Support System for the Monitoring of an Air Outlet Valve in an Aircraft

• US 20070247335A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Schiek, Thorsten, Heuer, Thomas, Chen, Leilei
• Granted Patent: US 7,545,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/04 Automatic control of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras

Abstract

The invention proposes that a camera (18) takes a technical picture of an air outlet valve (10) of an aircraft, and the picture taken of the outlet valve (10) is displayed on a picture display unit (20), for example in the cockpit of the aircraft. By shining light onto the outlet valve from a light source (22), a clear picture with a high level of contrast is produced. The valve setting of the outlet valve (10) can thus be monitored visually, in a reliable manner, by the pilot.

Claims

1. Support system for the monitoring of an air outlet valve (10) in an aircraft, characterised by a camera (18) directed onto the outlet valve (10), and a picture display unit (20) for the display of a picture of the outlet valve taken by the camera.

2. System in accordance with claim 1,

charactersed in that the picture display unit (20) is positioned within the cockpit of the aircraft.

3. System in accordance with claim 1,

characterised by a valve lighting system (22) assigned to the outlet valve, the light of which is directed onto the outlet valve (10).

4. System in accordance with claim 3,

characterised in that the camera (18) and the valve lighting system (22) are directed onto the outlet valve (10) from more or less the opposite side.

5. System in accordance with claim 3,

characterised in that the valve lighting system (22) for the lighting of the outlet valve (10) uses infra-red light.

6. System in accordance with claim 3,

characterised in that the valve lighting system (22) for the lighting of the outlet valve (10) uses black light.

7. System in accordance with claim 3,

characterised in that at least parts of the outlet valve (10) are provided with a covering which reflects at least part of the light spectrum of the valve lighting system (22).

8. System in accordance with claim 3,

characterised in that at least parts of the outlet valve (10) are provided with a coating that absorbs part of the light spectrum of the valve lighting system (22).

9. System in accordance with claim 1,

characterised in that the camera (18) is a monochrome camera.

10. Support system for the monitoring of an air outlet valve (10) in an aircraft,

characterised by a valve lighting system (22) assigned to an outlet valve, the light of which is directed onto the outlet valve (10), in particular in connection with other features of claim 1.