DEPLOYABLE FLIGHT RECORDER

• US 20140277923A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRS C3 & Aviation Co. (Michigan) (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: DRS C3 & Aviation Co. (Michigan) (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Vandenheuel, Blake, Kaufmann, Ari, Woozley, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,880,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33.4
• 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: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A deployable airfoil unit is disclosed. It has a housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface joined by a top surface, two opposing side surfaces, and a bottom surface. The top surface and the front surface form an acute angle, and the top surface is larger than the bottom surface. A memory is configured to store flight data or cockpit voice data. A center of mass in the unit is configurable.

Claims

1. A deployable airfoil unit comprising:

a housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface joined by a top surface, two opposing side surfaces, and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the front surface form an acute angle, and wherein the top surface is larger than the bottom surface;

a memory configured to store flight data or cockpit voice data within the housing; and

a configurable center of mass within the deployable airfoil unit.

2. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 1 wherein the deployable airfoil unit comprises a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion is in the form of a wedge.

3. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 1 wherein the front surface includes two outer front surface portions and an inner front surface portion, wherein the inner front surface portion is disposed inwardly of the two outer front surface portions.

4. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 1 wherein the deployable airfoil unit comprises a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein the center of mass is in the front portion of the deployable airfoil unit.

5. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 1 wherein the deployable airfoil unit is aerodynamically shaped.

6. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 1 wherein the front surface includes two outer front surface portions and an inner front surface portion, wherein the inner front surface portion is disposed inwardly of the two outer front surface portions, and wherein the housing further comprises a ledge comprising a release unit contact point on a bottom surface of the ledge.

7. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 1 further comprising an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) in the housing.

8. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 7 wherein the ELT includes an integrated global position system (GPS).

9. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises opposing side ledges, and wherein the memory is configured to store both flight data and cockpit voice recorder data.

10. A deployable flight recorder assembly comprising:

the deployable airfoil unit of claim 1; and

a tray configured to receive the deployable airfoil unit.

11. The deployable flight recorder assembly of claim 10 wherein the tray further comprises a release unit configured to deploy the deployable airfoil unit upon detection of a potential crash.

12. The deployable flight recorder assembly of claim 10 wherein the tray has a cavity that is cooperatively structured with respect to a configuration of the deployable airfoil unit, and wherein the housing is in the form of a clamshell.

13. An aircraft comprising a body the deployable flight recorder assembly of claim 10, attached to the body.

14. The aircraft of claim 12 wherein the deployable flight recorder assembly is located at a tail of the aircraft.

21. The method of claim 10 wherein the tray comprises a release unit, configured to cause the deployment of the deployable airfoil unit when an impact event is detected.

15. A method comprising:

providing (a) a housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface joined by a top surface, two opposing side surfaces, and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the front surface form an acute angle, and wherein the top surface is larger than the bottom surface; and

inserting a memory configured to store flight data or cockpit voice data into the housing, to form a deployable airfoil unit.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

modifying a center of gravity of the deployable airfoil unit to optimize the separation of the deployable airfoil unit from the aircraft structure after deployment of the deployable airfoil unit.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein modifying the center of gravity comprises adding a weight to the deployable airfoil unit.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising inserting the deployable airfoil unit into a tray, attached to an aircraft structure.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

attaching the tray to the aircraft structure.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the tray is located near a base of a vertical fin of the aircraft structure.

22. A deployable airfoil unit comprising:

a housing comprising a bottom portion comprising a cavity, and a top cover moveably coupled to the bottom portion via a connecting element; and

a memory configured to store flight data or cockpit voice data within the housing.

23. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 22 wherein the housing comprises opposing ledges and a front face that forms an acute angle with a top surface of the housing, and wherein the deployable airfoil unit further comprises an emergency locator transmitter in the housing.

24. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 22 wherein the connecting element is a hinge.

25. A deployable flight recorder assembly comprising:

the deployable airfoil unit of claim 22; and

a tray configured to receive the deployable airfoil unit.

26. The deployable flight recorder assembly of claim 25 wherein the tray further comprises a release unit configured to deploy the deployable airfoil unit upon detection of a potential crash.

27. The deployable airfoil unit of claim 22 wherein the top cover comprises a paintable top surface, wherein housing supports field-replacement of electronics components without the need to repaint an integrated assembly.