| Hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger for on-board inert gas generating system -> Monitor Keywords |
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Hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger for on-board inert gas generating systemRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Motor Driven, Fluid Motor, Rectilinearly Reciprocating Pumping Members Coaxial With Intermediate Unitary Motor Working MemberHydraulic powered pneumatic super charger for on-board inert gas generating system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060292018, Hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger for on-board inert gas generating system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/586,842, filed Jul. 8, 2004, entitled "Hydraulic Powered Pneumatic Super Charger for On-Board Inert Gas Generating System", which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. This application is also related to the following issued patents, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,359, "Modular On-Board Inert Gas Generating System," issued on May 4, 2004; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,359, "On-Board Inert Gas Generating System Optimization by Pressure Scheduling," issued on May 25, 2004. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving aircraft safety. More specifically, this invention pertains to inert gas generating systems used on aircraft for preventing combustion in aircraft fuel tanks and cargo spaces. In particular, this invention relates to a super charger used to increase the air supply pressure to the air supply module of an inert gas generating system. The super charger transforms hydraulic power into pneumatic power, and provides an alternate air source for the inert gas generating system. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Military aircraft have used On-board Inert Gas Generating Systems (OBIGGS) for some years to protect against fuel tank explosions due to undesired phenomena, such as penetration from small arms fire. However, military aircraft are not the only aircraft that would benefit from OBIGGS. For example, investigations into the cause of recent air disasters have concluded that unknown sources may be responsible for fuel tank ignition and explosion. Subsequently, OBIGGS has been evaluated as a way to protect commercial aircraft against such fuel tank explosions started by unknown ignition sources. [0006] OBIGGS protects against fuel tank explosions by replacing the potentially explosive fuel/air mixture above the fuel in the tanks (the ullage) with an inert gas, usually nitrogen. This nitrogen airflow, otherwise known as nitrogen enriched air (NEA), is generated by separating oxygen, otherwise know as oxygen enriched air (OEA), from local ambient air. The NEA is then pumped into the ullage. The device which separates the NEA from OEA is usually termed an Air Separation Module (ASM). [0007] The performance of such OBIGGS systems, and their efficiencies are largely dependant on how well the ASM performs. For optimum performance, the ASM requires a compressed air supply to achieve efficient separation of NEA from OEA. In conventional OBIGGS systems, air supply for the ASM is obtained from engine bleed-air or from a rotary compressor. However, in extreme flight profiles, engine bleed-air may not be available to provide a supply of compressed air. Furthermore, during such extreme flight profiles, electrical power may not be available to drive a rotary compressor. In addition, a rotary compressor is inherently inefficient at transforming electrical energy into compressed air energy, thereby increasing fuel costs and diminishing performance of the OBIGGS. [0008] Accordingly, an improved OBIGGS system that addresses the drawbacks of the prior art would be highly desirable. In particular, it would be advantageous to provide a compressed air supply that is not reliant on engine-bleed air or a rotary compressor. It would also be beneficial to provide such improvements with an efficient system that does not increase fuel costs or have other detrimental effects on the operation of the OBIGGS. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] According to the invention there is provided an inert gas generating system. The inert gas generating system includes an air separation module (ASM) and a super charger. The ASM includes an ASM inlet configured for receiving an air flow, and having an ASM outlet configured for expelling nitrogen enriched air (NEA). The super charger has a hydraulic system configured to be coupled to a hydraulic pressure differential, and a pneumatic system coupled to the hydraulic system. The pneumatic system is configured to supply the air flow to the air separation module. [0010] The hydraulic system and the pneumatic system are isolated from each other to prevent contamination of the output air sent to the air separation module. The hydraulic system includes a cylinder, a hydraulic piston housed within the cylinder, and a switching valve. The switching valve has a hydraulic fluid inlet, a hydraulic fluid outlet, and hydraulic passages fluidly coupling the switching valve to the cylinder near opposing ends of the cylinder. The switching valve is configured to alternate hydraulic fluid received at the fluid inlet between the hydraulic passages. [0011] The pneumatic system preferably comprises identical pneumatic pistons coupled to opposing sides of the hydraulic piston, where the pneumatic pistons are coupled to separate pneumatic chambers each having an air inlet and an air outlet coupled to the ASM inlet. Each pneumatic chamber may be a bellows or a pneumatic cylinder. The super charger also includes check valves at the air inlet and air outlet to prevent retrograde air flow. [0012] Accordingly, the super charger improves the performance of the OBIGGS by providing a continuous supply of compressed air to the ASM, even under extreme flight conditions. In other words, the super charger is not reliant upon engine bleed air or an electrically powered rotary compressor. The supercharger can also provide an alternate air source for the OBIGGS system in the event that conventional systems fail. Furthermore, the super charger is easily adapted to operate with conventional OBIGGS systems. [0013] In addition, the supercharger may be used as a source of compressed air wherever a source of hydraulic power is available. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: [0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger coupled to an ASM; and [0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger shown in FIG. 1. [0017] Like reference numerals refer to the same components throughout the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger 100 (hereinafter "super charger 100") coupled to an ASM 102. As explained in more detail below, a hydraulic pressure differential is applied to the super charger 100. This hydraulic pressure differential is then converted to a pneumatic pressure differential to draw local ambient air (inlet air) into the super charger 100 and to expel the now compressed air (outlet air) into an inlet 104 of the ASM. Subsequently, NEA is expelled from a first outlet 106 of the ASM 102, while OEA is expelled from a second outlet 108 of the ASM 102, as is well understood in the art and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,729,359 and 6,739,359, which are incorporated herein by reference. The NEA may then be pumped into the ullage, cargo holds, or other spaces. [0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the super charger 100 shown in FIG. 1. The super charger primarily has two systems, namely a hydraulic system (input) and a pneumatic system (output). The two systems are preferably completely fluidly isolated from one another so as to prevent contamination of the output air into the ASM inlet 104 (FIG. 1) by the hydraulic system. In other words, this separation ensures that the output air is clean and will not introduce contaminants into the inlet 104 (FIG. 1) that could cause deterioration of the ASM 102 (FIG. 1). Continue reading about Hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger for on-board inert gas generating system... Full patent description for Hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger for on-board inert gas generating system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Hydraulic powered pneumatic super charger for on-board inert gas generating system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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