MEMBRANE FOR FITTING ON A PIPE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN AN AIR-CONDITIONING SPACE

Abstract

An air-distribution system has a first hollow body and a membrane. The first hollow body has a first air-conducting space. The membrane is fitted on the first hollow body in such a way that a second air-conducting space is formed. The second air-conducting space is enclosed by the membrane and an outer surface of the first hollow body. The method comprises the following steps: providing a membrane; fastening the membrane to a hollow body, with the result that there is obtained a second air-conducting space which is enclosed by the membrane and an outer surface of the hollow body.

Claims

1. An air-distribution system, having: a first hollow body; a membrane; wherein the first hollow body has a first air-conducting space, wherein the membrane is fitted on the first hollow body in such a way that a second air-conducting space is formed, wherein the second air-conducting space is enclosed by the membrane and an outer surface of the first hollow body.

2. The air-distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the membrane has at least one air outlet.

3. The air-distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is fitted on the first hollow body in such a way that two opposite edges of the membrane are spaced apart from one another along the outer surface of the first hollow body in a circumferential direction.

4. The air-distribution system according to claim 3, further comprising a seal which is fitted along the two opposite edges of the membrane.

5. The air-distribution system according to claim 4, wherein the seal is designed as an adhesive seal.

6. The air-distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a retaining element which fixes the membrane on the first hollow body.

7. The air-distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the membrane has a bellows.

8. The air-distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the membrane has a rigid region.

9. The air-distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is a flexible sheet.

10. The air-distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the flexible sheet is fabric-reinforced.

11. The air-distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the membrane has a C-profile.

12. An aircraft having an air-distribution system according to claim 1.

13. The aircraft according to claim 12, wherein the air-distribution system is arranged to introduce air into an interior of the aircraft.

14. A method for producing an air-distribution system, comprising the following steps: providing a membrane; fastening the membrane to a hollow body, with a result that there is obtained a second air-conducting space which is enclosed by the membrane and an outer surface of the hollow body.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the membrane is fastened to a pipe in an aircraft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the figures, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an air-distribution system according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows an air-distribution system according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows an air-distribution arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a method according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0037] FIG. 5 shows an aircraft according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The illustrations in the figures are schematic and not true to scale.

[0039] Where identical reference numbers are used in the following description of the figures, these refer to identical or similar elements.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an application example of an air-distribution system 100 having a first hollow body 110 and a membrane 120. In the upper illustration, the first hollow body 110 and the membrane 120 are illustrated as separate from one another, and in the lower illustration, the membrane 120 is mounted on the outer surface of the hollow body 110.

[0041] The first hollow body has a first air-conducting space 112, the membrane being fitted on the first hollow body 110 (on an outer surface of the hollow body 110) in such a way that a second air-conducting space 114 is formed. The second air-conducting space 114 is enclosed by the membrane 120 and a portion of the outer surface 111 of the first hollow body 110. The membrane 120 has a plurality of air outlets 122. To fasten the membrane 120, the membrane 120 is provided with apertures in the material. Other fastening means are also conceivable. A clamp 130 can be guided through the apertures in the material and the clamp 130 can then be placed around the first hollow body 110 in the circumferential direction of the first hollow body 110. This arrangement can also be referred to as a half-shell piggyback pipe. Here, the clamp 130 fixes the membrane 120 on the first hollow body 110 and secures the membrane 120 against sliding in the longitudinal direction and in the circumferential direction or a combination of the two directions. Furthermore, the clamp 130 is designed to counteract the weight force of the membrane 120.

[0042] The reversibility of this arrangement is particularly advantageous, in particular in terms of the possibility of a time- and cost-favorable mounting and demounting of the membrane on or from the hollow body. The clamp 130 can also be referred to as a strap. Not shown in the figure is a possible additional seal. This seal can be arranged as an additional element in the contact region of the first hollow body 110 and membrane 120 in such a way that air is prevented from being let out along the contact region. Furthermore, an expediently designed coating of the outer surface of the first hollow body 111 and/or the membrane 120 is also possible, which coating, with the two components abutting one another in the contact region, prevents air from being let out.

[0043] In this application example, the membrane 120 is of rigid design at least in certain portions and can be referred to as a half-shell. All statements pertaining to this application example apply analogously to an application example with a membrane 120 of flexible design.

[0044] The membrane 120 can be designed in the region of the contact lines with the outer surface of the hollow body 110 in such a way that sliding of the membrane on the hollow body is prevented in the fastened state (see lower illustration of FIG. 1). This can be achieved in that the membrane has, at least in the region of the contact lines, a correspondingly high coefficient of static friction. This coefficient of static friction can be achieved by a coating. The seal can also contribute to this coefficient of friction.

[0045] It is also conceivable that two longitudinal grooves or depressions in general, into which the edge regions of the membrane are pressed, are provided on the outer surface of the hollow body in the region of the contact lines. This can likewise prevent sliding of the membrane relative to the hollow body.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows, as a further option, an application example of an air-distribution system 100 having a first hollow body 110 and a membrane 120. The general statements of FIG. 1 also apply in an identical manner to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0047] The first hollow body has a first air-conducting space 112, the membrane 120 being fitted on the first hollow body 110 in such a way that a second air-conducting space 114 is formed. The second air-conducting space 114 is enclosed by the membrane 120 and an outer surface 111 of the first hollow body 110. The membrane 120 has a plurality of air outlets 122. By contrast with the above-described application example, the air-distribution system 100 has an adhesive seal 132. The functionality of the adhesive seal 132 comprises, on the one hand, the sealing of the contact regions of the first hollow body 110 and membrane 120 and, on the other hand, structurally holding together the first hollow body 110 and the membrane 120. In the design of the adhesive strips, it is accordingly possible to pay heed to the loading cases through the intrinsic weight of the membrane 120, and also internal pressures and temperature fluctuations.

[0048] The properties of the air-distribution systems from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 can be combined as desired.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows an air-distribution arrangement 10. The air-distribution arrangement 10 has an air-distribution system 100 having a first hollow body 110 and a membrane 120. The air-distribution system is an air-distribution system 100 as described further above and below. The first hollow body 110 has a first air-conducting space 112, the membrane 120 being fitted on the first hollow body in such a way that a second air-conducting space 114 is formed. The second air-conducting space 114 is enclosed by the membrane 120 and an outer surface 111 of the first hollow body 110. The membrane 120 has a plurality of air outlets 122.

[0050] In addition to the air-distribution system 100, the air-distribution arrangement 10 has further peripheral devices. The first hollow body 110 is connected to a first air source 12 and a first air sink 14, with the result that air can be conveyed through the first air-conducting space 112. The second air-conducting space 114, which is formed by an outer surface of the hollow body 111 and the membrane 120, is connected to a second air source 16 and a second air sink 18.

[0051] In an example which is not shown, the two pairs of air source and air sink 12, 14, on the one hand, and 16, 18, on the other hand, can each form an air circuit. For this purpose, a pump unit is necessary in the air circuit. Application examples are also possible in which the air-conducting spaces 112, 114 are in fluid contact and thus only one air source and one air sink or only one air circuit is necessary.

[0052] It is conceivable that the second air sink 18 is not present and that only air is introduced into the fluid space formed by the membrane. Since the membrane 120 has air outlets or is generally designed, an additional air sink is not necessary. For this purpose, the right-hand outlet of the air space 114 can be closed, for example in that the membrane 120 is likewise closed fluid-tight with the outer surface of the hollow body 110 at this point.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows the steps of a method 50 for producing an air-distribution system. The method comprises the following steps: providing 52 a membrane 120; fastening 54 the membrane 120 to a hollow body 110, with the result that there is obtained a second air-conducting space 114 which is enclosed by the membrane 120 and an outer surface of the hollow body 111. Here, the membrane 120 is designed as described above. The method serves to produce an air-distribution system as described above and below.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows an aircraft 1 having an air-distribution arrangement 10. The air-distribution arrangement 10 is shown in FIG. 4. The air-distribution arrangement 10 having the air-distribution system 100 as described above makes it possible to retrofit existing aircraft and in so doing take account of requirements placed on an installation shaft. A possible application example is described below.

[0055] The specific case of integrating an air-drying system (dry air generation system) and also, in particular, retrofitting such a system in existing aircraft is made more difficult by the fuselage surroundings (consisting of structural components, other systems, devices and electric wire bundles) to the effect that the installation space for integrating an additional system is initially not present. When creating this installation space, it is necessary to observe fixed spacing rules. Here, high costs arise through the laying of the surrounding components, cable bundles and devices. Air can intentionally emerge at a plurality of points and lead to as uniform as possible a distribution of the dry air in the interior. The leakage rate (also leak rate) is a measure of the volume or mass units emerging from a body. These high leakage rates arise by virtue of defined holes out of which dry air flows.

[0056] The air-distribution system is not restricted to the use as a dry air generation system. In general, the air-distribution system according to the invention can be used in all application cases in which the fluid to be conveyed has an overpressure in relation to the surroundings.

[0057] The combination of two air-conducting systems (hollow body and membrane) means that it is possible to save on material to the extent that the outer skin of the one pipe can be partially used as a delimitation for the other system.

[0058] The means for holding the existing pipe system can also be used and requires no modification because the membrane has a low weight.

[0059] In particular, this arrangement can be efficiently used as a retrofitting kit in an existing aircraft. The advantage of the present application is the utilization of an installation space which cannot be used in a conventional design on account of existing spacing rules.

[0060] All the application examples are also conceivable with fluids other than air.

[0061] The above-described exemplary embodiments can be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, aspects of the method can also be used for embodiments of the devices and use of the devices, and vice versa.

[0062] In addition, it should be pointed out that comprising does not exclude other elements or steps and one, a or an does not exclude a plurality. It should also be pointed out that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other above-described exemplary embodiments. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as a limitation.

[0063] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a or one do not exclude a plural number, and the term or means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0064] 1 Aircraft [0065] 10 Air-distribution arrangement [0066] 12 First air source [0067] 14 First air sink [0068] 16 Second air source [0069] 18 Second air sink [0070] 100 Air-distribution system [0071] 110 First hollow body [0072] 111 Outer surface of the first hollow body [0073] 112 First air-conducting space [0074] 114 Second air-conducting space [0075] 120 Membrane [0076] 122 Air outlet [0077] 130 Clamp [0078] 132 Adhesive seal