Patent ID: 9067680
Filing Date: 2015-06-30
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
1. An outflow valve for use in an aircraft, said outflow valve comprising: a frame configured for coupling to an aircraft, said frame comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion, and defining an interior direction towards an interior of the aircraft, and an exterior direction towards an exterior of the aircraft; and a gate pivotally coupled to said frame at a pivot point that is substantially coplanar with said frame and located substantially midway between a first edge of said gate and a second edge of said gate, said gate pivotally moveable between a closed position, an intake position, and an exhaust position to direct airflow between the interior of the aircraft and the exterior of the aircraft; and wherein said forward portion of said frame comprises a flange extending in the interior direction to maintain a limited gap between the first edge of said gate and the forward portion of said frame while said gate is pivotally moved between the closed position and the exhaust position, and said flange extending in a substantially normal direction relative to said frame such that the limited gap increases in size at a lower rate than a second gap defined between the second edge of said gate and the rearward portion of said frame, wherein a distance between the first edge of said gate and the forward portion of said frame is greater than a distance between the first edge of said gate and the rearward portion of said frame when said gate is in the intake position, and a distance between the first edge of said gate and the forward portion of said frame is less than a distance between the first edge of said gate and the rearward portion of said frame when said gate is in the exhaust position.