Ambient condition based adjusting of cabin pressure to achieve target aircraft inflow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9493243-B2
Application number	US-201313871540-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2013
Priority date	Apr 26, 2013
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments relate to adjusting cabin pressure based on ambient conditions to achieve a target aircraft inflow. An aspect includes receiving a number of occupants on an aircraft. The ambient conditions on the aircraft are monitored and an occupant threshold limit is determined for the aircraft based on the ambient conditions. If it is determined that the number of occupants exceeds the occupant threshold limit, the cabin pressure is reduced in the aircraft according to embodiments. The cabin pressure in the aircraft is reset in response to the occupant threshold limit being increased due to changing ambient conditions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving a number of occupants on an aircraft at a processing device;
monitoring, by the processing device, ambient conditions on the aircraft;
determining with the processing device an occupant threshold limit for the aircraft based on the ambient conditions;
signaling a cabin pressure controller to reduce cabin pressure in the aircraft when the number of occupants exceeds the occupant threshold limit; and
resetting the cabin pressure in the aircraft in response to the occupant threshold limit increasing due to changing ambient conditions;
wherein the occupant threshold limit is a number of occupants that can be supported by a flow source without exceeding a maximum cabin temperature, the occupant threshold limit a function of ambient temperature, altitude and aircraft speed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reducing of the cabin pressure further comprises:
modifying a cabin pressure reference target; and
controlling outflow valves of a cabin pressure system to maintain the new cabin pressure reference target.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the number of occupants on the aircraft is received as user input from a selected one of a numerical keypad and a graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the number of occupants on the aircraft defaults to a maximum capacity of the aircraft responsive to receiving no user input.

5. A computer system, comprising:
a memory having computer readable computer instructions and a processor for executing the computer readable instructions to perform a method comprising:
receiving a number of occupants on an aircraft;
monitoring ambient conditions on the aircraft;
determining an occupant threshold limit for the aircraft based on the ambient conditions;

reducing cabin pressure in the aircraft responsive to the number of occupants exceeding the occupant threshold limit; and
resetting the cabin pressure in the aircraft in response to the occupant threshold limit increasing due to changing ambient conditions:

wherein the occupant threshold limit is a number of occupants that can be supported by a flow source without exceeding a maximum cabin temperature, the occupant threshold limit a function of ambient temperature, altitude, and aircraft speed.

6. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the reducing of the cabin pressure further comprises:
modifying a cabin pressure reference target; and
controlling outflow valves of a cabin pressure system to maintain the new cabin pressure reference target.

7. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the number of occupants on the aircraft is received as user input from a selected one of a numerical keypad and a graphical user interface.

8. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the number of occupants on the aircraft defaults to a maximum capacity of the aircraft responsive to receiving no user input.

9. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by processor to:
receive a number of occupants on an aircraft;
monitor ambient conditions on the aircraft;
determine an occupant threshold limit for the aircraft based on the ambient conditions;
reduce cabin pressure in the aircraft responsive to the number of occupants exceeding the occupant threshold limit; and
reset the cabin pressure in the aircraft in response to the occupant threshold limit increasing due to changing ambient conditions:

wherein the occupant threshold limit is a number of occupants that can be supported by a flow source without exceeding a maximum cabin temperature, the occupant threshold limit a function of ambient temperature, altitude, and aircraft speed.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the reducing of the cabin pressure further comprises:
modifying a cabin pressure reference target; and
controlling outflow valves of a cabin pressure system to maintain the new cabin pressure reference target.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the number of occupants on the aircraft is received as user input from a selected one of a numerical keypad and a graphical user interface.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the number of occupants on the aircraft defaults to a maximum capacity of the aircraft responsive to receiving no user input.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Lewis Brendon W
• Park Young K
• Mainelli Allison
• Chen Cuiye

Classifications

• B64D13/04 Primary

  Automatic control of pressure · CPC title