Patent Description:
The present disclosure is directed to evacuation systems for use in aircraft and, more particularly, to a dual aspirator system for inflating flotation devices and inflation assemblies for evacuation systems.

Evacuation systems of aircraft may include an inflatable device, such as an evacuation slide, an aspirator for inflating the inflatable device, and a source of compressed gas (e.g., one or more tank of compressed gas). In response to the evacuation system becoming deployed, the source of compressed gas may release gas through the aspirator, which then also draws air from the environment of the aspirator and inflates the inflatable device using the decompressed gas and the air. However, use of compressed gas storage tanks may be undesirable for various reasons. For example, the storage tanks may undesirably increase a total weight of the aircraft. Additionally, the storage tanks may be difficult to store and transport on board the aircraft.

Thus, there is a need in the art for alternative systems for inflating inflatable devices. <CIT> and <CIT> describe escape slides together with their inflation devices.

Described herein is a system for inflating an inflatable device. The system includes a ducted fan aspirator coupled to the inflatable device and having a fan and a fan motor configured to drive the fan to direct first air into the inflatable device. The system further includes a compressor aspirator coupled to the inflatable device and having a compressor and a compressor motor configured to drive the compressor to direct second air into the inflatable device.

The compressor aspirator includes a secondary inlet configured to facilitate flow of a third air into the inflatable device in response to the compressor directing the second air into the inflatable device.

The compressor aspirator further includes a primary inlet through which the second air flows into the compressor aspirator. In preferred embodiments, a primary flap is located proximate to the primary inlet and configured to reduce the likelihood of the second air flowing upstream through the primary inlet and a secondary flap is located proximate to the secondary inlet and configured to reduce the likelihood of the third air flowing upstream through the secondary inlet.

In preferred embodiments, the compressor aspirator has a longitudinal axis, and the primary inlet is located radially inward relative to the secondary inlet.

In preferred embodiments, the compressor aspirator further includes:
an outlet through which the second air and the third air flow out of the compressor aspirator and into the inflatable device; an outlet chamber in which the second air and the third air mix; a primary outlet downstream from the compressor through which the second air enters the outlet chamber; and a secondary outlet downstream from the secondary inlet through which the third air enters the outlet chamber.

In preferred embodiments, the ducted fan aspirator further includes: a fan inlet through which the first air flows into the ducted fan aspirator; a fan flap located proximate to the fan inlet and configured to reduce the likelihood of the first air flowing upstream through the fan inlet; a fan outlet downstream from the fan through which the first air flows out of the ducted fan aspirator; and a fan channel extending from the fan inlet to the fan outlet.

In preferred embodiments: the ducted fan aspirator has a longitudinal axis; the fan is centered along the longitudinal axis; and the fan has a fan radial length that is less than a channel radial length of the fan channel.

In preferred embodiments, the ducted fan aspirator is configured to direct the first air into the inflatable device during a first time period from a first start time to a first end time, and the compressor aspirator is configured to direct the second air into the inflatable device during a second time period from a second start time that is later than the first start time to a second end time that is later than the first end time.

Preferred embodiments may further include a controller coupled to the ducted fan aspirator and to the compressor aspirator and configured to control the fan to direct the first air into the inflatable device during the first time period and to control the compressor to direct the second air into the inflatable device during the second time period.

In preferred embodiments, the controller is further configured to control the fan and the compressor based on an elapsed amount of time since the first start time.

Preferred embodiments may further include a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of device air in the inflatable device, wherein the controller is further configured to control the fan and the compressor based on the pressure of the device air in the inflatable device.

In preferred embodiments, the fan includes any first fan or first compressor, and the compressor includes any second fan or second compressor.

Disclosed is a system for inflating an inflatable device. The system includes a ducted fan aspirator coupled to the inflatable device and having a fan and a fan motor configured to drive the fan to direct first air into the inflatable device during a first time period. The system further includes a compressor aspirator coupled to the inflatable device and having: a compressor and a compressor motor configured to drive the compressor to direct second air into the inflatable device via a primary inlet during a second time period that is different than the first time period, and a secondary inlet configured to facilitate flow of a third air into the inflatable device in response to the compressor directing the second air into the inflatable device during the second time period.

In preferred embodiments, the compressor aspirator further includes: a primary flap located proximate to the primary inlet and configured to reduce the likelihood of the second air flowing upstream through the primary inlet; and a secondary flap located proximate to the secondary inlet and configured to reduce the likelihood of the third air flowing upstream through the secondary inlet.

Also disclosed is a method for inflating an inflatable device. The method includes providing, by a ducted fan aspirator, first air into the inflatable device during a first time period from a first start time to a first end time. The method further includes providing, by a compressor aspirator, second air into the inflatable device during a second time period from a second start time to a second end time.

In preferred embodiments, the second start time is later than the first start time, and the second end time is later than the first end time.

Preferred embodiments may further include providing, by the compressor aspirator, third air into the inflatable device during the second time period, the third air flowing through a secondary inlet of the compressor aspirator in response to the second air being provided by the compressor aspirator.

Preferred embodiments may further include controlling, by a controller, the ducted fan aspirator and the compressor aspirator based on an elapsed amount of time since the first start time.

Preferred embodiments may further include detecting, by a pressure sensor, a pressure of device air in the inflatable device; and controlling, by a controller, the ducted fan aspirator and the compressor aspirator based on the pressure of the device air.

The foregoing features and elements as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration and their best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical, and mechanical changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring now to <FIG>, an aircraft <NUM> is shown. The aircraft <NUM> may include a fuselage <NUM> having a plurality of exit doors including an exit door <NUM>. The aircraft <NUM> may include one or more evacuation systems positioned near a corresponding exit door or located anywhere in or on the fuselage <NUM>. For example, the aircraft <NUM> includes an evacuation system <NUM> positioned near the exit door <NUM>, and may include another evacuation system positioned in the fuselage <NUM> and designed to inflate outside of the fuselage to provide at least one of egress or flotation. The evacuation system <NUM> may be removably coupled to the fuselage <NUM>. In the event of an emergency, the exit door <NUM> may be opened by a passenger or crew member of the aircraft <NUM>. In various embodiments, the evacuation system <NUM> may deploy in response to the exit door <NUM> being opened and, in various embodiments, the evacuation system <NUM> may deploy in response to another action taken by a passenger or crew member such as depression of a button or actuation of a lever.

Turning to <FIG>, additional details of the evacuation system <NUM> are illustrated. In particular, the evacuation system <NUM> includes an inflatable device <NUM>. The evacuation system <NUM> further includes a ducted fan aspirator <NUM>, a compressor aspirator <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM>, and a power source <NUM>. The inflatable device <NUM> may be coupled to the fuselage <NUM> of <FIG>, and may be decoupled from the fuselage <NUM> in response to being fully inflated or to being manually detached in order to allow passengers and/or crew members to safely float away from the aircraft <NUM> of <FIG>. In various embodiments, the inflatable device <NUM> may be permanently coupled to the fuselage <NUM>. In various embodiments, the inflatable device <NUM> may function as a slide from the fuselage <NUM> to a ground surface upon which the aircraft <NUM> is resting. In various embodiments, the inflatable device <NUM> may be entirely decoupled from the fuselage <NUM> at all times, may be removed from a cabin by a passenger or crew member, and may be inflated away from the fuselage.

Details regarding the ducted fan aspirator <NUM> and the compressor aspirator <NUM> will be discussed in more detail below. The controller <NUM> may include one or more processors and one or more tangible, non-transitory memories and be capable of implementing logic. The processor can be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The pressure sensor <NUM> may include any sensor capable of detecting data corresponding to a pressure within the inflatable device <NUM> (the air within the inflatable device <NUM> may be referred to as "device air"). The controller <NUM> may be coupled to the aspirators <NUM>, <NUM> and may control the aspirators <NUM>, <NUM>. In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> may further be coupled to the pressure sensor <NUM>, may determine the pressure within the inflatable device <NUM> based on the detected pressure data, and may control the aspirators <NUM>, <NUM> based on the determined pressure. The power source <NUM> may include any power storage device such as one or more of a battery, a flywheel, or a supercapacitor. In various embodiments, the power source <NUM> may include any power generation device such as a generator. The power source <NUM> may provide electrical energy to any one or more of the aspirators <NUM>, <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, or the pressure sensor <NUM> to facilitate operation of these elements.

Referring to <FIG>, the inflatable device <NUM> is illustrated as fully inflated and separated from the fuselage <NUM> of <FIG>. In particular, the aspirators <NUM>, <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the pressure sensor <NUM>, and the power source <NUM> may remain coupled to the inflatable device <NUM>. In various embodiments, one or more of these elements of the evacuation system <NUM> may become detached from the inflatable device <NUM> before, during, or after inflation.

Referring briefly to <FIG>, another inflatable device <NUM> is shown as inflated. The inflatable device <NUM> may provide egress from an aircraft in various situations. In various embodiments, the inflatable device <NUM> may include similar features as the inflatable device <NUM> of <FIG>. In that regard, the inflatable device <NUM> may include a ducted fan aspirator <NUM> and a compressor aspirator <NUM>. The inflatable device <NUM> may further include a controller <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM>, and a power source <NUM>. The inflatable device <NUM> may be coupled to a fuselage of an aircraft, and may be decoupled from the fuselage in response to being fully inflated or to being manually detached in order to allow passengers and/or crew members to safely float away from the aircraft. In various embodiments, the inflatable device <NUM> may be permanently coupled to the fuselage. In various embodiments, the inflatable device <NUM> may function as a slide from the fuselage to a ground surface upon which the aircraft is resting.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, additional details of the ducted fan aspirator <NUM> are shown. The ducted fan aspirator <NUM> includes a fan <NUM> and a fan motor <NUM> coupled to the fan <NUM>. The fan <NUM> may include any fan capable of directing airflow through the ducted fan aspirator <NUM>. The fan motor <NUM> may receive electrical energy and convert the electrical energy into mechanical power to drive the fan <NUM>.

The ducted fan aspirator <NUM> may further include a fan inlet <NUM> and a fan outlet <NUM>. The fan inlet <NUM> may be located outside of the inflatable device <NUM> and may receive air from the environment of the inflatable device <NUM>. The airflow through the ducted fan aspirator <NUM> may flow out of the fan outlet <NUM>. The fan outlet <NUM> may be at least partially located inside the inflatable device <NUM> such that the air flowing through the outlet <NUM> is received inside the inflatable device <NUM>.

The ducted fan aspirator <NUM> may further include a fan flap <NUM> located proximate to the fan inlet <NUM>. The fan flap <NUM> may allow airflow downstream (i.e., from the inlet <NUM> towards the outlet <NUM>) and may reduce the likelihood of air flowing upstream (i.e., from the outlet <NUM> to and out through the inlet <NUM>).

The ducted fan aspirator <NUM> includes may a fan channel <NUM> through which air flows between the fan inlet <NUM> and the fan outlet <NUM>. In various embodiments, the fan channel <NUM> may have a channel radial length <NUM> (i.e., from a longitudinal axis <NUM> to an outer diameter of the fan channel <NUM>) that remains constant along a length of the ducted fan aspirator <NUM> and, in various embodiments, the channel radial length <NUM> may vary along the length of the ducted fan aspirator <NUM>. The fan <NUM> may have a fan radial length <NUM> extending from the longitudinal axis <NUM> to an outer edge of blades of the fan <NUM>. The channel radial length <NUM> is greater than the fan radial length <NUM> at the location of the fan <NUM>. In that regard, a gap <NUM> exists between the outer edge of the fan blades and the outer edge of the fan channel <NUM>. As the fan <NUM> directs air through the fan channel <NUM>, additional air may flow through the gap <NUM>, thus increasing a total airflow through the ducted fan aspirator <NUM> beyond that provided solely by the fan <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG>, additional details of the compressor aspirator <NUM> are shown. In particular, the compressor aspirator <NUM> includes a compressor <NUM> and a compressor motor <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> may include any compressor capable of compressing air through the compressor aspirator <NUM>. The compressor motor <NUM> may receive electrical energy and convert electrical energy into mechanical power to drive the compressor <NUM>.

The compressor aspirator <NUM> may be referred to as a mixed flow aspirator as it may direct a primary airflow and a secondary airflow therethrough. In particular, the compressor aspirator <NUM> includes a primary inlet <NUM>, a secondary inlet <NUM>, an outlet <NUM>, an outlet chamber <NUM>, a primary outlet <NUM>, and a secondary outlet <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> may drive airflow from the primary inlet <NUM> towards the primary outlet <NUM>. The compressed airflow through the compressor <NUM> may result in a negative pressure proximate to the secondary inlet <NUM>, causing air to flow through the secondary inlet <NUM> and through the secondary outlet <NUM>. The airflow through the primary outlet <NUM> and the secondary outlet <NUM> may mix in the outlet chamber <NUM> and be output via the outlet <NUM>. The primary inlet <NUM> and the secondary inlet <NUM> may each be located outside of the inflatable device <NUM>, and the outlet <NUM> may be located at least partially inside the inflatable device <NUM>. In that regard, the air may flow into the compressor aspirator <NUM> at the inlets <NUM>, <NUM> and may flow into the inflatable device <NUM> from the outlet <NUM>.

The compressor aspirator <NUM> may further include one or more primary flap <NUM> located proximate to the primary inlet <NUM>, and one or more secondary flap <NUM> located proximate to the secondary inlet <NUM>. The primary flap <NUM> may allow air to flow downstream (i.e., from the primary inlet <NUM> towards the primary outlet <NUM>) and may reduce the likelihood of air flowing upstream (i.e., from the primary outlet <NUM> towards and out through the primary inlet <NUM>). The secondary flap <NUM> may allow air to flow downstream (i.e., from the secondary inlet <NUM> towards the secondary outlet <NUM>), and may reduce the likelihood of air flowing upstream (i.e., from the secondary outlet <NUM> towards and out through the secondary inlet <NUM>).

The compressor aspirator <NUM> may have a longitudinal axis <NUM>. In various embodiments, the primary inlet <NUM> and the secondary inlet <NUM> may each be centered along the longitudinal axis <NUM>. In various embodiments, the secondary inlet <NUM> may be located radially outward from the primary inlet <NUM> relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG> and as referenced above, the controller <NUM> may control operation of the ducted fan aspirator <NUM> and the compressor aspirator <NUM>, for example, based on data detected by the pressure sensor <NUM>. Turning to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a method <NUM> may be used by a controller (e.g., the controller <NUM>) to control an evacuation system similar to the evacuation system <NUM>.

In block <NUM>, first air may be provided via a ducted fan aspirator similar to the ducted fan aspirator <NUM>. The first air may be provided during a first time period between a first start time and a first end time. In block <NUM>, second and third air may be provided by a compressor aspirator similar to the compressor aspirator <NUM>. The second and third air may be provided by a primary and secondary inlet, respectively, of the compressor aspirator. The second and third air may be provided during a second time period between a second start time and a second end time. The second time period may be temporally spaced from the first time period. In various embodiments, the second time period may begin at or after the first end time and, in various embodiments, the second time period may begin before the first end time. In various embodiments, the first start time may be before the second start time, and the first end time may be before the second end time.

In various embodiments, it may be desirable for the first time period to run from deployment of the evacuation system until the inflatable device is fully unfolded, and for the second time period to run from a time at which the inflatable device is fully unfolded until the inflatable device is fully inflated. This is because the ducted fan aspirator may provide greater airflow at relatively low pressures compared to the compressor aspirator and because the compressor aspirator may provide greater airflow at relatively great pressures compared to the ducted fan aspirator. In that regard, the dual aspirator evacuation system may facilitate reduced weight, reduced inflation times, and reduced energy storage and power consumption requirements relative to a single aspirator evacuation system.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> and in various embodiments, control of the compressor aspirator and the ducted fan aspirator may be performed based on an elapsed time since deployment of the evacuation system and may be controlled by a controller or by another means (e.g., timers located at the aspirators or respective motors). In various embodiments, control of the aspirators may be performed based on detected pressure data within the inflatable device. In various embodiments, the aspirators may be controlled independent of a controller based on elapsed times from deployment of the evacuation system.

In that regard and in block <NUM>, a controller may control the aspirators based on a time duration from deployment of the evacuation system. For example, the controller may be aware of a duration of the first time period and of the second time period. In response to deployment, the controller may control the ducted fan aspirator to direct the first airflow into the inflatable device for the first time period. In response to expiration of the first time period, the controller may control the ducted fan aspirator to cease directing the air and may control the compressor aspirator to direct the second and third airflow into the inflatable device for the second time period.

As another example, the controller may be programmed with a specific pressure at which the advantages of the compressor aspirator outweigh the ducted fan aspirator. In that regard, the controller may control the ducted fan aspirator to direct the first air into the inflatable device until the pressure reaches the programmed specific pressure, and may control the compressor aspirator to direct the second and third air into the inflatable device starting in response to the detected pressure being equal to or greater than the programmed specific pressure and until the pressure reaches a fully inflated pressure.

By way of example, table <NUM> below illustrates power, energy, and weight savings for a dual aspirator system compared to a single aspirator system that includes only a compressor aspirator. A first row illustrates the power consumption, energy storage, and weight requirements of a specific single aspirator system for a specific aircraft. A second row illustrates the power consumption, energy storage, and weight requirements of a dual aspirator system for the same specific aircraft. A third row illustrates a percentage reduction in each of the power consumption, energy storage, and weight requirements afforded by the dual aspirator system. As shown, the dual aspirator system provides significant advantages relative to the single aspirator system.

Throughout the present disclosure, like references numbers may denote like elements. Accordingly, elements with element numbering may be shown in the figures, but may not necessarily be repeated herein for the sake of clarity. In the detailed description herein, references to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "an example embodiment", etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic.

Claim 1:
A system for inflating an inflatable device (<NUM>;<NUM>), the system comprising:
the inflatable device;
a ducted fan aspirator (<NUM>;<NUM>) coupled to the inflatable device and having a fan (<NUM>) and a fan motor (<NUM>) configured to drive the fan to direct first air into the inflatable device, wherein the ducted fan aspirator includes a fan channel (<NUM>) through which air flows between a fan inlet (<NUM>) and a fan outlet (<NUM>);
a gap (<NUM>) configured to facilitate flow of a fourth air into the inflatable device in response to the fan directing the first air into the inflatable device, wherein the gap exists between an outer edge of fan blades of the fan and an outer edge of the fan channel such that, as the fan directs air through the fan channel, additional air may flow through the gap, thus increasing a total airflow through the ducted fan aspirator beyond that provided solely by the fan; and
a compressor aspirator (<NUM>;<NUM>) coupled to the inflatable device and having a compressor (<NUM>), a compressor motor (<NUM>) configured to drive the compressor to direct second air into the inflatable device, wherein the compressor aspirator includes a primary inlet (<NUM>) through which the second air flows into the compressor aspirator and a secondary inlet (<NUM>) configured to facilitate flow of a third air into the inflatable device in response to the compressor directing the second air into the inflatable device.