Apparatus and a method for supplying conditioned air to an aircraft

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a device and a method for supplying conditioned air for heating and/or cooling from a first environment to a second environment. More specifically, the present invention provides a hose in a container and a retractor. The retractor may have a drive unit with a belt. Protrusions on the hose may correspond with grooves on the belt. The belt of the drive unit may engage the hose and pull the hose from the container. In addition, the drive unit may also retract the hose into the container when the hose is not needed. Further, a linear actuator may release the retractor from the hose allowing the hose to be pulled manually from the container.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for providing conditioned air from a first environment to a second environment, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing defining an interior wherein the housing has a first end and a second end;    a flexible hose within the interior of the housing;    an inner tube in the housing wherein the inner tube is within the flexible hose and further wherein the inner tube supports the flexible hose;    a drive unit attached to the housing; and    a linear actuator connected to the drive unit.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a tube bracket attached to the first end of the housing wherein the tube bracket supports the inner tube.  
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a sensor attached to the inner tube for monitoring air pressure in the inner tube.  
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drive unit has a belt and further wherein the belt has grooves that engage the flexible hose.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 protrusions on the flexible hose wherein the protrusions correspond to grooves on the belt.  
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a motor attached to the drive unit.  
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a hose having protrusions wherein the hose extends between the inner tube and the housing.  
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a finger located between the inner tube and the drive unit wherein the finger guides the hose.  
 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for retracting a hose, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having an interior wherein the hose is in the housing;    a drive unit on the housing wherein the drive unit has a belt and further wherein the belt has a plurality of grooves;    protrusions on the hose wherein the protrusions correspond to the plurality of grooves of the belt; and    an actuator on the housing for retracting the drive unit.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a guide on the housing for guiding the hose.  
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a motor attached to the housing wherein the motor powers the drive unit.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method for supplying conditioned air from a first environment to a second environment, the method comprising the steps of: 
 storing a hose having protrusions in a housing;    providing a drive unit on the housing;    providing a belt on the drive unit wherein the belt has grooves;    engaging the hose with the belt wherein the grooves of the belt correspond to the protrusions of the hose;    extracting the hose from the housing with the drive unit; and    attaching the housing to a source of conditioned air;    attaching the hose to the second environment.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of 
 monitoring air pressure in the hose.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of: 
 releasing the hose from the second environment.  
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of: 
 retracting the hose into the housing with the drive unit.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of: 
 manually retracting the hose into the housing.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of: 
 releasing the hose from the belt of the drive unit.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of: 
 releasing the hose from the drive unit by retracting the drive unit with an actuator.