US 12,435,857 B2
Exterior aircraft light, aircraft comprising an exterior aircraft light and method of draining a fluid out of an exterior aircraft light
André Hessling-von Heimendahl, Koblenz (DE)
Assigned to Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Lippstadt (DE)
Filed by Goodrich Lighting Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Lippstadt (DE)
Filed on May 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/652,590.
Claims priority of application No. 23172843 (EP), filed on May 11, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0377055 A1, Nov. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. F21S 45/30 (2018.01); B64D 47/02 (2006.01); F21W 107/30 (2018.01)
CPC F21S 45/30 (2018.01) [B64D 47/02 (2013.01); F21W 2107/30 (2018.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An exterior aircraft light, comprising:
a housing defining an interior space;
a light output generation unit comprising at least one light source;
power supply electronics, coupled to the light output generation unit for driving a light output of the exterior aircraft light;
wherein at least one of the light output generation unit and the power supply electronics is arranged within the interior space; and
a draining device for draining the interior space,
the draining device comprising:
a first drainage tube for receiving fluid, which is to be drained from the interior space;
a second drainage tube for receiving fluid, which is to be drained from the interior space; and
a fluid discharge port for discharging fluid out of the housing, wherein the fluid discharge port is in fluid communication with the first drainage tube and with the second drainage tube;
wherein each of the first drainage tube and the second drainage tube comprises a valve mechanism for selectively sealing and opening the respective drainage tube with respect to the interior space, each valve mechanism comprising:
a valve portion of the respective drainage tube;
a sealing element, in particular a sealing ball, wherein the sealing element is arranged in the valve portion of the respective drainage tube;
wherein the valve portion of the respective drainage tube is made of a first material and wherein the sealing element is made of a second material;
wherein the first material and the second material have different water absorption and expansion characteristics; and
wherein the valve portion and the sealing element are sized to open the valve mechanism, when immersed in fluid, which is to be drained from the interior space, and to seal the valve mechanism in an air-tight manner, when not immersed in fluid, which is to be drained from the interior space.