Patent Publication Number: US-2019186504-A1

Title: Aspirator system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority to Indian Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 201711045610, filed Dec. 19, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of aspirators. 
     Aspirators are used to entrain ambient air into an inflatable structure during inflation. A high velocity primary gas may be ejected through nozzles of the aspirator and the high velocity primary gas is directed into the inflatable structure leading to a pressure differential which entrains ambient air into the inflatable structure. Blockage within the flow path of the aspirator may reduce the efficiency of the aspirator. There is a need in the industry for a device that has a reduced blockage area that results in higher efficiency through a higher secondary flow. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed is an aspirator system for inflating an inflatable device. The aspirator system includes an aspirator body and a plurality of nozzles. The aspirator body has an inner surface and an outer surface that each extend between a first end and a second end along a central longitudinal axis. The aspirator body defines a distribution channel that is disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface. The plurality of nozzles are fluidly connected to the distribution channel and extend inwardly from the inner surface towards the central longitudinal axis. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the plurality of nozzles are spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis such that a central flow path is disposed about the central longitudinal axis and is free of blockage from any portion of the plurality of nozzles. 
     Also disclosed is an aspirator system. The aspirator system includes an aspirator body and a plurality of nozzles. The aspirator body extends between a first end and a second end along a central longitudinal axis. The aspirator body defines a distribution channel. The plurality of nozzles are fluidly connected to the distribution channel. Each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles includes a first portion that extends inwardly towards the central longitudinal axis and a second portion that extends from the first portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an aspirator system; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of the aspirator system; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the aspirator system; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle member disposed within a nozzle of the aspirator system; and 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified cross-sectional view of the aspirator system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , an aspirator system  10  is illustrated. The aspirator system  10  includes an aspirator body  12  that extends along a longitudinal axis  14  and a plurality of nozzles  16 . The longitudinal axis  14  may be a central longitudinal axis about which the aspirator body  12  and the plurality of nozzles  16  are disposed. 
     The aspirator body  12  includes an inner surface  20  and an outer surface  22  that each extend between a first end  24  and a second end  26  along the longitudinal axis  14 . The inner surface  20  of the aspirator body  12  defines a fluid channel  30  that receives a first fluid flow  32  from a first fluid source  34  and receives/entrains/induces a second fluid flow  36  from a second fluid source  38 . The first fluid flow  32  and the second fluid flow  36  are mixed within the fluid channel  30  and are discharged into an inflatable structure or inflatable device that is disposed downstream of the second end  26 . The inflatable structure or inflatable device may be an aircraft evacuation slide, an emergency life raft, or other devices that may be inflated. 
     The first fluid source  34  may be a pressurized gas source that is discharged into the fluid channel  30  at a high velocity through the plurality of nozzles  16 . The second fluid source  38  may be ambient air or a lower pressure gas source as compared to the first fluid source  34 . 
     The aspirator body  12  includes an inlet section  50 , an outlet section  52 , and a nozzle section  54  that is disposed between the inlet section  50  and the outlet section  52 . The inlet section  50  extends from the first end  24  towards the second end  26 . The inlet section  50  may have a substantially constant cross-sectional form or diameter. The outlet section  52  extends from the second end  26  towards the first end  24 . The outlet section  52  may have a substantially constant cross-sectional form or diameter. The nozzle section  54  is disposed between the first end  24  and the second end  26  and extends between the inlet section  50  and the outlet section  52 . The nozzle section  54  may have a cross-sectional form or diameter that decreases such that the inner surface  20  becomes progressively closer to the longitudinal axis  14  in a direction that extends from the inlet section  50  towards the outlet section  52 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5 , the aspirator body  12  defines a distribution channel  60  that is defined between the inner surface  20  and the outer surface  22 . The distribution channel  60  may be disposed within or defined within the nozzle section  54  and is disposed about the aspirator body  12 . The distribution channel  60  is arranged to receive the first fluid flow  32  from the first fluid source  34  through a fluid inlet  62 . The fluid inlet  62  is disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  14  and the distribution channel  60 . 
     The plurality of nozzles  16  are fluidly connected to the distribution channel  60  and extend from the inner surface  20  into the fluid channel  30  towards the longitudinal axis  14 . The plurality of nozzles  16  are disposed about and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis  14 . The first fluid flow  32  from the first fluid source  34  flows through the distribution channel  60  and exits or is ejected through the plurality of nozzles  16  into the fluid channel  30 . The first fluid flow  32  exits the plurality of nozzles  16  at a high velocity causing a pressure differential or creates a low pressure region that is disposed downstream of the plurality of nozzles  16  to induce or entrain the second fluid flow  36  from the second fluid source  38  to enter into the fluid channel  30  through the inlet section  50 . The first fluid flow  32  and the second fluid flow  36  are mixed downstream of the plurality of nozzles  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a combination  66  of the first fluid flow  32  and the second fluid flow  36  is directed towards and into the inflatable structure. 
     The plurality of nozzles  16  extend from the inner surface  20  of the nozzle section  54  of the aspirator body  12  towards the longitudinal axis  14 . The plurality of nozzles  16  are positioned within the nozzle section  54 . The plurality of nozzles  16  are spaced apart from the longitudinal axis  14  such that a central flow path  70 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , is disposed about the longitudinal axis  14  and is free of blockage from any portion of the plurality of nozzles  16 , the aspirator body  12 , or the distribution channel  60 . At least a portion of the second fluid flow  36  is entrained through the central flow path  70 . 
     Each nozzle  80  of the plurality of nozzles  16  is fluidly connected to the distribution channel  60  and includes a first portion  82  and a second portion  84 . The first portion  82  is connected to the distribution channel  60  and extends inwardly from the inner surface  20  of the aspirator body  12  towards the longitudinal axis  14 . The first portion  82  is disposed in a non-parallel and a non-perpendicular relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis  14 . The second portion  84  extends from the first portion  82  and is spaced apart from the inner surface  20  and the longitudinal axis  14 . The central flow path  70  may be circumscribed by or defined by an inner circumferential surface of the second portion  84  of the plurality of nozzles  16  that faces towards the longitudinal axis  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     Referring to a portion of  FIG. 1 , the second portion  84  may be disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  14 . The first fluid flow  32  may exit the second portion  84  and may flow generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  14 . 
     Referring to another portion of  FIG. 1 , the second portion  84  may be disposed in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis  14 . The second portion  84  may be disposed at an angle, θ, relative to the longitudinal axis  14 , such that the first fluid flow  32  is directed towards the longitudinal axis  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the second portion  84  of each nozzle  80  is arranged to receive a nozzle member  90 . The nozzle member  90  is disposed within the second portion  84  and is disposed adjacent to or abuts a stop surface  92  that is defined by the second portion  84 . The nozzle member  90  may be configured as a converging-diverging nozzle having an orifice  94 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the second portion  84  may be disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  14 . The second portion  84  defines an exit face  100  through which the first fluid flow  32  may exit. The exit face  100  may be disposed at an angle, a, relative to the longitudinal axis  14 , such that the first fluid flow  32  is directed towards the longitudinal axis  14 . 
     The plurality of nozzles  16  of the aspirator system  10  supply the first fluid flow  32  from an inner periphery of the aspirator body  12 , reducing a blockage area and encouraging the entrainment or inducement of flow through the central flow path  70 . This arrangement improves aspirator efficiency and reduces the overall volume of the aspirator body  12 , leading to reduced weight and packaging area. Aspirator efficiency is a measurement that relates an amount of the second fluid flow  36  that flows through the fluid channel  30  to an amount of the first fluid flow  32  through the plurality of nozzles  16 . The aspirator efficiency is increased due to the higher flow entrainment of the second fluid flow  36  into the fluid channel  30  through the central flow path  70 . 
     The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.