DEFORMABLE AIRCRAFT WINDOW

• US 20150047275A1
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: McCarthy, Dennis P., Blevins, Calvin B., Harris, Caroline S., Goodwin, George B., Gu, YaBei
• Granted Patent: US 10,202,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/204.51
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0011 thin-walled moulds
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0038 with sealing means or the like seals on envelopes used in tyre retreading B29D30/542; for injection moulding footwear B29D35/0045
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10055 with at least one intermediate air space
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/14 Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipersfairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1492 Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen

Abstract

An aircraft window assembly (10) includes a first panel (12) having a first surface (14) and a second surface (16). in a first state in which there is no pressure difference between the first surface (14) and the second surface (16), the first panel (12) has a cross-sectional shape selected from planar, outwardly convex, or inwardly convex. In a second state in which there is a pressure difference between first surface (14) and the second surface (16), the first panel (12) has an outwardly convex cross-sectional shape.

Claims

1. A deformable aircraft window assembly, comprising:

a first panel having a first surface and a second surface, wherein in a first state in which there is no pressure difference between the first surface and the second surface the first panel has a first cross-sectional shape, and wherein in a second state in which there is a pressure difference between first surface and the second surface, the first panel has an outwardly convex shape,

wherein the first cross-sectional shape of the first panel is selected from the group consisting of planar, outwardly convex, and inwardly convex.

2. The window assembly of claim 1, including a second panel spaced from the first panel.

3. The window assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first panel and the second panel is a cast-to-shape polyurethane panel.

4. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the first panel comprises a bulbous peripheral edge configured to engage a receiver in a mounting frame.

5. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the first panel is configured to engage a frame such that the outer surface of the first panel is offset from an outer contour of an aircraft fuselage.

6. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the first panel includes a plurality of cast mounting holes located adjacent a peripheral edge of the first panel.

7. The window assembly of claim 1, wherein the first panel comprises an angled peripheral edge, wherein the angled peripheral edge engages a seal, and wherein the seal is adhesively bonded to a frame.

8. The window assembly of claim 7, further including a flexible wire embedded in the seal.

9. The window assembly of claim 1, further including a peripheral gasket, wherein an inner edge portion of the peripheral gasket is embedded in the first panel, and an outer peripheral edge portion of the gasket extends beyond the peripheral edge of the first panel.

10. The window assembly of claim 9, wherein the gasket includes a plurality of throughbores in the inner edge portion of the gasket embedded in the first panel.

11. The window assembly of claim 9, wherein the gasket includes a plurality of mounting holes located in the outer edge portion of the gasket extending beyond the peripheral edge of the first panel.

12. The window assembly of claim 1, including a wire grid embedded in the first panel.

13. The window assembly of claim 2, including a functional coating located on at least one of the first panel and the second panel.

14. The window assembly of claim 2, including a transparent, compressible material positioned between the first panel and the second panel such that there is no air gap between the first panel and the second panel.

15. The window assembly of claim 2, wherein the second panel includes a substantially flat outer surface, and an electrochromic assembly is located on the outer surface of the second panel.

16. The window assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first panel and the second panel has a thickness variation across a width of the panel.

17. The window assembly of claim 2, including a gradient coating located on a surface of at least one of the first panel and the second panel.

18. A deformable aircraft window assembly, comprising:

a first panel having a first surface and a second surface, wherein in a first state in which there is no pressure difference between the first surface and the second surface the first panel has a planar cross-sectional shape, and wherein in a second state in which there is a pressure difference between first surface and the second surface, the first panel has an outwardly convex shape.

19. The window assembly of claim 18, wherein the first panel is a cast-to-shape polyurethane panel.

20. A deformable aircraft window assembly, comprising:

a first panel having a first surface and a second surface, wherein in a first state in which there is no pressure difference between the first surface and the second surface the first panel has a first cross-sectional shape, and wherein in a second state in which there is a pressure difference between first surface and the second surface, the first pan&

has an outwardly convex shape, wherein the first cross-sectional shape of the first panel is selected from the group consisting of planar, outwardly convex, and inwardly convex, wherein the first panel is a cast-to-shape polyurethane panel, and wherein the first panel includes a plurality of cast mounting holes located adjacent a peripheral edge of the first panel; and

a second panel spaced from the first panel.