US 12,270,523 B2
Magnetically controlled fluid drain valve for aircraft exterior light unit
Abhilash Krishna, Bangalore (IN); Poly Puthur John, Bangalore (IN); and Srijith Purushothaman, Thrissur (IN)
Assigned to GOODRICH CORPORATION, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Goodrich Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/852,832.
Claims priority of application No. 202141059485 (IN), filed on Dec. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0194067 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. F21S 45/30 (2018.01); B64D 47/02 (2006.01); F16K 1/42 (2006.01); F16K 31/08 (2006.01); F21V 33/00 (2006.01); F21W 107/30 (2018.01)
CPC F21S 45/30 (2018.01) [B64D 47/02 (2013.01); F16K 1/42 (2013.01); F16K 31/08 (2013.01); F21V 33/00 (2013.01); F21W 2107/30 (2018.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft light unit, the aircraft light unit comprising:
a lighting housing, wherein the lighting housing is coupled to a valve, wherein the valve further comprises:
an inlet fitting body having a non-magnetic collar portion and a magnetic shoulder portion, wherein the non-magnetic collar portion at least partially defines a lighting cavity and couples to the lighting housing at the lighting cavity, wherein the magnetic shoulder portion comprises an inner surface at least partially defining an airgap;
an inner body having a poppet disposed between the inner surface of the shoulder portion and a seat, wherein the seat is configured to support the poppet; and
a permanent magnet disposed between the inner body and an outer body of the valve, wherein the magnet further comprises an inner cylindrical face having a north pole and an outer cylindrical face having a south pole, wherein the magnet of the valve is configured to induce a magnetic flux circuit, wherein the magnetic flux circuit induced by the magnet comprises a plurality of closed loop paths containing a magnetic flux, wherein the magnetic flux originates from the inner cylindrical face of the magnet, flows through the inner body and up the poppet, traverses the air gap into the magnetic shoulder portion of the inlet fitting body, flows down the inner body and into the outer body, and terminates at the outer cylindrical face of the magnet.