Method and apparatus for extending flight crew's time of useful consciousness after decompression

• US 20070089746A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Laib, Trevor, Mitchell, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.150
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/18 Floors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2001/009 comprising decompression panels or valves for pressure equalisation in fuselages or floors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 10/00 Flight suits helmets in general A42B3/00; breathing helmets A62B18/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for regulating the pressure within an aircraft flight crew area during and/or after a decompression event. For example, an aircraft may include a flight crew area, at least one pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the atmosphere within the flight crew area, and at least one regulated decompression panel that is operatively associated with the pressure sensor, for regulating the pressure within the flight crew area during and/or after a decompression event.

Claims

1. An aircraft, comprising:

a flight crew area;

at least one pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the atmosphere within the flight crew area; and

at least one decompression panel that is operatively associated with the pressure sensor, for regulating the pressure within the flight crew area during and/or after a decompression event.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, further including an electronic controller that is programmed to monitor the at least one pressure sensor, and to control the decompression panel in response to a predetermined pressure condition.

3. The aircraft of claim 2, wherein the decompression panel includes a shutter.

4. The aircraft of claim 1, further including a source of oxygen for re-pressurizing the crew area and/or enriching the oxygen concentration in the crew area after the decompression event.

5. A method of extending the time of useful consciousness of a crew of a pressurized aircraft after a decompression event, comprising:

providing a crew area;

providing a pressure sensor adapted to detect the pressure of the atmosphere within the crew area;

sensing pressure of the atmosphere within the crew area using the pressure sensor; and

regulating the decompression of the atmosphere within the crew area when the pressure of the atmosphere within the crew area has fallen below a predetermined level.

6. The method of claim 5, further including re-pressurizing the crew area.

7. The method of claim 5, further including enriching the oxygen concentration in the crew area.

8. The method of claim 5, further including sealing off the crew area at a predetermined atmospheric pressure within the crew area.

9. The method of claim 5, further including sealing off the crew area at a predetermined pressure differential between atmospheric pressure within the crew area and the atmospheric pressure within an area inside the aircraft that is outside of the crew area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the atmospheric pressure differential is determined based on a comparison of atmospheric pressure within the crew area with the atmospheric pressure outside of the aircraft.

12. The system of claim 10, further including a source of oxygen for re-pressurizing and/or enriching the oxygen concentration in the crew area.

11. A system for extending the time of useful consciousness of a crew of a pressurized aircraft after a decompression event, the system comprising:

a crew area;

a pressure sensor adapted to detect the pressure of the atmosphere within the crew area; and

an electronic controller linked to the pressure sensor;

wherein the electronic controller is programmed to regulate the decompression of the atmosphere within the crew area when the pressure of the atmosphere within the crew area has fallen below a predetermined level.

13. The system of claim 11, further including shutter operatively connected to the electronic controller for sealing off the crew area.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic controller is programmed to actuate the shutter to seal off the crew area at a predetermined pressure differential between atmospheric pressure within the crew area and the atmospheric pressure within an area inside the aircraft that is outside of the crew area.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the atmospheric pressure differential is determined based on a comparison of atmospheric pressure within the crew area with the atmospheric pressure outside of the aircraft.