Safety enclosures and systems for high speed vehicles

• US 5,026,006 A
• Filed: 02/22/1989
• Issued: 06/25/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Landon D. Tinder, Richard F. Tinder
• Original Assignee: Landon D. Tinder, Richard F. Tinder
• Inventors: Tinder, Landon D., Tinder, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US07/313,990
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 280/738, 280/728, 280/748, 244/121, 244/122 AG, 244/140, 244/141, 244/118.5, 62/52.1, 62/78, 62/223, 220/88 B, 296/24.1
• US Class Current: 244/122.0AG
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0046 Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures
• 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

Safety enclosures for use in high speed vehicles such as aircraft and high speed trains. The safety enclosures include an enclosure shell which preferably has two shell walls separated by a crash resistant intermediate material which also provides thermal insulation against fires and acoustic attenuation. The enclosures also advantageously include cooling systems which utilize a refrigerant which is expanded through tubes connected along the inner wall of the enclosure shell. A compressed air supply is provided which supplies breathing air to passengers and is used to expand a crash bag. Air is supplied through both the crash bag at passenger contacting panels and through supply lines which exhaust near the passengers'"'"' heads. A motor driven door assembly is controlled to close as the crash bag is being deployed. Exhaust ports having check valves allow positive pressure to be maintained in the cabin of the enclosures to exclude smoke and fire. Passenger seating is provided which includes a dual shoulder harness restraint which is supplemented by the crash bag system. Seating includes a number of features designed to reduce shock and inertial forces experienced by the passengers during crashes. The safety enclosures are provided in singular units and modular arrays having single rows and opposing muliple rows of passenger seats.

Claims

1. A protective safety enclosure for mounting within a vehicle to accommodate and protect passengers riding therein, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell having an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

said protective safety enclosure having thermal insulation between an exterior surface of said enclosure shell and said interior cabin;

at least one passenger seat adapted to support a passenger therein and, to restrain the passenger against movement relative to the interior cabin;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

the enclosure shell and door means forming a substantially fluid-tight interior cabin against inward migration of gases and liquids when the door means closes the door opening;

at least one gas-expandable crash bag mounted for controlled deployment to restrain a passenger within the at least one passenger seat and to in combination with the passenger seat resist passenger movement within the cabin;

a cooling system adapted to cool the cabin during periods of exposure of the safety enclosure to fire or other high temperature conditions;

a contained compressed breathable gas supply for supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin relative to outside the enclosure, to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted.

2. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein the enclosure shell has at least two spaced wall members which enclose at least portions of said thermal insulation therebetween.

3. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein the enclosure shell has at least two spaced wall members with thermally insulating and impact resistant material contained therebetween.

4. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein the safety enclosure shell is adapted to join with other similar safety enclosures to form a modular array.

5. A combination including a plurality of safety enclosures as defined in claim 1 wherein enclosure shells of said plurality of safety enclosures are adjoined into a tubular array.

6. A combination including a plurality of safety enclosures as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of safety enclosures are joined into a modular array which share at least one common wall structure with another adjacent connected safety enclosure to allow formation of the modular array.

7. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 and further comprising at least a single row having a plurality of passenger seats.

8. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 and further comprising opposed facing rows having a plurality of passenger seats.

9. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said crash bag includes a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall along at least one passenger contacting panel to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passenger during deployment of said crash bag.

10. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said crash bag is automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces.

11. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said breathable gas supply includes at least one supply outlet adjacent to a location where a passenger head is expected to be during travel.

12. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said crash bag is adapted and automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces;

said crash bag includes a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall along at least one passenger contacting panel to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passengers during deployment of said crash bag; and

,

said breathable gas supply includes at least one supply outlet adjacent to a location where a passenger head is expected to be during travel.

13. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said crash bag is adapted and automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces; and

,

said crash bag includes a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall adjacent passengers to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passengers during deployment of said crash bag.

14. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 and further comprising at least one passenger restraint harness for restraining a passenger in said at least one passenger seat.

15. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one passenger seat is deformable under crash conditions to alleviate acceleration or deceleration forces on a passenger riding therein.

16. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said enclosure shell includes at least one cabin exhaust vent which allows breathable gas to exhaust from the cabin, but which maintains a positive cabin pressure to prevent inflow of combustion gases and fumes into the cabin during fire conditions.

17. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 16 wherein at least one cabin exhaust vent includes check valve means.

18. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes a supply of compressed refrigerant which is controllably passed through at least one coolant expansion tube which causes the refrigerant to expand and cool, thus cooling the cabin.

19. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 18 wherein:

the enclosure shell has at least inner and outer spaced wall members with thermally insulating and impact resistant material contained therebetween;

there are a plurality of coolant expansion tubes mounted to the inner wall member which exhaust refrigerant gas between the inner and outer wall members of the enclosure shell; and

,

the outer wall member of the enclosure shell is provided with at least one refrigerant escape opening to allow the expanded refrigerant, exhausted from the coolant expansion tubes, to pass from between the inner and outer wall members of the enclosure shell.

20. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 18 wherein the cooling system includes means to detect high temperatures to which the safety enclosure is subjected and to automatically cause cooling of the cabin.

21. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said door means is power driven and automatically controlled to close during appropriate risk periods.

22. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said door means further comprises an escape hatch means allowing passenger escape without opening of the door means.

23. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein said door means is constructed to retract into an overhead position.

51. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 18 wherein at least one coolant expansion tube is arranged at spaced locations about the enclosure shell to remove heat therefrom;

said coolant expansion tube being arranged to provide for the exhausting expanded refrigerant to the exterior of the enclosure shell.

84. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one passenger seat comprises a plurality of energy absorbing layers including at least one elastically deformable layer and at least one plastically deformable layer which is plastically deformable under crash conditions;

both of said layers being deformable under crash conditions to alleviate acceleration or deceleration forces on a passenger riding therein.

85. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 1 wherein the safety enclosure shell is adapted to share a common shell wall structure with another adjacent connected safety enclosure to allow formation of a modular array of at least two safety enclosures.

24. A protective safety enclosure for use within aircraft to accommodate and protect passengers riding therein against crash forces, fire and noxious gases, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell;

said enclosure shell having at least inner and outer spaced shell wall members with thermally insulating and impact resistant material contained therebetween;

said enclosure shell defining an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

at least one passenger seat within said cabin to support at least one passenger therein and, to restrain the passenger against movement relative to the interior cabin;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one power operated automatic door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

the enclosure shell and door means forming a substantially fluid-tight interior cabin against inward migration of gases and liquids when the door means closes the door opening;

at least one automatically controlled gas-expandable crash bag mounted for controlled deployment to restrain a passenger within the at least one passenger seat and to in combination with the passenger seat limit and cushion passenger movement within the cabin;

an automatic cooling system adapted to sense the temperature of the safety enclosure and to automatically cool the cabin during periods of exposure of the safety enclosure to fire or other high temperature conditions;

an automatic contained compressed breathable gas supply for automatically supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted;

at least one controller for automatically controlling the door means, crash bag, cooling system, and breathable gas supply.

25. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein the safety enclosure shell is adapted to join with other similar safety enclosures to form a modular array.

26. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein the safety enclosure shell is adapted to share a common shell wall structure with another adjacent connected safety enclosure to allow formation of a modular array of at least two safety enclosures.

27. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein said crash bag includes a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall along at least one passenger contacting panel to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passenger during deployment of said crash bag.

28. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein said breathable gas supply includes at least one supply outlet adjacent to a location where a passenger head is expected to be during travel.

29. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein said crash bag is automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces.

30. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 further comprising at least one passenger restraint harness for restraining a passenger in said at least one passenger seat.

31. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein the at least one passenger seat is deformable under crash conditions to alleviate acceleration or deceleration forces on a passenger riding therein.

32. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein said enclosure shell includes at least one cabin exhaust vent which allows breathable gas to exhaust from the cabin, but which maintains a positive cabin pressure to prevent inflow of combustion gases and fumes into the cabin during fire conditions.

33. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 32 wherein at least one cabin exhaust vent includes check valve means.

34. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein the cooling system includes:

a plurality of coolant expansion tubes mounted to the inner wall member of the enclosure shell which exhaust refrigerant gas between inner and outer wall members of the enclosure shell; and

wherein,

the outer wall member of the enclosure shell is provided with at least one refrigerant escape opening to allow the expanded refrigerant, exhausted from the coolant expansion tubes, to pass from between the inner and outer wall members of the enclosure shell.

35. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein said door means further comprises an escape hatch means allowing passenger escape without opening of the door means.

36. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 24 wherein said door means is constructed to retract into an overhead position.

86. A combination including a plurality of safety enclosures as defined in claim 24 wherein enclosure shells of said plurality of safety enclosures are adjoined into a tubular array.

87. A combination including a plurality of safety enclosures as defined in claim 24 wherein the plurality of safety enclosures are joined into a modular array which share at least one common wall structure with another adjacent connected safety enclosure to allow formation of the modular array.

37. A protective safety enclosure for mounting within a vehicle to accommodate and protect passengers riding therein, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell;

said enclosure shell having at least inner and outer spaced shell wall members with thermally insulating and impact resistant material contained therebetween;

said enclosure shell defining an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

passenger seating within said cabin;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

a cooling system adapted to cool the cabin during periods of exposure of the safety enclosure to fire or other high temperature conditions;

said cooling system including a contained supply of refrigerant connected to supply a plurality of coolant expansion tubes mounted to the enclosure shell at spaced locations to exhaust refrigerant gas between the inner and outer wall members of the enclosure shell; and

wherein,

the outer wall member of the enclosure shell is provided with refrigerant escape openings to allow the expanded refrigerant gas exhausted from the coolant expansion tubes to pass from between the inner and outer wall members of the enclosure shell.

38. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 37 and further comprising a contained compressed breathable gas supply for supplying breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted.

39. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 37 wherein the cooling system includes means to detect high temperatures to which the safety enclosure is subjected and to automatically cause cooling of the cabin.

52. A safety enclosure according to claim 37 wherein the plurality of coolant expansion tubes are mounted to the inner wall member of the enclosure shell to transfer heat therefrom.

40. A protective safety enclosure for mounting within a vehicle to accommodate and protect passengers riding therein, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell having an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

at least one gas-expandable crash bag mounted for controlled deployment to resist passenger movement within the cabin;

said crash bag including a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall in said crash bag adjacent to at least one passenger to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passenger during deployment of said crash bag;

a contained, compressed breathable gas supply for supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted.

41. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 40 wherein said crash bag is automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods of when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces.

42. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 40 wherein said breathable gas supply includes at least one supply outlet adjacent to a location where a passenger head is expected to be during travel.

43. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 40 wherein:

said crash bag is adapted and automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces; and

said breathable gas supply includes at least one supply outlet adjacent to a location where a passenger head is expected to be during travel.

44. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 40 wherein said crash bag and door means are automatically controlled and powered to provide coordinated deployment of the crash bag as the door means closes to thereby allow cabin air to be efficiently displaced by the crash bag through the closing door means.

45. A crash bag system for use in a protective safety enclosure, comprising:

a flexible bag envelope having at least one bag wall;

a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through at least one bag wall of said bag envelope along passenger contacting panels;

at least some of said breathable gas openings being formed to allow delivery of a breathable gas therethrough for supplying the breathable gas to a passenger.

46. A crash bag system as defined in claim 45 and further comprising:

sensor means for sensing an event for which deployment of the crash bag is desired;

at least one supply of compressed, breathable gas for deploying the crash bag;

at least one valve means for controlling the flow of compressed, breathable gas from said supply of compressed, breathable gas to the crash bag;

control means for receiving information from the sensor means and controlling said valve means to deploy the crash bag and supply breathable gas therethrough.

47. A protective safety enclosure for mounting within a vehicle to accommodate and protect passages riding therein, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell having an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

at least one gas-expandable crash bag mounted for controlled deployment to resist passenger movement within the cabin;

said crash bag including a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall along at least one passenger contacting panel to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passenger during deployment of said crash bag;

a cooling system adapted to cool the cabin during periods of exposure of the safety enclosure to fire or other high temperature conditions;

a contained compressed breathable gas supply for supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted.

48. A protective safety enclosure for mounting within a vehicle to accommodate and protect passages riding therein, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell having an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

at least one gas-expandable crash bag mounted for controlled deployment to resist passenger movement within the cabin;

said crash bag being adapted and automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces;

said crash bag including a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall along at least one passenger contacting panel to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passengers during deployment of said crash bag;

a cooling system adapted to cool the cabin during periods of exposure of the safety enclosure to fire or other high temperature conditions;

a contained compressed breathable gas supply for supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted;

said breathable gas supply including at least one supply outlet adjacent to a location where a passenger head is expected to be during travel.

49. A protective safety enclosure for mounting within a vehicle to accommodate and protect passages riding therein, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell having an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

at least one gas-expandable crash bag mounted for controlled deployment to resist passenger movement within the cabin;

said crash bag being adapted and automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces;

said crash bag further including a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall adjacent passengers to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passengers during deployment of said crash bag;

a cooling system adapted to cool the cabin during periods of exposure of the safety enclosure to fire or other high temperature conditions;

a contained compressed breathable gas supply for supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted.

50. A protective safety enclosure for use in aircraft and to accommodate and protect passages riding therein against crash forces, fire and noxious gases, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell;

said enclosure shell having at least inner and outer spaced shell wall members with thermally insulating and impact resistant material contained therebetween;

said enclosure shell defining an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

passenger seating within said cabin;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

at least one automatically controlled gas-expandable crash bag mounted for controlled deployment to resist passenger movement within the cabin;

said crash bag including a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall along at least one passenger contacting panel to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passenger during deployment of said crash bag;

a cooling system adapted to cool the cabin during periods of exposure of the safety enclosure to fire or other high temperature conditions;

a contained compressed breathable gas supply for supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted.

53. A protective safety enclosure for mounting within a vehicle to accommodate and protect passengers riding therein, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell having an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

said protective safety enclosure having thermal and crash resistant insulation between an exterior surface of said enclosure shell and said interior cabin;

at least one passenger seat adapted to support a passenger therein and, to restrain the passenger against movement relative to the interior cabin;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

the enclosure shell and door means forming a substantially fluid-tight interior cabin against inward migration of gases and liquids when the door means closes the door opening;

at least one gas-expandable crash bag mounted for controlled deployment to restrain a passenger within the at least one passenger seat and to in combination with the passenger seat resist passenger movement within the cabin;

a contained compressed breathable gas supply for supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted.

54. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 53 wherein said crash bag is connected to be filled with breathable gas from said compressed breathable gas supply and to supply breathable gas to the cabin through the crash bag.

55. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 53 wherein said crash bag includes a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall in said crash bag adjacent at least one passenger to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passenger during deployment of said crash bag.

56. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 53 wherein said crash bag is automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods of when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces.

57. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 53 wherein said breathable gas supply includes at least one supply outlet adjacent to a location where a passenger head is expected to be during travel.

58. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 53 wherein:

said crash bag is connected to be filled with breathable gas from said compressed breathable gas supply and to supply breathable gas to the cabin through the crash bag;

said crash bag is adapted and automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces.

59. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 53 wherein:

said crash bag is adapted and automatically controlled to deploy for use during periods when the safety enclosure is subjected to substantial acceleration or deceleration forces; and

,

said crash bag includes a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through a bag wall adjacent passengers to allow delivery of breathable gas to the passengers during deployment of said crash bag.

60. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 59 wherein said crash bag and door means are automatically controlled and powered to provide coordinated deployment of the crash bag as the door means closes to thereby allow cabin air to be efficiently displaced by the crash bag through the closing door means.

61. A crash bag system, comprising:

at least one flexible bag envelope having at least one bag wall;

a plurality of breathable gas openings formed through at least one bag wall of said bag envelope to allow delivery of a breathable gas therethrough for supplying the breathable gas to a passenger.

62. A crash bag system according to claim 61 and further comprising at least one supply of compressed, breathable gas for deploying the crash bag.

63. A crash bag system as defined in claim 61 and further comprising:

sensor means for sensing an event for which deployment of the crash bag is desired;

at least one supply of compressed, breathable gas for deploying the crash bag;

at least one valve means for controlling the flow of compressed, breathable gas from said supply of compressed, breathable gas to the crash bag;

control means for receiving information from the sensor means and controlling said valve means to deploy the crash bag and supply breathable gas therethrough.

64. A protective safety enclosure for mounting within a vehicle to accommodate and protect passengers riding therein, comprising:

a protective enclosure shell having an interior cabin in which passengers ride;

said protective safety enclosure having thermal insulation between an exterior surface of said enclosure shell and said interior cabin;

at least one passenger seat adapted to support a passenger therein and, to restrain the passenger against movement relative to the interior cabin;

at least one door opening in said enclosure shell allowing access into and from the cabin;

at least one door means which is operable to open and close the door opening;

the enclosure shell and door means forming a substantially fluid-tight interior cabin against inward migration of gases and liquids when the door means closes the door opening;

at least one safety harness system to restrain a passenger within the passenger seat and to limit passenger movement with the cabin;

a cooling system adapted to cool the cabin during periods of exposure of the safety enclosure to fire or other high temperature conditions;

a contained compressed breathable gas supply for supplying a breathable gas to passengers within the cabin during periods when the door means is closed, and for creating a positive pressure within the cabin to exclude fumes and noxious gases which result during a fire within the vehicle in which the safety enclosure is mounted.

65. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein the enclosure shell has at least two spaced wall members which enclose at least portions of said thermal insulation therebetween.

66. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein the enclosure shell has at least two spaced wall members with thermally insulating and impact resistant material contained therebetween.

67. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein the safety enclosure shell is adapted to join with other similar safety enclosures to form a modular array.

68. A combination including a plurality of safety enclosures as defined in claim 64 wherein enclosure shells of said plurality of safety enclosures are adjoined into a tubular array.

69. A combination including a plurality of safety enclosures as defined in claim 64 wherein the plurality of safety enclosures are joined into a modular array which share at least one common wall structure with another adjacent connected safety enclosure to allow formation of the modular array.

70. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein the safety enclosure shell is adapted to share a common shell wall structure with another adjacent connected safety enclosure to allow formation of a modular array of at least two safety enclosures.

71. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 and further comprising at least a single row having a plurality of passenger seats.

72. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 and further comprising opposed facing rows having a plurality of passenger seats.

73. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein said breathable gas supply includes at least one supply outlet adjacent to a location where a passenger head is expected to be during travel.

74. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein the at least one passenger seat is deformable under crash conditions to alleviate acceleration or deceleration forces on a passenger riding therein.

75. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein said enclosure shell includes at least one cabin exhaust vent which allows breathable gas to exhaust from the cabin, but which maintains a positive cabin pressure to prevent inflow of combustion gases and fumes into the cabin during fire conditions.

76. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 75 wherein at least one cabin exhaust vent includes check valve means.

77. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein the cooling system includes a supply of compressed refrigerant which is controllably passed through at least one coolant expansion tube which causes the refrigerant to expand and cool, thus cooling the cabin.

78. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 77 wherein:

the enclosure shell has at least inner and outer spaced wall members with thermally insulating and impact resistant material contained therebetween;

there are a plurality of coolant expansion tubes mounted to the inner wall member which exhaust refrigerant gas between the inner and outer wall members of the enclosure shell; and

the outer wall member of the enclosure shell is provided with at least one refrigerant escape opening to allow the expanded refrigerant exhausted from the coolant expansion tubes to pass from between the inner and outer wall members of the enclosure shell.

79. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 77 wherein the cooling system includes means to detect high temperatures to which the safety enclosure is subjected and to automatically cause cooling of the cabin.

80. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein said door means is power driven and automatically controlled to close during appropriate risk periods.

81. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein said door means further comprises an escape hatch means allowing passenger escape without opening of the door means.

82. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein said door means is constructed to retract into an overhead position.

83. A safety enclosure as defined in claim 64 wherein at least one passenger seat comprises a plurality of energy absorbing layers including at least one elastically deformable layer and at least one plastically deformable layer which is plastically deformable under crash conditions;

both of said layers being deformable under crash conditions to alleviate acceleration or deceleration forces on a passenger riding therein.