Aircraft cabin cooling method and apparatus

Claim 2

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: heat exchanger means for cooling inlet air with a cooling fluid medium; fluid expansion means connected to expand the cooled inlet air to the cabin; fluid conveying means connected for driving by said fluid expansion means to transport the fluid medium through said heat exchanger means to cool the inlet air in response to the energy of expansion of the cooled inlet air; and auxiliary drive means connected to drive said fluid conveying means in response to a predetermined inlet air pressure to asSist said fluid expansion means in maintaining the cabin cooling requirements.

Claim 3

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: heat exchanger means for cooling inlet air with a cooling fluid medium; fluid expansion means connected to expand the cooled inlet air to the cabin; fluid conveying means connected for driving by said fluid expansion means to transport the fluid medium through said heat exchanger means to cool the inlet air in response to the energy of expansion of the cooled inlet air; and auxiliary drive means connected to drive said fluid conveying means in response to a predetermined inlet air pressure to asSist said fluid expansion means in maintaining the cabin cooling requirements.

Claim 4

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: heat exchanger means for cooling inlet air with a cooling fluid medium; fluid expansion means connected to expand the cooled inlet air to the cabin; fluid conveying means connected for driving by said fluid expansion means to transport the fluid medium through said heat exchanger means to cool the inlet air in response to the energy of expansion of the cooled inlet air; and auxiliary drive means connected to drive said fluid conveying means in response to a predetermined inlet air pressure to asSist said fluid expansion means in maintaining the cabin cooling requirements.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises: air-to-air heat exchanger means.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid expansion means comprises: an air expansion turbine.

Claim 7

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid conveying means comprises: fan means for passing cooling air through said heat exchanger means to cool the inlet air.

Claim 8

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising: fluid flow control means connected to regulate flow of inlet air from a source to said heat exchanger means.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising: fluid flow control means connected to control flow of the inlet air from a source to the cabin to regulate cabin temperature.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said fluid flow control means comprises: a fluid flow restrictor; and a valve interconnecting said fluid flow restrictor and said heat exchanger means.

Claim 11

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises: an air-to-air heat exchanger.

Claim 12

The apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said fluid conveying means comprises: a turbine having a tip driven fan connected to said fluid expansion means.

Claim 13

The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said auxiliary drive means comprises: fluid pressure responsive fluid flow control means connected to drive said turbine with inlet air at the predetermined inlet air pressure.

Claim 14

The apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said fluid conveying means comprises: a fan connected to said fluid expansion means.

Claim 15

The apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein said auxiliary drive means comprises: a motor interconnecting said fluid expansion means and said fan; and circuit means connected to drive said motor with a power source in response to the predetermined inlet air pressure.

Claim 16

The apparatus set forth in claim 12 wherein said motor comprises: an induction motor.

Claim 17

The apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein said circuit means comprises: a sensor for generating signals in response to the inlet air pressure; and switch means for connecting said induction motor to a power source when the inlet air pressure is below a predetermined amount and to a load when the inlet air pressure is above the predetermined amount in response to said signals.

Claim 18

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising: water separator means interconnecting said fluid expansion means and the cabin for separating water from the cooled inlet air.

Claim 19

The apparatus set forth in claim 15 further comprising: spray means connected to spray water from said water separator means into the fluid medium of said heat exchanger means.

Claim 20

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger means comprises: first and second air-to-air heat exchangers.

Claim 21

The apparatus set forth in claim 17 further comprising: an air compressor connected to compress the inlet air flowing from said first heat exchanger to said second heat exchanger.

Claim 22

The apparatus set forth in claim 18 further comprising: fluid flow control means connected to control flow of inlet air and cooled inlet air to the cabin and said air compressor, respectively, to regulate cabin temperature.

Claim 23

The apparatus set forth in claim 19 wherein said driven fluid conveying means comprises: a turbine having a tip driven fan connected to said fluid expansion means.

Claim 24

The apparatus set forth in claim 20 wherein said auxiliary drive means comprises: fluid pressure responsive flow control means connected to drive said turbine with inlet air at the predetermined inlet air pressure.

Claim 25

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: an air-to-air heat exchanger for cooling inlet air with ambient air; an expansion turbine connected to expand the cooled inlet air to the cabin; an air turbine having a tip driven fan positioned to convey the ambient air through said heat exchanger to cool the inlet air when driven, said fan being connected for driving to said expansion turbine; a fluid pressure responsive valve connected to control flow of inlet air to said air turbine at a predetermined inlet air pressure to assist driving of said fan; valve means connected to control flow of inlet air to the cabin to regulate cabin temperature; a fluid flow restrictor adapted for connection to a source of inlet air; and a valve connected to control flow of inlet air from said fluid flow restrictor to said heat exchanger, fluid pressure responsive valve, and valve means.

Claim 26

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: an air-to-air heat exchanger for cooling inlet air with ambient air; an expansion turbine connected to expand the cooled inlet air to the cabin; an air turbine having a tip driven fan positioned to convey the ambient air through said heat exchanger to cool the inlet air when driven, said fan being connected for driving to said expansion turbine; a fluid pressure responsive valve connected to control flow of inlet air to said air turbine at a predetermined inlet air pressure to assist driving of said fan; valve means connected to control flow of inlet air to the cabin to regulate cabin temperature; a fluid flow restrictor adapted for connection to a source of inlet air; and a valve connected to control flow of inlet air from said fluid flow restrictor to said heat exchanger, fluid pressure responsive valve, and valve means.

Claim 27

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: an air-to-air heat exchanger for cooling inlet air with ambient air; an expansion turbine connected to expand the cooled inlet air to the cabin; a fan positioned to convey the ambient air through said heat exchanger to cool the inlet air when driven; an induction motor interconnecting said expansion means and said fan for simultaneous rotation; a sensor for generating signals in response to the inlet air pressure; a switch for connecting said induction motor to a power source when the inlet air pressure is below a predetermined amount and to a load when the inlet air pressure is above the predetermined amount in response to said signals; valve means connected to control flow of inlet air to the cabin to regulate cabin temperature; a fluid flow restrictor adapted for connection to a source of inlet air; and a valve connected to control flow of inlet air from said fluid flow restrictor to said heat exchanger and said valve means.

Claim 28

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: an air-to-air heat exchanger for cooling inlet air with ambient air; an expansion turbine connected to expand the cooled inlet air to the cabin; a fan positioned to convey the ambient air through said heat exchanger to cool the inlet air when driven; an induction motor interconnecting said expansion means and said fan for simultaneous rotation; a sensor for generating signals in response to the inlet air pressure; a switch for connecting said induction motor to a power source when the inlet air pressure is below a predetermined amount and to a load when the inlet air pressure is above the predetermined amount in response to said signals; valve means connected to control flow of inlet air to the cabin to regulate cabin temperature; a fluid flow restrictor adapted for connection to a source of inlet air; and a valve connected to control flow of inlet air from said fluid flow restrictor to said heat exchanger and said valve means.

Claim 29

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: a first air-to-air heat exchanger for cooling inlet air with ambient air; an air compressor connected to said first heat exchanger for compressing the cooled inlet air; a second air-to-air heat exchanger connected to said air compressor for further cooling the cooled inlet air with the ambient air; an expansion turbine connected to expand the further cooled inlet air to the cabin; an air turbine having a tip driven fan positioned to convey the ambient air through said first and second heat exchangers to cool the inlet air when driven, said fan being connected for driving to said expansion turbine; a fluid pressure responsive valve connected to control flow of inlet air to said air turbine at a predetermined inlet air pressure to assist driving of said fan; valve means connected to control flow of inlet air and cooled inlet air to the cabin and said air compressor, respectively, to regulate cabin temperature; water separator means interconnecting said fluid expansion means and the cabin for separating water from the cooled inlet air; spray means connected to spray water from said water separator means into the ambient air conveyed through said first and second heat exchangers; a fluid flow restrictor adapted for connection to a source of inlet air; and a valve connected to control flow of inlet air from said fluid flow restrictor to said first heat exchanger, fluid pressure responsive valve, and valve means.

Claim 30

Aircraft cabin cooling apparatus comprising: a first air-to-air heat exchanger for cooling inlet air with ambient air; an air compressor connected to said first heat exchanger for compressing the cooled inlet air; a second air-to-air heat exchanger connected to said air compressor for further cooling the cooled inlet air with the ambient air; an expansion turbine connected to expand the further cooled inlet air to the cabin; an air turbine having a tip driven fan positioned to convey the ambient air through said first and second heat exchangers to cool the inlet air when driven, said fan being connected for driving to said expansion turbine; a fluid pressure responsive valve connected to control flow of inlet air to said air turbine at a predetermined inlet air pressure to assist driving of said fan; valve means connected to control flow of inlet air and cooled inlet air to the cabin and said air compressor, respectively, to regulate cabin temperature; water separator means interconnecting said fluid expansion means and the cabin for separating water from the cooled inlet air; spray means connected to spray water from said water separator means into the ambient air conveyed through said first and second heat exchangers; a fluid flow restrictor adapted for connection to a source of inlet air; and a valve connected to control flow of inlet air from said fluid flow restrictor to said first heat exchanger, fluid pressure responsive valve, and valve means.

Claim 31

An aircraft cabin cooling method comprising the steps of: cooling inlet air; expanding the cooled inlet air to the cabin; utilizing the energy of expansion of the cooled inlet air to effect cooling of the inlet air; and utilizing additional energy to assist in cooling the inlet air when the energy of expansion of the cooled inlet air is insufficient to effect the cooling to maintain cabin cooling requirements.

Claim 32

An aircraft cabin cooling method comprising the steps of: cooling inlet air; expanding the cooled inlet air to the cabin; utilizing the energy of expansion of the cooled inlet air to effect cooling of the inlet air; and utilizing additional energy to assist in cooling the inlet air when the energy of expansion of the cooled inlet air is insufficient to effect the cooling to maintain cabin cooling requirements.

Claim 33

The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of: regulating the inlet air pressure.

Claim 34

The method of claim 25 further comprising: supplying inlet air to the cabin to regulate cabin temperature.

Claim 35

The method of claim 25 wherein the Step of utilizing additional energy comprises: utilizing inlet air to assist in cooling the inlet air when the inlet air pressure is below a predetermined amount to maintain the cabin cooling requirements.