Apparatus and method for forming an air curtain for use with an aircraft

Abstract

A system and method for providing an air curtain for impeding the entry of dust, dirt, debris, smoke, insects and other airborne particulate matter into an interior area of an aircraft without the need for disposing heavy, bulky and high power consuming blower assemblies above the opening in the aircraft. The invention comprises a pair of air intake ducts each having a fan disposed therein. The fans draw an ambient airflow into the air intake ducts. Pressurized air from a power unit associated with the aircraft, such as an engine or auxiliary power unit, is injected into the air intake ducts. This has the effect of significantly accelerating the airflow in the air intake ducts to a velocity suitable for forming an air curtain. The air intake ducts are coupled to a manifold having a length sufficient to substantially span the opening of an aircraft at which the air curtain is formed. An air dispenser associated with the manifold directs the airflow out of the manifold in a narrow, width-wise pattern to form an air curtain. In preferred embodiments the manifold can be rotated in accordance with the position of a loading ramp of the aircraft such that the angle of impingement of the air curtain relative to the ramp can be precisely controlled. A flow control system also enables the pressurized airflow injected into each air intake duct to be varied in accordance with the distance of the ramp surface from the air dispenser.