Abstract: Disclosed is a drain assembly including a buoyant spherical ball (32) and a drain fitting (10) including at least one drain channel (28). The drain fitting (10) is securable at a drain location (18) wherein pressurization at the drain location (18) seals the spherical ball (32) against the drain channel (28). Further disclosed is a method of operating a drain assembly for an environmental control system (14) including locating the drain assembly at a fluid collection area (22) of the environmental control system (14). The drain assembly includes a buoyant spherical ball (32) and a drain fitting (10) including at least one drain channel (28) securable at a drain location (18). An interior (22) of the environmental control system (14) is pressurized and the spherical ball (32) is sealed to the drain fitting (10) via the pressurization of the interior (22) of the environmental control system (14).

Abstract: The present invention provides an air generation unit (AGU) including a pressurized air source, such as an engine providing pressurized air. First and second air cycle machine (ACM) are fluidly connected to the pressurized air source for receiving the air. A heat exchanger interconnects the first and second ACMs. The heat exchanger mechanically supports the first and second ACMs by flexible isolators, which accommodates the thermo expansion of the heat exchanger through out the operation of the AGU. The heat exchanger includes a primary heat exchanger that cools the air from the air source. The ACMs each include a compressor receiving the air from the primary heat exchanger to provide compressed air. The compressed air is sent to a secondary heat exchanger to be cooled. The compressed air is passed through a condenser and a water collector to remove moisture from the air for being sent to a first turbine.

Abstract: An air generation unit includes first and second air cycle machines (ACMs), each having first and second turbines. A manifold is arranged between the first and second ACMs and is in fluid communciation with each of the first and second turbines of the first and second ACMs. A condenser is arranged between the ACMs and is in fluid communication with the manifold. First and second valves are disposed within the manifold and control flow of air between the turbines and the condenser. An actuator is assembly is connected to the valves for moving the valves between a plurality of positions. The valves selectively close off or prevent the flow of air from the turbines of one of the ACMs in the event that the ACM is not needed or malfunctions.

Abstract: A water separator is provided for use in an environmental control system that includes first and second housing portions at least partially defining an interior cavity. A coalescer assembly that may include a mesh material is disposed within the interior cavity for separating water from the air flowing through the interior cavity. First and second interlocking features, which may include a plurality of circumferentially arranged tabs received in the slots of circumferentially arranged flanges, secure the housing portions together. The tabs and flanges interlock with one another in response to moving the first and second housings relative to one another from and open position to a closed position in which the housing portions are secured to another. In this manner, V-band coupling of the prior art may be eliminated and the service time of the water separator may be reduced.

Abstract: A flow sensing venturi system includes a venturi body and a manifold mounted thereto. The manifold is thermally isolated from the venturi body. A multiple of sensor ports are formed into the manifold which support each individual sensor and provide communication between the sensor and one or more passageways. The passageways communicate with a single high-pressure and a single low-pressure sense line. The high and low pressure sense line tap respective high and low pressure areas within the venturi body. The sensor is individually screwed into the manifold to provide an airtight connection for two independent sensor input ports. Replacement of individual sensors is thereby greatly simplified.

Abstract: A bypass valve for use with a component of an air cycle machine is disclosed, wherein the component includes a conditioning member, an inlet and an outlet. The air cycle machine includes a component housing portion. The component housing portion defines a first volume and includes a port for receiving the valve. The valve comprises a housing for mating with the port, an air entrance opening adapted to be positioned adjacent the inlet, an air exit opening adapted to be positioned adjacent the outlet, and a valve portion for controlling at least one of temperature and pressure of the air at the outlet. Control is accomplished by permitting air flow from the entrance opening to the exit opening and bypassing the conditioning member and by prohibiting air flow from the entrance opening to the exit opening for directing substantially all of the air into the conditioning member. The valve portion is substantially entirely positioned inside of the first volume in the port.

Abstract: A baffle insert or sleeve is disclosed for the integration of the downstream pressure tap into a pressure regulation valve ("PRY") for an aircraft environmental control system ("ECS"). The purpose of this insert is to return the flow, disturbed by the pivoting disk of a butterfly valve, to a more normal distribution within the length of the valve body. This allows the PRV downstream pressure tap to be part of the valve, instead of it (along with additional plumbing) being located four more pipe diameters beyond the valve housing.

Abstract: An air mixer, with a water collector, is disclosed for supplying recirculated cabin air in aircraft. In the preferred embodiment: used cabin air flows over pipes of colder fresh air to cool the used air and condense out most of the moisture contained in it; the fresh air and used air are passed over opposite faces of a ring of stator vanes, thereby imparting swirls to both types of airstreams; and the streams meet at the trailing tips of the stator vanes, where they corkscrew together to throw remaining coalesced moisture against a collection trough, from where it is discharged. The airstreams can now be injected into the cabin without droplets raining down on the passengers, nor ice clogging any pipes for the fresh air, which is typically supplied at below-freezing temperature.

Abstract: A fan inlet and diffuser apparatus (30) is provided with a lobed mixer (60) for intermixing fan bypass air (25) with a flow of fan discharge air (27). The fan inlet and diffuser apparatus (30) is particularly adapted for use in a inducing a flow of cooling air (21) through an upstream heat exchanger (20) and thence directing a portion (23) of the cooling air passing from the heat exchanger to the inlet side of the fan (14) of an air cycle machine (10), while directing the remaining portion (25) to bypass the fan (14) and pass into the central outlet flow passage (52) flowing over the mixing ejector (60) which imparts a directional swirl to the bypass flow (25) and a counter swirl to the fan discharge flow (27) passing from the fan outlet through the interior of the mixer (60), thereby enhancing the mixing of these two flows within the passage (52).