flap ( 1 ) having a first wedge-shaped sectional configuration with a first rounded leading edge ( 8 ) facing in said flight direction (FD) and a first trailing edge ( 8 A) facing opposite said flight direction, a first journal ( 2 ) for pivoting said first valve flap ( 1 ) to said aircraft body ( 14 ) at a point closer to said first trailing edge ( 8 A) than to said first rounded leading edge ( 8 ), a second pivotable valve flap ( 3 ) having a second wedge-shaped sectional configuration with a second rounded leading edge ( 9 ) also facing in said flight direction (FD) and a second trailing edge ( 3 A) facing opposite said flight direction, a second journal ( 4 ) for pivoting said second pivotable valve flap ( 3 ) to said aircraft body ( 14 ) at a point closer to said second rounded leading edge ( 9 ) than to said second trailing edge ( 9 A), said first journal ( 2 ) and said second journal ( 4 ) being displaced from each other in said flight direction to form a nozzle configuration between said first and second pivotable valve flaps ( 1 , 3 ), said nozzle configuration comprising a nozzle neck (S) formed between a first facing surface ( 11 ) of said first pivotable valve flap ( 1 ) and a second facing surface ( 15 ) of said second pivotable valve flap ( 3 ), said facing surfaces ( 11 , 15 ) facing each other along an overlap area ( 11 A, 15 A) for maintaining said nozzle configuration within a given flap motion control range, a nozzle inlet ( 6 ) converging toward said nozzle neck (S), said second facing surface ( 15 ) of said second valve flap ( 3 ) comprising an inwardly facing surface portion ( 15 B) opposite said rounded leading edge ( 8 ) of said first valve flap ( 1 ), said inwardly facing surface portion ( 15 B) and said rounded leading edge ( 8 ) forming an air inlet funnel into said nozzle inlet ( 6 ), a nozzle exit ( 7 ) diverging away from said nozzle neck (S) along said overlap area ( 11 A, 15 A), said converging nozzle inlet ( 6 ) and said diverging nozzle exit ( 7 ) together forming a sufficient nozzle length in an air flow direction (AFD) for reducing vortex and air flow separation in all controllable flap positions in which said nozzle configuration is maintained at sonic and supersonic air discharge speeds.