AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT

• US 20100276540A1
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Camilo Garcia Rojo
• Original Assignee: Camilo Garcia Rojo
• Inventors: Rojo, Camilo Garcia
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/121
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/02 Supports or holding means for living bodies

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag system for aircraft, intended to protect crew and passengers. The system comprises: inflatable cushions; a supply of air from individual tanks, communal tanks and the aircraft APU; a connection to the landing gear and the altimeter; a manual switch; an approach and contact sensor enabling automatic activation; electric lines, electrovalves and air ducts. The system also includes a second version which is activated using electrochemical batteries which operate on the basis of sharp deceleration.

Claims

1. Airbag system for aircrafts intended to protect both cabin crew and passengers, the system comprising:

inflatable cushions;

supply of air or gas from individual tanks, general tanks and from the aircraft APU.

CTAA connection to the landing gear and to the altimeter of the aircraft.

additional air and gas supply from the auxiliary power unit APU.

manual switch IMC to activate the airbags located in the cockpit, and manual switch IMP to activate the airbags located in the passenger cabin, both said manual switches IMCV and IMP being located in, and operable from, the instrument panel CI at the cockpit.

approach—

contact sensor SAC enabling automatic activation of said airbag system

electric lines LE1-LE2 and electrovalves E1-E2 to inflate inflatable cushions located in the cockpit, electric lines LE3 and electrovalves E3 to inflate inflatable cushions located in the passenger cabin, and electrovalve E4 to actuate the air or gas supply from the general tank or from the auxiliary power unit APU, and

air and gas duct pipes inside said cockpit, of which a duct T1 connecting an individual tank D1 to instrument panel CI, a duct T2 connecting a general tank D2 and the auxiliary power unit APU to the instrument panel CI, a duct T3 connecting both said tanks D1 and D2 and the auxiliary power unit APU to the ceiling, and ducts T connecting an individual tank D3 or alternatively a general tank D2 or the auxiliary power unit APU to the passenger cabin.

3. Airbag system for aircrafts intended to protect both its cabin crew and its passengers as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the airbag system located in the cockpit consists of inflatable cushions A1 mounted at the instrument panel and inflatable cushions A2 located in the ceiling;

and wherein said airbag system in the passenger cabin consists of inflatable cushions A3-A4-A5 located at the back of passenger seats in each row except for the first row, thus said inflatable cushions A3-A4-A5 being located in front of all passengers of rows behind the first row, and wherein for the first row inflatable cushions A2 are located either in the ceiling or at the front partition.

4. Airbag system for aircrafts intended to protect both its cabin crew and its passengers as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein in gliders and other kinds of ultra light aircrafts the airbag system consists of inflatable cushions A located at the instrument panel C1 in the cockpit.

5. Airbag system for aircrafts intended to protect both its cabin crew and its passengers as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said inflatable cushions A3-A4-A5 placed at the back of each seat are located inside rectangular-shaped receptacles that can be arranged in three alternative places around the reclining tray and/or the TV monitor for each seat.

2. Airbag system for aircrafts intended to protect both passengers and cabin crew comprising:

inflatable cushions

air or gas supply from individual tanks

electrochemical batteries, one for each airbag, which operate on the basis of sharp deceleration; and

air or gas duct pipes inside the cockpit as it follows;

of which a duct T1 connecting individual tank D1 to instrument panel CI, a duct T3 connecting individual tank D2 to the ceiling, and ducts T connecting an individual tank D3 to the passenger cabin.