EXTENDABLE DEFLECTOR FOR DISCHARGING STRUCTURE-DAMAGING FLUIDS

• US 20100032525A1
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Piesker, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/136
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1453 Drain masts
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/16 Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting jettisoning fuel B64D37/26
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/26 Jettisoning of fuel

Abstract

The invention relates to a deflector for an aircraft, comprising a discharge pipe for leading a fluid to be drained from the aircraft by way of an outlet end to the environment of the aircraft; an actuator, coupled to the discharge pipe, for swinging out, when required, the discharge pipe to at least one activation position, wherein in the activation position the outlet end is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the exterior skin of the aircraft, and the deflector guides the fluid to be drained so that it exits outside a flow boundary layer that is present on the exterior skin. The deflector according to the invention is activated when required and is able to discharge structure-damaging fluids to the environment in such a way that the exterior structure of the aircraft does not become wet, and at the same time the deflector according to the invention, normally accommodated within the contour of the aircraft, does not result in any additional aerodynamic resistance.

Claims

1. A deflector for an aircraft, comprising:

a discharge pipe for leading a fluid to be drained from the aircraft by way of an outlet end to the environment of the aircraft,

an actuator, coupled to the discharge pipe for swinging out, when required, the discharge pipe to at least one activation position,

wherein in the at least one activation position the outlet end is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the exterior skin of the aircraft, and the deflector guides the fluid to be drained so that it exits outside a flow boundary layer that is present on the exterior skin,

wherein the actuator comprises an axially slidably supported piston that is designed to be moved by the fluid to be discharged, so as to extend the discharge pipe.

2. The deflector of claim 1, further comprising a cover, wherein in a home position the discharge pipe is positioned within a contour of the aircraft, underneath the cover, which contour is flush with the contour of the aircraft.

3. The deflector of claim 1, wherein the piston comprises at least one indentation in which at least one radially-movable slider is arranged which, when the at least one activation position of the discharge pipe has been reached, locks into place in the corresponding at least one indentation of a bush that encloses the piston.

4. The deflector of claim 3, wherein the piston further comprises at least one through-opening that is positioned in such a way that in a home position of the deflector the at least one slider covers the at least one through-opening, and in the at least one activation position uncovers the at least one through-opening

5. The deflector of claim 1, wherein the piston is movable in two directions.

6. The deflector of claim 1, further comprising a guiding plate in order to let off into the flow field the fluid to be discharged in such a way that the exterior skin of the aircraft does not become wet.

7. The deflector of claim 2, wherein the cover is movably held so as to uncover an opening for the discharge pipe.

8. The deflector of claim 2, wherein the cover is designed such that in the at least one activation position of the deflector it assumes the function of a guiding plate for discharging the fluid to the flow field such that the exterior skin of the aircraft does not become wet.

9. The deflector of claim 2, wherein the cover further comprises ventilation slots

10. The deflector of claim 2, wherein the cover for opening and/or closing is coupled with the actuator.

11. The deflector of claim 1, wherein the discharge pipe comprises at least one swivel joint and is designed to be hinged, on its rotary axis, to the at least one activation position.

12. The deflector of claim 3, wherein the at least one slider is slidably held in at least one groove that extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the piston.

13. The deflector of claim 1, further comprising a bearing ring with a through-opening in which the discharge pipe is slidably held so as to be nonrotating.

14. The deflector of claim 3, further comprising a bearing ring that is coupled to the discharge pipe, which bearing ring is slidably held in the bush so as to be nonrotating.

17. The use of a deflector of claim 1 in an aircraft.

15. A method for leading fluids out from the interior of an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:

opening a cover on the exterior structure of the aircraft;

extending a deflector by means of an axially slidably supported piston that is designed to be moved by the fluid to be discharged, so as to extend the discharge pipe;

holding the position of the deflector; and

draining the fluid without wetting the exterior structure of the aircraft.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

retracting the deflector; and

closing the cover.

18. An aircraft comprising at least one deflector, the deflector comprising:

a discharge pipe for leading a fluid to be drained from the aircraft by way of an outlet end to the environment of the aircraft,

an actuator, coupled to the discharge pipe for swinging out, when required, the discharge pipe to at least one activation position,

wherein in the at least one activation position the outlet end is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the exterior skin of the aircraft, and the deflector guides the fluid to be drained so that it exits outside a flow boundary layer that is present on the exterior skin,

wherein the actuator comprises an axially slidably supported piston that is designed to be moved by the fluid to be discharged, so as to extend the discharge pipe.