Method And Device For Aiding The Localization Of An Aircraft Wreck Submerged In A Sea

• US 20120138741A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Fabre, Christian, Bignolais, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 33/00 Devices for allowing seemingly-dead persons to escape or draw attention; Breathing apparatus for accidentally buried persons
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/20 Releasing of crash position indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

Method and device for aiding the localization of an aircraft wreck submerged in a sea.

The device includes at least a beacon (2a, 2b) which is automatically ejected out of the fuselage of the aircraft (AC), when this latter is submerged in a sea (M).

Claims

1. A device for aiding the localization of a wreck of an aircraft submerged in a sea water expanse, said device (1) comprising at least one beacon (2) being able to emit signals (15A, 15B) able to be detected remotely and being arranged inside the aircraft (AC), and means (5) for automatically ejecting said beacon (2) floating out of the fuselage of the aircraft (AC), upon an immersion of the latter, as well as means (10) for automatically triggering the emission of said signals (15A, 15B) after said ejection,

wherein said ejection means (5) comprise a piston system for generating an opening (27) in the fuselage (18) and expelling said beacon (2) out of the aircraft (AC) thru said opening (27).

2. The device according to claim 1,

wherein it comprises means for releasing completely the beacon (2) from the aircraft (AC) after its ejection out of the fuselage upon an immersion.

3. The device according to claim 1,

wherein it comprises linking means (16) for maintaining the beacon (2), at least temporarily, linked to the aircraft (AC), after its ejection out of the fuselage upon an immersion.

4. The device according to claim 3,

wherein it comprises means (35, 36) for acting on said linking means (16) so as to release completely the beacon (2) from the aircraft (AC).

5. The device according to claim 1,

wherein it comprises at least two floating beacons (2a, 2b), being implemented in different ways.

6. The device according to claim 1,

wherein said beacon (2) is provided with auxiliary means (11) allowing to aid its localization, when it floats at the surface (S) of said sea water expanse (M).

7. The device according to claim 1,

wherein it comprises means (4) for detecting an immersion, and said ejection means (5) eject the beacon (2) out of the fuselage, upon the detection of an immersion by said detection means (4).

8. The device according to claim 7,

wherein said detection means (4) comprise means for measuring the values of a least one parameter relative to the aircraft (AC) or to its environment and means for comparing the measured values to a threshold value, an immersion being detected when a measured value exceeds said threshold value.

9. The device according to claim 1,

wherein the piston (23) of said piston system comprises a plug for stamping the skin (18) of the aircraft (AC), allowing the exit thru the thus created opening (27).

10. The device according to claim 1,

wherein it comprises an ejection tube (22) provided with a hollow piston (28) comprising a casing (29) wherein at least the beacon (2) is housed and when said piston (28) reaches the end of its stroke, and it comes in abutment on the ejection tube (22) so as to prevent the piston (28) from being ejected from the structure of the aircraft (AC), a stamping plug and the beacon (2) being then ejected, simultaneously and separately.

11. The device according to claim 1,

wherein it comprises an autonomous source of energy (12).

12. The device according to claim 1,

wherein said beacon (2) is mounted in an unpressurized area of the aircraft (AC), located in its upper rear part (45).

14. A system for aiding the localization of a wreck of an aircraft submerged in a sea water expanse, comprising:

means (1) for emitting, upon an immersion of the aircraft, signals (15A, 15B) able to be detected remotely; and

usual means being able to detect such signals,

wherein said means for emitting signals comprise a device (1) such as specified in claim 1.

15. An aircraft,

wherein it comprises a device (1) such as that of claim 1.

13. A method for aiding the localization of a wreck of an aircraft submerged in a sea water expanse, said method using at least one beacon (2) being able to emit signals (15A, 15B) able to be detected remotely and being installed inside the aircraft (AC), said method wherein upon an immersion of the aircraft (AC), said beacon (2) is automatically ejected floating out of the fuselage of said aircraft (AC), and after said ejection, the emission of said signals (15A, 15B) by said beacon (2) is automatically triggered,

wherein the ejection occurs with the help of a piston system generating an opening (27) in the fuselage (18) and expelling said beacon (2) out of the aircraft (AC) thru said opening (27).