Aircraft airbag protection apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for minimizing the prospect for loss of control in a craft which has a movable control yoke that is grippable by an individual for multiple degrees of motion thereof from a relatively neutral position for controlling the craft operation by the degree of yoke motion, comprising:
- means for sensing that the craft has experienced an abnormal force,an airbag assembly including an inflatable airbag mounted relative to the control yoke and means for responding to an actuation signal by expanding said airbag in a first direction so as to substantially fill the space both between the control yoke and an individual in proximity to the control yoke as well as expanding in a second direction so as to substantially fill the space between the control yoke and the frame of the craft thereby retaining the control yoke in the relatively neutral position, andmeans responsive to said sensing means for producing said airbag actuation signal for rapidly expanding said airbag in said first and second directions upon the occurrence of an abnormal force relative to the craft.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Airbags are positioned relative to an aircraft yoke so as to minimize undesired force application to that yoke upon actuation thereof. The airbag actuation is accomplished by sensors which are capable of responding to multiple traumatic forces upon the aircraft to either establish multiple actuations of a common airbag, or actuation of separate airbags, upon occurrence of each event. The airbags can assume a side lobe configuration so as to minimize the possibility of impact upon side posts, or the interior side of the aircraft cabin structure. The sensors are arranged in an array with common directional alignment for maximizing probability of appropriate actuation. Use of multiple sensors and majority voting circuitry enhances the reliability of the systems and process.
27 Citations
9 Claims
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1. Apparatus for minimizing the prospect for loss of control in a craft which has a movable control yoke that is grippable by an individual for multiple degrees of motion thereof from a relatively neutral position for controlling the craft operation by the degree of yoke motion, comprising:
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means for sensing that the craft has experienced an abnormal force, an airbag assembly including an inflatable airbag mounted relative to the control yoke and means for responding to an actuation signal by expanding said airbag in a first direction so as to substantially fill the space both between the control yoke and an individual in proximity to the control yoke as well as expanding in a second direction so as to substantially fill the space between the control yoke and the frame of the craft thereby retaining the control yoke in the relatively neutral position, and means responsive to said sensing means for producing said airbag actuation signal for rapidly expanding said airbag in said first and second directions upon the occurrence of an abnormal force relative to the craft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. The method of minimizing injuries to an occupant of an aircraft which has a manually operable and movable yoke that is positioned between a front panel and the seat of the occupant for manual control of the aircraft as the aircraft moves in a given direction, the yoke being manually movable away from a relatively neutral position to achieve manual control of the aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting that an excessive G-force was applied to the aircraft generally in the given direction of movement thereof, responding to said detecting step by filling the space between the occupant and the front panel with a force absorber to thereby protect the occupant, and arranging said force absorber so that the manually operable yoke is retained in the relatively neutral position subsequent to said responding step to thereby neutralize control of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification