RETRACTABLE SHADE AND METHOD SEALING AN OVER-WING EXIT IN AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20150059988A1
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Safai, Morteza, Switzer, Lon E., Nguyen, Tuan D., Apdalhaliem, Sahrudine, Meredith, Kimberly Dawn, Perkins, Thomas Seth, Langdon, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,957,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/6
• 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 1/1423 Passenger doors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/32 Severable or jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/00 Special arrangements or measures in connection with doors or windows arrangements against burglary at the edges of the wings E06B5/113 ; screening or similar protective devices E06B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/28 Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A heated roller shade system is provided. The heated roller shade system includes a roller located in a cavity defined between an inner wall of a vehicle and an outer wall of the vehicle. The roller shade system also includes a shade coupled to the roller. The roller is configured to selectively move the shade between a deployed position and an open position. The roller shade system also includes a heating mechanism coupled to at least one of the roller and the shade. The heating mechanism facilitates increasing a temperature of at least one of the roller and the shade.

Claims

1. A heated roller shade system comprising:

a roller located in a cavity defined between an inner wall of a vehicle and an outer wall of the vehicle;

a shade coupled to said roller, wherein said roller is configured to selectively move said shade between a deployed position and an open position; and

a heating mechanism coupled to at least one of said roller and said shade, wherein said heating mechanism facilitates increasing a temperature of at least one of said roller and said shade.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the system further comprises comprising:

a sensor; and

a controller coupled to the heating mechanism and to the sensor, said controller configured to;

receive data indicating at least one of a current temperature, a current humidity, and a time associated with at least one of said roller and said shade from said sensor;

compare the data with an activation threshold; and

activate the heating mechanism based on the comparison between the data and the activation threshold.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said controller is further configured to:

compare the data to a deactivation threshold; and

deactivate said heating mechanism based on the comparison between the data and the deactivation threshold.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said heating mechanism includes at least one thermo-electric heating mechanism, wherein, when power is transmitted to said thermo-electric heating mechanism, a hot-side of said thermo-electric heating mechanism that is proximate to at least one of said roller and said shade facilitates increasing the temperature of at least one of said roller and said shade.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said heating mechanism includes at least one resistive heating mechanism, wherein when power is transmitted to said at least one resistive heating mechanism, said at least one resistive heating mechanism facilitates increasing the temperature of at least one of said roller and said shade.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said heating mechanism includes at least one inductive heating mechanism, wherein when power is transmitted to said at least one inductive heating mechanism, said inductive heating mechanism induces a current in at least one of said roller and a receiving element that is coupled to at least one of the roller and the shade.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said heating mechanism is an air-gap-based heating mechanism including an air gap and a valve, wherein said air gap extends through the inner wall of the vehicle and said valve selectively controls the flow of air into the cavity through said air gap.

21. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a roller housing positioned about said roller, wherein said heating mechanism is coupled to one of said roller, said roller housing, and said shade.

22. A system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said roller housing is insulated.

23. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said heating mechanism comprises one of a resistive heating mechanism and a thermo-electric heating mechanism, said system further comprising a heating blanket including the one of the resistive heating mechanism and the thermo-electric heating mechanism.

24. A system in accordance with claim 23, wherein said heating blanket is coupled to a roller housing.

8. A method for assembling a roller shade system, said method comprising:

positioning a roller and a shade in a cavity defined by an inner wall of a vehicle and an outer wall of the vehicle;

coupling the shade to the roller, wherein the roller is configured to selectively move the shade between a deployed position and an open position; and

coupling a heating mechanism to at least one of the roller and the shade, wherein the heating mechanism facilitates increasing a temperature of at least one of the roller and the shade.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising coupling a controller to the heating mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive data indicating at least one of a current temperature, a current humidity, and a time associated with at least one of the roller and the shade from a sensor;

compare the data with an activation threshold; and

activate the heating mechanism based on the comparison between the data and the activation threshold.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein coupling a heating mechanism to at least one of the roller and the shade includes coupling at least one of a thermo-electric heating mechanism, a resistive heating mechanism, an inductive heating mechanism, and an air-gap-based heating mechanism to at least one of the roller and the shade.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising:

positioning the at least one of the thermo-electric heating mechanism and the resistive heating mechanism within a heating blanket; and

coupling the heating blanket to at least one of the roller and the shade.

11. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A door system for use in a vehicle, the door system comprising:

a door coupled to the vehicle;

a roller located in a cavity defined between an inner wall of said door and an outer wall of said door;

a shade coupled to said roller, wherein said roller is configured to selectively move said shade between a deployed position and an open position; and

a heating mechanism coupled to at least one of said roller and said shade, wherein said heating mechanism facilitates increasing a temperature of at least one of said roller and said shade.

16. A door system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

a sensor; and

a controller coupled to the heating mechanism and to the sensor, said controller configured to;

receive data indicating at least one of a current temperature, a current humidity, and a time associated with at least one of said roller and said shade from said sensor;

compare the data with an activation threshold; and

activate the heating mechanism based on the comparison between the data and the activation threshold.

17. A door system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a power source coupled to said door and to said heating mechanism, wherein said heating mechanism includes at least one thermo-electric heating mechanism, wherein, when power is transmitted to said thermo-electric heating mechanism from said power source, a hot-side of said thermo-electric heating mechanism that is proximate to at least one of the roller and the shade facilitates increasing the temperature of at least one of said roller and said shade.

18. A door system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a power source coupled to said door and to said heating mechanism, wherein said heating mechanism includes at least one resistive heating mechanism, wherein, when power is transmitted to said at least one resistive heating mechanism from said power source, said at least one resistive heating mechanism facilitates increasing the temperature of at least one of the roller and the shade.

19. A door system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a power source coupled to said door and to said heating mechanism, wherein said heating mechanism includes at least one inductive heating mechanism, wherein, when power is transmitted to said at least one inductive heating mechanism from said power source, said inductive heating mechanism induces a current in at least one of said roller and a receiving element that is coupled to at least one of said roller and said shade that facilitates increasing the temperature of at least one of said roller and said shade.

20. A door system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said heating mechanism is an air-gap-based heating mechanism that includes an air gap and a valve, wherein said air gap extends through the inner wall of the door and said valve selectively controls the flow of air into the cavity through said air gap.