Airplane cabin overhead air outlets

Abstract: Passenger cabin ventilation air outlets located in the cabin ceiling blow air downward toward the passengers. An outlet for this location utilizes a series of high velocity jets exiting from a narrow ceiling nozzle to entrain cabin air to form a broad slow moving single jet. Three rows of slots are utilized, the outer rows to initially produce a wide air jet, and the center row to draw the outer jets back together outside of the nozzle. The center jets coalesce the outer jets into a slower moving total air stream.

Description: The present invention relates to cabin ventilation air outlets and more particularly to passenger cabin air outlets located in the cabin ceiling which blow air downward toward the passengers without causing drafts perceivable by passengers. Prior main deck air distribution outlets were incorporated into the outboard and inboard stowage bins respectively. These locations represented the best placement for the outlets as it enabled the outlet to produce air jets with the maximum possible throw before reaching the seated passenger areas. The air jets are also projected in a horizontal direction and the airflow is initially attached to the stowage bins. This reduces the tendency of the jets to be affected by buoyancy forces. In an effort to design flexible cabin interiors, the air distribution outlets have been relocated to the ceiling area. This was done to make the air distribution system independent of the stowbin configurations so that the lavatories and galleys could be reconfigured without changing the air distribution system. This change brought the air outlets closer to the passenger seated area and reduces the required throw of the jet. A broad slow moving jet is required for this application to provide acceptable velocities in the seated areas. However, as the jet is now projected vertically and as the low velocity jet will entrain less cabin air, the jet velocities will be greatly affected by temperature differences between the supply air and cabin. During a heating mode, the jet velocity will be insufficient to overcome buoyancy effects and it will be unable to thoroughly penetrate the cooler cabin. This will result in adverse temperature gradients within the cabin. During a cooling mode, the velocities will be sufficient to project to the cabin wall and may cause a draft in the passenger seated areas. Additionally, large dimensions required to produce a broad low velocity jet will result in a nozzle that is not aesthetically pleasing and too heavy. Previous attempts to Solve the Problem Prior attempts to solve the problem resulted in nozzle designs as described above. The nozzle designs to some degree have had the problems similar to those described above. DE-C-699316 discloses a passenger cabin ventilation air outlet comprising a series of high velocity jets exiting from a narrow ceiling nozzle to entrain cabin air to form a broad slow moving single jet. This patent document also shows in combination in a cabin ventilation system having a plurality of air outlets that is disposed in the cabin ceiling for blowing air downward toward the passengers; each of said plurality of air outlets utilizing a series of high velocity jets exiting from a narrow ceiling nozzle to entrain cabin air to form a broad slow moving single jet. The present invention provides passenger cabin ventilation air outlets located in the cabin ceiling for blowing air downward toward the passengers. The cabin ventilation air outlets entrain surrounding cabin air without causing drafts perceivable by passengers. A series of high velocity jets exiting from a narrow ceiling nozzle entrain cabin air to form a slow moving single jet, the slow moving jet providing draft mitigation. Preferred Embodiment of the Invention Three rows of slots are disposed within an inverted extruded chamber feeding the outlet nozzle. The outer rows of slots producing a wide air jet, the center row utilized to draw the outer jets back together outside the nozzle. In the drawings illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is illustrative of prior cabin air distribution from outboard stowage bins. Figure 2 is illustrative of air flow in prior cabin air distribution systems from inboard stowage bins. Figure 3 is illustrative of cabin airflow in accordance with the present invention where the air distribution outlets as hereinafter described are located in the ceiling area. Figure 4 is illustrative of the nozzle cross section showing the arc which forces the jets to converge through a common continuous slot. Figure 5 is an isometric view of the present nozzle showing the continuous exit slot and alternating slot pattern in the arc for generating jets that exit the continuous slot in alternating direction. Figure 6 is similar to Figure 4 and is illustrative of nozzle cross section and arc for the diffuser nozzle design of Figure 7 in which one of the outer row of slots is spaced further apart than the spacing of the other outer row of slots. Figures 6A, 6B and 6C correspond to the slot configurations taken clockwise around the arc of Figure 6. The hereinafter described nozzle uses a series of high velocity jets oriented in different directions in a pattern that repeats along the length of the nozzle. These high velocity jets entrain the surrounding cabin air and coalesce together a short distance from the nozzle to form a broad slow moving single jet. This broad slow moving jet provides the required low velocities in the passenger seated areas to prevent any sensation of draft. The increased surface area of the jet in contact with the cabin air provided by alternating jet pattern and the high velocity of the initial jets will result in the entrainment of large amounts of cabin air into the final jet. Entrainment is improved over prior attempts at using multiple outlets because the present staggered pattern draws air from the cabin not from the adjacent jets. During heating and cooling modes, the high entrainment ration of the jet will decrease the temperature difference between the jet and the cabin. The reduced temperature difference between the jet and cabin will reduce the effects of buoyancy forces in the cabin velocities and temperature gradients. The present nozzle structure provides a nozzle with very small outlet dimensions that greatly reduce the visual impact of the nozzle on the cabin architecture. Geometry : The unique geometry of the present nozzle enables the alternating jets to be set up from a simple shape that is easily manufactured. The uniform cross section of the nozzle allows it to be manufactured inexpensively from an extruded thermoplastic. The alternating slot pattern can then be machined into the extrusion through the continuous slot. The nozzle arc (a) as seen in Figure 4 provides a surface perpendicular to the desired direction of the jet. This enables the jet to be directed without the use of any flow straightening device. The arc forces the jets to converge through a common continuous exit slot (b). This minimizes the dimensions of the exit slot. The alternating slot pattern (c) in the arc as seen in Figure 4 generates jets that exit the continuous slot (b) in alternating directions. The present nozzle distributes air to the passengers from the ceiling area as seen in Figure 3. The function of the center jet (d) in the alternating pattern is to force all three jets to coalesce together. The throw of the jet can be controlled by balancing the proportion of airflow between the center (d) and outer jets (e). Turning now to Figure 6 and Figure 7, it can be seen that the spacing (as seen in Fig. 7) of the upper row of outer slots skips every other position, i.e., the spacing is greater between slots in the upper one of the outer rows. This skipping in one of the outer rows of slots where discharging air through the enlarged continuous nozzle slot provides a lower velocity jet stream of air that is more diffuse. The diffuse pattern is thus enhanced by the alternating cutout slot. This top cutout slot configuration tends to interrupt the air's natural tendency to coalesce in the discharge stream out of the continuous slot nozzle. A further distinction between the pattern of the outer rows and inner row of slots of Figure 7 (as detailed further in Figures 6A, 6B and 6C) configuration and the Figure 4 and Figure 5 configuration is that the slot pattern of the center row in Figures 4 and 5 is smaller than the outer slots. In conclusion, the nozzle configuration of Figures 4 and 5 provide a concentrated stream of high velocity discharge into the cabin whereas the nozzle structure of Figures 6 and 7 provide a diffuse, lower velocity discharge stream of air to the cabin, thereby meeting a requirement of different cabin interior design.

Claims: An airplane cabin overhead air outlet structure comprising: a nozzle having converging sides forming an arc (a); said arc having a bottom portion forming a continuous exit slot (b); said arc having alternating slots (c) for passage of air; said alternating slots angled toward a continuous exit slot forming a center jet (d) and two outer jets (e); and said center jet utilized to draw said two outer jets together outside said nozzle. An airplane cabin overhead air outlet structure according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of high velocity jets exiting from a narrow ceiling nozzle to entrain cabin air to form a broad slow moving single jet. An airplane cabin overhead air outlet structure according to claims 1 or 2, all of said slots angled toward said continuous exit slot and forming a center jet and two outer jets, said center jet and two outer jets forming a broad, slow moving single jet, and said center jet drawing said two outer jets together outside said nozzle. An airplane cabin overhead air outlet structure according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein said outer jets control diffusion rate and center jet nozzle discharge direction. An aircraft passenger cabin ventilation system including an air outlet structure according to any of claims 1-4, said aircraft passenger cabin ventilation system having three rows of slots comprising a center row and outer rows, said three tows disposed within an inverted extruded chamber for feeding said outlet nozzle, the outer rows providing a wide air jet and the center row drawing jets from the outer rows back together outside said outlet nozzle. The system according to claim 5 wherein the spacing between slots in one of said outer rows is greater than the spacing between slots in the other one of said outer rows.

Inventors: BATES III GEORGE, KEOGH RORY C, SITLER GLENN, BATES III, GEORGE, KEOGH, RORY C., SITLER, GLENN
Applicants: BOEING CO, THE BOEING COMPANY
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B64D13
IPC codes: B64D13