Self-contained propellant driven turbofan

• US 4,671,744 A
• Filed: 02/13/1985
• Issued: 06/09/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Morton-Thiokol, Inc. (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Morton-Thiokol, Inc. (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lucas, Peter H., Shaffer, Donald E., Racik, Stanley A., Vriesen, Calvin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casaregola, Louis J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thorpe, Timothy S.
• Application Number:
  US06/701,450
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 60/39.47, 417/191, 417/355, 417/381, 417/409, 417/407, 280/736, 280/738, 280/741, 280/742, 441/98, 441/99, 244/DIG. 2, 52/2, 182/48, 193/258, 102/202, 102/204, 102/530, 102/531
• US Class Current: 417/381
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/18 Inflatable equipment characterised by the gas-generating or inflation device
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/14 Inflatable escape chutes
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/272 generated by cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An integral turbofan/solid propellant gas generator air induction system features in a single device a solid propellant gas generator and a turbofan which are operative, when activated, even after long periods of storage, to take ambient air and compress it to the pressures required in emergency situations for preventing loss of life and valuable equipment, for example, the inflation of an aircraft slide.

Claims

1. An integral air induction system comprising,

an air compressor fan,

an outer housing attached to and disposed in surrounding relation to said compressor fan, said outer housing including a duct having a first end positioned to receive an air flow produced by said fan and a second end that is communicable with a structure that is to be pressurized,

a check valve contained within said duct, said check valve permitting air flow out of the second end of said duct but restricting air flow into said duct from said second end,

gas operated driving means for said air compressor fan including a rotatable shaft that is directly connected to said air compressor fan,

a gas generator operably connected to said driving means and,

a mounting member for said gas operated driving means and said gas gnerator, said mounting member being attached to said outer housing and said shaft being carried by said mounting member.

2. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 1 wherein said gas operated driving means comprises a turbine.

3. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 1 with said gas generator including a solid propellant.

4. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 3 including an igniter for said solid propellant.

5. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 4 wherein said igniter is mechanically initiated.

6. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 1 wherein said compressor fan includes an air inlet region and further including a deflector for exhaust gases from said gas operated driving means to deflect said gases away from said air inlet region.

7. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 1 wherein said compressor fan includes an air inlet region and further including a deflector for exhaust gases from said gas operated driving means to deflect said gases toward said inlet region.

8. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 1 wherein said compressor fan is positioned between said gas operated driving means and the first end of said duct.

9. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 8 including a deflector for exhaust gases from said gas operated driving means.

10. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 1 wherein said gas operated driving means is positioned between said compressor fan and the first end of said duct.

11. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 10 wherein said compressor fan includes an air inlet region, said air inlet region allowing both radial and longitudinal air flow to said compressor fan.

12. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 11 wherein said air compressor fan, gas operated driving means, gas generator, and check valve are contained in a cylindrical housing, said duct comprising a portion of said housing, and attach points for the air induction system positioned such that the system is substantially mechanically balanced.

13. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 12 wherein said gas operated driving means comprises a turbine and said gas generator includes a solid propellant and a mechanically initiated igniter for said propellant.

14. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 1 further including static straightening vanes radially disposed with respect to at least said first end of said duct.

15. An integral air induction system as specified in claim 1 further including a fan housing for said air compressor fan,

said outer housing being attached to and disposed in surrounding relation to said fan housing, and

said mounting member being attached to said fan housing.