Crash Attenuation System for Aircraft

• US 20110226898A1
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Tho, Cheng-Ho, Smith, Michael R., Chowdhury, Somen
• Granted Patent: US 8,418,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/100.A
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/04 Helicopters
• 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

Abstract

A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system having an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent an exterior of the aircraft. The airbag has at least one vent for releasing gas from the interior of the airbag. A gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag with gas generated provided by the gas source. A vent valve is provided for controlling a flow of gas through each vent, each vent valve being selectively configurable between an open state, in which gas can pass through the associated vent from the interior of the airbag, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag. The gas source is provided for at least partially re-inflating the airbag after venting of gas through the at least one vent.

Claims

1. A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system comprising:

an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent an to a position exterior of the aircraft, the airbag having at least one vent for releasing gas from the interior of the airbag for crash attenuation;

a gas source in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag to the position exterior of the aircraft with gas provided by the gas source;

a vent valve for controlling a flow of gas through each of the at least one vent, each vent valve being selectively configurable between an open state, in which gas can pass through the associated vent from the interior of the airbag, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag; and

wherein the gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for at least partially re-inflating the airbag with gas provided by the gas source after venting of gas through the at least one vent.

2. The crash attenuation system according to claim 1, wherein the gas source is a gas generator.

3. The crash attenuation system according to claim 1, wherein the gas source is a compressed gas tank.

4. The crash attenuation system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a water-detection system for detecting the presence of water.

5. The crash attenuation system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a water-detection system for detecting the presence of water;

wherein when the water-detection system detects water, each vent valve is switched to the closed state, and the gas source is used to at least partially re-inflate the airbag.

6. A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system comprising:

an airbag carried by the aircraft and inflatable generally adjacent an to a position exterior of the aircraft, the airbag having a vent configured to release gas from the interior of the airbag for crash attenuation;

a gas source in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag, the gas source configured to inflate the airbag to the position exterior of the aircraft with gas provided by the gas source;

a vent valve configured to control a flow of gas through the vent, the vent valve being selectively configurable between an open state, in which gas can pass through the vent from the interior of the airbag, and a closed state, in which gas is retained within the interior of the airbag;

a water-detection system for detecting the presence of water;

wherein the gas source is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag for at least partially re-inflating the airbag with gas provided by the gas source.

7. The crash attenuation system according to claim 6, wherein the gas source is a gas generator.

8. The crash attenuation system according to claim 6, wherein the gas source comprises compressed gas.

9. The crash attenuation system according to claim 6, further comprising:

wherein the water-detection system is configured to switch the vent valve to the closed state upon detection of water.

10. The crash attenuation system according to claim 6, wherein the water-detection system is configured to direct the gas source to at least partially re-inflate the airbag upon detection of water.

11. A method of operating a crash attenuation system in an aircraft, comprising:

inflating an airbag with a gas source that is in fluid communication with the interior of the airbag, the airbag being inflated to an exterior of the aircraft;

venting the airbag by releasing gas through a vent from the interior of the airbag, thereby providing crash attenuation to the aircraft;

closing a vent valve that is associated with the vent;

re-inflating the airbag with the gas source.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

sensing a presence of water with a water-detection system.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the gas source is a gas generator.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the gas source is a compressed gas tank.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the gas source comprises multiple gas sources.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of closing the vent valve includes actuating a sliding a moveable vent plate into a closed position.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of inflating the airbag is performed by a computer-based control system.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

detecting an impending crash with a sensor.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of inflating the airbag with the gas source occurs just prior to impact of the aircraft with a crash surface.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

deploying at least one outrigger airbag to provide flotational stability to the aircraft.