Auto-siphon drainage system for aircraft
An aircraft comprising a fuselage; a vent disposed through a bottom surface of the fuselage; and a drainage system for transporting fluid leaked from a fluid source out of the fuselage via the vent in response to a first condition, the drainage system comprising a container having a top and a bottom; and a siphon tube within the container, the siphon tube having an inlet and an outlet and comprising a 180 degree bend between the inlet and the outlet.
1 . An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage;
a vent disposed through a bottom surface of the fuselage; and
a drainage system for transporting fluid leaked from a fluid source out of the fuselage via the vent in response to a first condition, the drainage system comprising:
a container having a top and a bottom; and
a siphon tube within the container, the siphon tube having an inlet and an outlet and comprising a 180 degree bend between the inlet and the outlet.
2 . The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the siphon tube is connected to an opening provided in the bottom of the container.
3 . The aircraft of claim 2 , further comprising a drain tube removably connected to the bottom of the container in alignment with the opening provided in the bottom of the container.
4 . The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet tube removably connected to a top of the container in alignment with an opening in the top of the container.
5 . The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the drainage system further comprises a sight gauge associated with the container for visually determining a level of fluid within the container.
6 . The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a removable lid.
7 . The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the first condition comprises a pressure differential in which a pressure outside the vent is less than a pressure at a top of the siphon tube.
8 . The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the pressure differential is created by flight conditions when the aircraft is in flight.
9 . The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the pressure differential is created by manual application of a suction force at the vent.
10 . The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the drainage system comprises a line replaceable unit.
11 . A drainage system for an aircraft, the drainage system for siphoning fluid leaked from a fluid source out of the aircraft through a vent in a bottom surface of the aircraft in response to a pressure differential between the drainage system and an area outside the vent, the drainage system comprising:
a container having a top and a bottom; and
a siphon tube within the container, the siphon tube having an inlet and an outlet and comprising a 180 degree bend between the inlet and the outlet.
12 . The drainage system of claim 11 , wherein the outlet of the siphon tube is connected to an opening provided in a bottom of the container.
13 . The drainage system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a drain tube removably connected to the bottom of the container in alignment with the opening provided in the bottom of the container; and
an inlet tube removably connected to a top of the container in alignment with an opening provided in the top of the container.
14 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the drainage system further comprises a sight gauge for visually indicating a level of fluid within the container.