Segmented safety aircraft

• US 5,356,097 A
• Filed: 05/10/1993
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chalupa, Stefan
• Original Assignee: Chalupa, Stefan
• Inventors: Chalupa, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ansley, Virha Lissi
• Application Number:
  US08/058,328
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/100 A, 244/107, 244/118.2, 244/120, 244/122 A, 244/137.3, 244/137.4, 244/139, 244/140, 244/141
• US Class Current: 244/139
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/12 Ejectable capsules

Abstract

An aircraft includes a cockpit permanently connected to a fuselage base. At least one fuselage segment is detachably mounted to the support. In case of an imminent crash the segment is detachable from the remainder of the aircraft and can float to safety after being detached by having at least one parachute and an airbag secured to the segment.

Claims

1. In an aircraft having a fuselage with a cockpit portion at one end and a tail section at the other end, the improvement being in that said fuselage includes a fuselage base support, said fuselage further including at least one segment detachably mounted to said base support, sealing means for selectively sealing said segment during emergency conditions to create a sealed compartment, means for moving said segment away from said base support during emergency conditions to cause said segment to separate from the remainder of said aircraft, at least one parachute mounted to said segment for opening during emergency conditions to float said segment in descent, a generally longitudinal guide fixedly mounted on said base support, and said segments riding on said guide to facilitate each segment being separated in a longitudinal direction away from said cockpit portion.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 including at least one air bag mounted to said segment to render said segment more floatable and to cushion the landing of said segment and to comprise float means when said segment lands on water.

3. The aircraft of claim 2 including a plurality of said segments, one of said segments being a tail segment located in the tail section of said aircraft, and at least one further segment forwardly of said tail segment.

4. The aircraft of claim 3 wherein said segments are interconnected by cable means.

5. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said guide is elevatable to facilitate each segment being separated from the remainder of said aircraft.

6. The aircraft of claim 5 including a cockpit portion at the front of said aircraft, said guide being pivotably mounted at said cockpit portion, and the end of said guide opposite said pivotal mounting being elevatable.

7. The aircraft of claim 6 including a propulsion device at said tail segment to comprise said moving means.

8. The aircraft of claim 7 wherein a parachute storage compartment is located at the top of each segment, said parachute being mounted in said parachute storage compartment, an openable hatch closing said parachute storage compartment, and an airbag storage compartment located at the bottom of said segment and exposed when said segment is separated from said base support.

9. The aircraft of claim 8 wherein each of said segments includes an outer skin and an inner skin, and reinforcing cables being located between said outer skin and said inner skin and extending around said segment.

10. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein said cockpit portion includes ejection seats for the crew in said cockpit portion.

11. The aircraft of claim 10 including movable doors for selectively sealing said segment to comprise said sealing means.

12. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein each of said segments includes an outer skin and an inner skin, and reinforcing cables being located between said outer skin and said inner skin and extending around said segment.

14. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said segment includes two of said parachute cased in webbing material, and said two parachutes including a drag parachute.

15. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said segment includes means for feeding a muscle affecting gas into said segment.

20. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said cockpit portion includes ejection seats for the crew of said cockpit portion.

16. In an aircraft having a fuselage, the improvement being in that said fuselage includes a fuselage base support, an elevatable generally longitudinal guide fixedly mounted on said base support, said fuselage further including at least one segment for carrying cargo, said segment being movably mounted on said guide to permit said segment to be selectively detached from said guide and said base support and to be replaced by a different segment, and said aircraft being flyable with and without any segments mounted to said base support.

17. In an aircraft having a fuselage, the improvement being in that said fuselage includes a fuselage base support, said fuselage further including at least one segment detachably mounted to said base support, sealing means for selectively sealing said segment during emergency conditions to create a sealed compartment, means for moving said segment away from said base support during emergency conditions to cause said segment to separate from the remainder of said aircraft at least one parachute mounted to said segment for opening during emergency conditions to float said segment downwardly, and feed means in said segment for feeding as muscle affecting gas into said segment.

13. The aircraft of claim 19 wherein a parachute storage compartment is located at the top of each segment, said parachute being mounted in said parachute storage compartment, an openable hatch closing said parachute storage compartment, and an airbag storage compartment located at the bottom of said segment and exposed when said segment separated from said base support.

18. The aircraft of claim 17 wherein said muscle affecting gas is a muscle relaxant to minimize shock to passengers in said segment.

19. The aircraft of claim 17 wherein said muscle affecting gas is to render immobile passengers including any hijackers in said segment.