Air inlet and method for a highspeed mobile platform
US7861968B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 4, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/0536
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An inlet apparatus and method for use with a cabin air compressor on a high speed, airborne mobile platform, such as a commercial or military aircraft. The apparatus includes a Pitot inlet of a desired shape that is supported outside an exterior surface of a fuselage of the aircraft by a diverter structure. The diverter structure diverts a low energy portion of a boundary layer so that the low energy portion does not enter the Pitot inlet. The Pitot inlet receives the higher energy portion of the boundary layer and channels a ram airflow to an inlet of a cabin air compressor. The apparatus provides a recovery factor (RF) of at least about 0.8 at a cabin air compressor (CAC) inlet face, which keeps the electric power required to drive the CAC within available power limits, while minimizing the drag of the inlet apparatus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.