An aspirator may comprise an aspirator body defining an air channel and an inlet at a proximate end of the aspirator, and an inflatable barrel coupled to the aspirator body and defining an outlet at a distal end of the aspirator, wherein the inflatable barrel comprises a helical coil having a first interior volume and coupled about a barrel liner, wherein the barrel liner defines a second interior volume, wherein the air channel and the second interior volume define an airflow path extending from the air channel through the second interior volume the inflatable barrel.

FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to evacuation systems for use in aircraft and, more particularly, to aspirators for inflating evacuation devices.

BACKGROUND

In the event of an aircraft evacuation, evacuation assemblies, such as evacuation slides, are often deployed to safely usher passengers from the aircraft to the ground. Emergency evacuation slides may be used to exit an aircraft absent a jet way or other means of egress for passengers. Inflatable evacuation devices, such as aircraft evacuation slides and emergency life rafts, typically include a compressed fluid source (such as a charged gas cylinder) and an aspirator. The aspirator, working with the charged gas cylinder, combines gas from the atmosphere and the fluid to provide gas for inflating the emergency evacuation devices. Aspirators are typically stored in a limited packing space with the evacuation slide within a small space in the aircraft.

SUMMARY

An aspirator for an inflatable device is described herein, in accordance with various embodiments. An aspirator may comprise an aspirator body defining an air channel and an inlet.

In various embodiments, an aspirator may comprise an aspirator body defining an air channel and an inlet at a proximate end of the aspirator, and an inflatable barrel coupled to the aspirator body and defining an outlet at a distal end of the aspirator, wherein, the inflatable barrel comprises a helical coil having a first interior volume and coupled about a barrel liner, wherein the barrel liner defines a second interior volume, wherein the air channel and the second interior volume define an airflow path extending from the air channel through the second interior volume the inflatable barrel.

In various embodiments, the aspirator comprises a longitudinal axis, and the inflatable barrel extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aspirator in response to inflation. In various embodiments, the inflatable barrel further comprises a check valve in fluid communication with the first interior volume and the second interior volume. In various embodiments, the check valve is coupled to a compressed fluid source. In various embodiments, the aspirator further comprises a showerhead nozzle, wherein an arm of the showerhead nozzle is configured to align with an intake opening of the check valve. In various embodiments, the helical coil comprises a first coil section and a second coil section. In various embodiments, the first coil section is proximate a flange coupled to the aspirator body and the second coil section is proximate the distal end.

An evacuation system for use with an aircraft is also provided. The evacuation system may comprise an inflatable evacuation device configured to be inflated by a compressed fluid source. An aspirator may be coupled to the compressed fluid source and to the inflatable evacuation device. The aspirator may comprise an aspirator body defining an air channel and an inlet at a proximate end of the aspirator and, an aspirator body defining an air channel and an inlet at a proximate end of the aspirator, an inflatable barrel coupled to the aspirator body and defining an outlet at a distal end of the aspirator, wherein the inflatable barrel comprises a helical coil having a first interior volume and coupled about a barrel liner, wherein the barrel liner defines a second interior volume, wherein the air channel and the second interior volume define an airflow path extending from the air channel through the second interior volume the inflatable barrel.

In various embodiments, the aspirator comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the inflatable barrel extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aspirator in response to inflation. In various embodiments, the inflatable barrel further comprises a check valve in fluid communication with the first interior volume and the second interior volume. In various embodiments, the check valve is coupled to the compressed fluid source. In various embodiments, the aspirator further comprises a showerhead nozzle, wherein an arm of the showerhead nozzle is configured to align with an intake opening of the check valve. In various embodiments, the helical coil comprises a first coil section and a second coil section. In various embodiments, the first coil section is proximate a flange coupled to the aspirator body and the second coil section is proximate the distal end, wherein the flange is coupled to the inflatable evacuation device with the distal end within the interior of the evacuation device. In various embodiments, at least one of the first coil section or the second coil section further comprise a first half and a second half, wherein the first half and the second half are joined to each other at an inner seam and an outer seam. In various embodiments, a portion of the barrel liner overwraps at least one of the first coil section or the second coil section.

An aspirator method is also provided. The method may comprise the steps of coupling a plurality of coil sections to form a helical coil, wherein each coil section comprises a first half and a second half, coupling the helical coil about an inner seam of the coil sections along an axis of a barrel liner, and overwrapping a portion of a coil section with a portion of the barrel liner to form an inflatable barrel; and coupling the inflatable barrel to an aspirator body. In various embodiments, the method may further comprise inflating the inflatable barrel and aspirating air through the aspirator and the interior volume of the inflatable barrel.

In various embodiments, wherein the aspirator comprises a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the barrel liner, and wherein the inflatable barrel extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aspirator in response to inflation. In various embodiments, the method may further comprise directing the flow from the inflatable barrel into an inflatable evacuation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All ranges and ratio limits disclosed herein may be combined. It is to be understood that unless specifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” and/or “the” may include one or more than one and that reference to an item in the singular may also include the item in the plural.

The present disclosure relates to aspirators for inflatable devices. In various embodiments, the aspirator may include inflatable features such as an inflatable barrel. The inflatable features allow the aspirator to be made having a shorter length while still achieving efficient inflation. A smaller size aspirator allows the aspirator to occupy less storage space within the packboard of the aircraft.

Referring toFIG. 1A, an aircraft100is shown, in accordance with various embodiments. Aircraft100may include a fuselage102having plurality of exit doors including exit door104. Aircraft100may include one or more evacuation systems positioned near a corresponding exit door. For example, aircraft100includes an evacuation system106positioned near exit door104. Evacuation system106may be removably coupled to fuselage102. In the event of an emergency, exit door104may be opened by a passenger or crew member of the aircraft100. In various embodiments, evacuation system106may deploy in response to the exit door104being opened and, in various embodiments, evacuation system106may deploy in response to another action taken by a passenger or crew member such as depression of a button or actuation of a lever or other various types of signal devices as known to those skilled in the art.

Referring toFIGS. 1A and 1B, additional details of evacuation system106are illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, evacuation system106includes an inflatable evacuation device110. Inflatable evacuation device110may be a slide, a slide raft, a life raft, a floatation device or other evacuation device, which may be inflatable. Evacuation system106further includes a source of forced gas112. The source of forced gas112may cause a gas to enter the inflatable evacuation device110to inflate the inflatable evacuation device110. The inflatable evacuation device110may be coupled to the fuselage102ofFIG. 1, and may be decoupled from fuselage102in response to being fully inflated or manually detached to allow passengers and/or crew members to safely float away from aircraft100ofFIG. 1.

In various embodiments, the source of forced gas112may include an aspirator200coupled to the inflatable evacuation device110, piping116coupled to the aspirator200, and a compressed fluid source118coupled to the piping116. During normal flight conditions, inflatable evacuation device110may be deflated and stored within a compartment of aircraft100. In various embodiments, inflatable evacuation device110, aspirator200, piping116, and compressed fluid source118may be stored in a single package within the aircraft compartment. In response to deployment of evacuation system106, fluid may flow into aspirator200via piping116at a relatively high velocity. This fluid flow may cause aspirator200to draw forced gas112from the environment. The fluid flow (such as in a gaseous state) and the forced gas112may be directed into the inflatable evacuation device110. In response to receiving the fluid flow and the forced gas112, inflatable evacuation device110may begin to inflate.

With reference toFIGS. 2A and 2B, additional details of an aspirator200are shown, in accordance with various embodiments. Aspirator200may include an aspirator body202coupled to an inflatable barrel204. Aspirator body202may define an air channel206, which may be a chamber of aspirator200having an airflow path208extending into and through an interior volume210of inflatable barrel204. Aspirator body202and/or inflatable barrel204may have a cylindrical geometry with a circular cross section or some other cross sectional geometry, such as square, oval, or other shape. Aspirator200may have a longitudinal axis A-A, and airflow path208may generally flow axially through aspirator200along longitudinal axis A-A.

Aspirator200may include a gas port212in fluid communication with air channel206via showerhead nozzle216. Gas port212may direct a fluid from a compressed fluid source118(FIG. 1B, shown schematically), such as a charged cylinder, into showerhead nozzle216which may distribute the fluid flow into a substantially uniform flow field within air channel206and interior volume210. In response to high-pressure gas moving from the compressed fluid source118through showerhead nozzle216to air channel206via gas port212, gas from the environment surrounding the aspirator200is compelled into air channel206from outside the aspirator200through inlet218due to the Venturi effect. Stated differently, aspirator200facilitates intake of gas (i.e. forced gas112) from the environment, which enters air channel206through an inlet218of the aspirator200. The airflow path208through air channel206and interior volume210is illustrated as flowing in the positive x-direction on the provided xyz axes.

As used herein, “distal” refers to the direction toward the positive x-direction on the provided xyz axes relative to aspirator200. As used herein, “proximal” refers to a direction toward the negative x-direction on the provided xyz axes relative to aspirator200. The term “upstream” is used to refer to directions and positions located closer to a gas source than directions and positions referenced as “downstream.”

Aspirator200may include a proximal end220having inlet218defined by aspirator body202. Aspirator200may include a distal end222having an outlet224defined by inflatable barrel204. In various embodiments, aspirator200may be coupled to inflatable evacuation device110at flange248and distal end222of inflatable barrel204may extend into inflatable evacuation device110(FIG. 1B). A gas may flow into aspirator body202through inlet218. Gas may flow downstream through aspirator202, shown by airflow path208, in generally an axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis A-A′ of aspirator202. Gas may flow through aspirator body202within air channel206and through inflatable barrel204within interior volume210, exit inflatable barrel204through outlet224, and flow into inflatable evacuation device110(FIG. 1B).

In various embodiments, inflatable barrel204may comprise a helical coil232winding about and coupled radially outward of barrel liner236. In various embodiments, barrel liner236may define interior volume210(e.g., a second interior volume). In various embodiments, helical coil232may comprise a plurality of coils sections or windings238(e.g.,238a-e) which may define an axial length of inflatable barrel204along axis A-A′. In various embodiments, each winding238further comprises a first half240and a second half242joined at inner seam244and outer seam246. In various embodiments, a first portion250of barrel liner236may be coupled to and overwrap a coil section proximate to distal end222. In various embodiments, a second portion252of barrel liner235may be coupled to and overwrap a coil section proximate to flange248. In various embodiments, an outer barrel liner may overwrap helical coil232and may be coupled to helical coil232.

In various embodiments, a portion226of gas flow may be directed through a check valve228and into an interior volume230(such as, for example, a first interior volume) of helical coil232. In response to gas234entering interior volume230of helical coil232, first half240and a second half242may be forced relatively apart and inflatable barrel204may tend to inflate. In response to inflatable barrel204inflating, helical coil232may tend to extend tending thereby to drive distal end222axially (along axis A-A′) away from proximate end220. In this regard, barrel liner236may tend to be stretched between flange248and distal end222tending thereby to provide structural rigidity to inflatable barrel204in response to inflation. In various embodiments, an arm254of showerhead nozzle216may configured to align with intake opening237of check valve228. In this regard, high-pressure gas flow255from compressed fluid source118may be directed into the interior volume230of helical coils232tending to speed inflation of inflatable barrel204and tending to increase the structural rigidity of inflatable barrel204in response to the increase in pressure of high-pressure gas flow255with respect to the pressure of airflow path208. In various embodiments, check valve228may be coupled to and in fluid communication with compressed fluid source118and may further comprise a regulator.

In various embodiments, an inflatable barrel comprising a helical coil may comprise a thermoplastic synthetic ripstop polymer fabric such as, for example, nylon, ballistic nylon, polypropylene, polyester, or any other suitable material, and may be selected or treated to be substantially impermeable to gas. In various embodiments, a helical coil may be bonded by an adhesive bond or glue such as, for example, a two part adhesive, or may be chemically welded, or may be bonded by mechanical welding such as, for example, thermal or ultrasonic welding. In various embodiments, an inflatable barrel comprising a helical coil may be manufactured by molding, or by an additive manufacturing technique such as, for example, 3D printing and may comprise one of a polyurethane reinforced with a nanomaterial such as, for example, graphene fibers or clay particles.

With reference toFIG. 3, a method300of manufacturing an aspirator comprising an inflatable barrel is shown, in accordance with various embodiments. Method300may comprise the steps of coupling a plurality of coil sections to form a helical coil, wherein each coil section comprises a first half and a second half (step302), coupling the helical coil about an inner seam of the coil sections along an axis of a barrel liner a (step304), overwrapping a portion of a coil section with a portion of the barrel liner to form an inflatable barrel (step306), and coupling the inflatable barrel to an aspirator body (step308). Method300may further comprise the steps of inflating the inflatable barrel and aspirating air through the aspirator and the interior volume of the inflatable barrel (310). Method300may comprise the step of directing flow from the interior volume of the inflatable barrel into an inflatable evacuation device (step312).