Abstract:
A vent baffle includes a vent panel having a vent panel opening; a blowout panel carried by the vent panel and covering the vent panel opening; a plurality of fastener openings provided in the blowout panel; a plurality of tear slits communicating with the plurality of fastener openings, respectively; and a plurality of panel fasteners extending through the plurality of fastener openings, respectively, and engaging the blowout panel. A vent baffle system for an aircraft and a method of venting an air flow path between a sidewall monument or structure and an aircraft sidewall in an aircraft fuselage of an aircraft are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to vent baffles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vent baffle which in one application is capable of opening in the event of a decompression event or positive pressure event to establish flow of air between a cabin and a cargo area of an aircraft. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In passenger aircraft, sidewall monuments, otherwise known as structures such as closets, video control stations, lavatories and the like, are provided between the aircraft cabin or passenger compartment and the sidewall of the aircraft. At periodic spacings along the aircraft fuselage, vent openings and return air grilles are provided in the sidewall to establish flow of air from the cabin, along an air flow path adjacent to the sidewall and to the lower portion or cargo hold of the aircraft in the event of a decompression event in the lower portion. While it is desirable to facilitate the rapid flow of air between the lower portion and the passenger compartment of an aircraft, it is also desirable that the passage of air between such compartments may be obstructed when necessary. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present disclosure is generally directed to a vent baffle. An illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle includes a vent panel having a vent panel opening; a blowout panel carried by the vent panel and covering the vent panel opening; a plurality of fastener openings provided in the blowout panel; a plurality of tear slits communicating with the plurality of fastener openings, respectively; and a plurality of panel fasteners extending through the plurality of fastener openings, respectively, and engaging the blowout panel. 
         [0004]    The present disclosure is further generally directed to a vent baffle system for an aircraft. An illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle system includes an aircraft fuselage having an aircraft sidewall, an upper portion and a lower portion defined by the aircraft sidewall, a sidewall monument or structure provided in the upper portion, an air flow path between the sidewall monument or structure and the aircraft sidewall and a vent opening provided in the aircraft sidewall and establishing communication between the upper portion and the lower portion; and a vent baffle having a vent panel provided in the air flow path, a vent panel opening provided in the vent panel and a blowout panel provided on the vent panel and covering the vent panel opening. 
         [0005]    The present disclosure is further generally directed to a method of venting an air flow path between a sidewall monument or structure and an aircraft sidewall in an aircraft fuselage of an aircraft. An illustrative embodiment of the method includes providing a vent baffle in the air flow path. The vent baffle includes a vent panel, a vent panel opening provided in the vent panel and a blowout panel provided on the vent panel and covering the vent panel opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a portion of an aircraft fuselage, more particularly illustrating a sidewall monument or structure in an upper portion of the fuselage, an air flow path between the sidewall monument or structure and aircraft sidewall and an illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle provided in the air flow path. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view of the sidewall monument or structure, the sidewall of the aircraft fuselage and the air flow path between the sidewall monument or structure and the sidewall, more particularly illustrating an illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle provided in the air flow path, with the vent baffle shown in an intact configuration. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of a vent panel and blowout panel components of an illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a transverse sectional view of the vent panel and blowout panel. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view, partially in section, of the vent panel and blowout panel, more particularly illustrating multiple fastener openings provided in the blowout panel, a slit communicating with each fastener opening and a fastener (shown in phantom) extending through each fastener opening and attaching the blowout panel to the vent panel. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view of the sidewall monument or structure, the sidewall of the aircraft fuselage and the air flow path between the sidewall monument or structure and the sidewall, with an illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle provided in the air flow path, more particularly illustrating a normal flow of air against the vent baffle with the vent baffle shown in an intact configuration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view of the sidewall monument or structure, the sidewall of the aircraft fuselage and the air flow path between the sidewall monument or structure and the sidewall, with an illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle provided in the air flow path, more particularly illustrating breaking away of the blowout panel from the vent panel in the event of a decompression event in the lower portion of the aircraft. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an exploded sectional view illustrating breaking away of the blowout panel from the vent panel in the event of decompression event in the lower portion of the aircraft. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    According to recent aircraft design requirements, sidewall monuments or structures are required to provide an air flow path from the cabin or crown of the aircraft to the lower portion which is equal to a minimum area of  41  square inches per return air grille blocked by the sidewall monument or structure. The air flow path is typically over the top and then outboard of the sidewall monument or structure and inboard of the sidewall liner. A blow-away vent baffle is further required in the air flow path to establish air flow from the lower portion to the cabin in the event of a positive pressure event in the lower portion. The vent baffle is required to remain closed when exposed to a pressure differential of 0.25 psid and deploy to a fully-open position within 0.050 seconds during a lower portion decompression event which forms a pressure differential between 0.25 psid and 0.50 psid. The vent baffle is also required to remain closed when exposed to a pressure differential of 0.10 psid from below. 
         [0016]    The vent baffle is required to stay closed when exposed to a pressure differential of 0.10 psid (sustained for 60 seconds) from above. The vent baffle is also required to stay closed when exposed to a pressure differential of 0.10 psid (sustained for 60 seconds) from below. The vent baffle is required to begin to deploy during a lower portion decompression event at less than or equal to 0.60 psid pressure differential. The vent baffle is also required to be fully open within 0.025 seconds or less from the time it begins to open. 
         [0017]    Referring initially to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle is generally indicated by reference numeral  20  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The vent baffle  20  is suitable for use in a passenger aircraft  1  having an aircraft fuselage  2 . The aircraft fuselage  2  has an aircraft sidewall  3 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , an upper portion  4  in the aircraft fuselage  2  typically includes a crown  5  and a passenger cabin  6  beneath the crown  5 . A floor  18  separates the upper portion  4  from a lower portion  16  in the aircraft fuselage  2 . 
         [0018]    A sidewall monument or structure  8 , which may be a closet, video control station, lavatory or the like, is provided on the floor  18  between the passenger cabin  6  and the aircraft sidewall  3 . An air flow path  10  is defined between the top and a rear surface  8   a  of the sidewall monument or structure  8  and the aircraft sidewall  3 . A vent opening  12  is provided in the aircraft sidewall  3  and establishes communication between the air flow path  10  and the lower portion  16  of the aircraft fuselage  2 . A return air grille  13  is typically provided over the vent opening  12 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , an illustrative embodiment of the vent baffle  20  includes a vent baffle support  21  which is mounted on the aircraft sidewall  3  of the aircraft fuselage  2 . The vent baffle support  21  may be attached to the aircraft sidewall  3  using welding, mechanical fasteners and/or any other suitable attachment technique which is known to those skilled in the art. A support bracket  22  is typically provided on the vent baffle support  21 . 
         [0020]    A vent panel  26 , which typically has a generally elongated, rectangular configuration, is attached to the support bracket  22  using welding, mechanical fasteners (not illustrated) and/or other suitable alternative technique which is known to those skilled in the art. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the width  26   a  of the vent panel  26  generally corresponds to the distance between the support bracket  22  and the rear surface  8   a  of the sidewall monument or structure  8 . The length  26   b  of the vent panel  26  generally corresponds to the width of the sidewall monument or structure  8 . The vent panel  26  has a first panel surface  28 , a second panel surface  29 , a pair of transverse panel edges  26   c  each of which corresponds to the width  26   a  of the vent panel  26  and a pair of longitudinal panel edges  26   d  each of which corresponds to the length  26   b  of the vent panel  26 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a vent panel opening  27  extends through the vent panel  26  and establishes communication between the first panel surface  28  and the second panel surface  29 . In some embodiments, the vent panel opening  27  has a generally elongated, rectangular configuration. A blowout panel  30  is attached to the second panel surface  29  of the vent panel  26  typically in a manner which will be hereinafter described. The blowout panel  30  is fabricated of a pliable material such as plastic, rubber or foam rubber, for example, and covers the vent panel opening  27  in the vent panel  26 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in some embodiments the blowout panel  30  includes a panel body  31  and a panel frame  32  which extends along the perimeter of the panel body  31 . The panel frame  32  has a blowout panel edge  32   a . Multiple fastener openings  33  extend through the panel frame  32  in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other. In some embodiments, a tear slit  34  communicates with each fastener opening  33  and extends through the panel frame  32 , toward the blowout panel edge  32   a . Multiple panel fasteners  36  extend through the respective fastener openings  33  and are threaded or otherwise secured in respective fastener openings (not shown) provided in the second panel surface  29  of the vent panel  26 . Accordingly, the panel fasteners  36  secure the blowout panel  30  to the second panel surface  29  of the vent panel  26  such that the blowout panel  30  covers and seals the vent panel opening  27 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the blowout panel  30  has a first panel surface  30   a  which corresponds to the first panel surface  28  of the vent panel  26  and faces the vent panel opening  27  in the vent panel  26 . The blowout panel  30  also has a second panel surface  30   b  which is opposite the first panel surface  30   a  and corresponds to the second panel surface  29  of the vent panel  26 . 
         [0023]    In typical application, the vent baffle  20  is constructed in such a manner that the blowout panel  30  remains attached to the second panel surface  29  of the vent panel  26  when the blowout panel  30  is exposed to a pressure differential of 0.25 psid and detaches from the second panel surface  29  to fully open the vent panel opening  27  within 0.050 seconds upon formation of a pressure differential of between 0.25 psid and 0.50 psid, with the higher pressure applied to the first panel surface  28  side of the blowout panel  30 . The blowout panel  30  also remains attached to the second panel surface  29  when exposed to a pressure differential of 0.10 psid, with the higher pressure applied to the second panel surface  29  side of the blowout panel  30 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the vent panel  26  is mounted in the air flow path  10  typically by attaching one longitudinal panel edge  26   d  of the vent panel  26  to the support bracket  22  using welding, fasteners (not shown) and/or other techniques known to those skilled in the art. The opposite longitudinal panel edge  26   d  of the vent panel  26  is attached to the rear surface  8   a  of the sidewall monument or structure  8  using welding, fasteners (not shown) and/or other techniques known to those skilled in the art. A support bracket (not shown) may be provided on the rear surface  8   a  of the sidewall monument or structure  8  and attached to the vent panel  26  to facilitate attachment of the vent panel  26  to the sidewall monument or structure  8 , according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. When the vent panel  26  is mounted in the air flow path  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , the first panel surface  28  of the vent panel  26  is typically oriented generally upwardly whereas the second panel surface  29 , to which the blowout panel  30  is attached, is typically oriented generally downwardly. Likewise, the first panel surface  30   a  of the blowout panel  30  is typically oriented generally upwardly whereas the second panel surface  30   b  of the blowout panel  30  is typically oriented generally downwardly. It is to be understood, however, that in some applications the orientation of the vent baffle  20  in the air flow path  10  may be reversed. 
         [0025]    During operation of the aircraft  1 , the pressure of air in the lower portion  16  is maintained at a lower level than the pressure of air in the upper portion  4 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , air  40  flows from the passenger cabin  6 , through the air flow path  10  and normally impinges against the first panel surface  28  of the vent panel  26  and the first panel surface  30   a  ( FIG. 4 ) of the blowout panel  30  with a constant static pressure of up to typically about 0.25 psid. Accordingly, under normal pressure conditions in the aircraft fuselage  2 , the air  40  is incapable of flowing from the upper portion  4  to the lower portion  16  through the vent opening  12  and return air grille  13  provided in the aircraft sidewall  3  of the aircraft fuselage  2  since the vent panel opening  27  in the vent panel  26  remains blocked by the blowout panel  30 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0026]    The blowout panel  30  remains intact on the vent panel  26  as long as the pressure differential between the upper portion  4  and the lower portion  16  of the aircraft fuselage  3  remains within normal levels (typically up to about 0.25 psid of air pressure applied to the first panel surface  30   a  of the blowout panel  30 ). In the event of a decompression event in the lower portion  16 , however, the air pressure in the lower portion  16  drops rapidly and the pressure differential across the vent baffle  20  sharply increases from typically about 0.25 psid to about 0.50 psid. Accordingly, the downward pressure of the air  40  is applied through the vent panel opening  27  in the vent panel  26 , against the first panel surface  30   a  of the blowout panel  30  with a magnitude which tears the panel fasteners  36  from the fastener openings  33 , through the respective tear slits  34  ( FIG. 5 ) to the blowout panel edges  32   a  of the blowout panel  30 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , as the panel fasteners  36  typically remain attached to the vent panel  26 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the blowout panel  30  detaches from the vent panel  26  the vent panel opening  27  is opened within typically about 0.050 seconds after onset of the lower portion decompression event. The air  40  is therefore capable of flowing from the air flow path  10 , through the open vent panel opening  27  of the vent panel  26  and to the lower portion  16  through the vent opening  12  and return air grille  13  provided in the aircraft sidewall  3 , as further shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0027]    In the event of a positive pressure event in the lower portion  16 , air flows from the lower portion  16 , through the vent opening  12  and return air grille  13  and into the air flow path  10 , respectively. The air impinges against the second panel surface  30   b  of the blowout panel  30 , which remains attached to the vent panel  26  and closes the vent panel opening  27  at constant static pressures of up to typically about 0.10 psid applied to the second panel surface  30   b . In the event that the pressure of the air applied to the second panel surface  30   b  exceeds about 0.10 psid, the blowout panel  30  detaches from the panel fasteners  36  as the panel fasteners  36  tear from the fastener openings  33 , through the respective tear slits  34  ( FIG. 5 ) to the blowout panel edges  32   a  of the blowout panel  30 . This exposes and opens the vent panel opening  27  in the vent panel  26 , facilitating flow of air from the lower portion  16  and through the vent opening  12 , the return air grille  13 , the open vent panel opening  27  in the vent panel  26  and the air flow path  10  to the upper portion  4 , respectively. 
         [0028]    Although this disclosure includes certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific embodiments are for purposes of illustration and not limitation, as other variations will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art.