Containers for use on aircraft for the protection of aircraft structures

• US 5,360,129 A
• Filed: 07/03/1991
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Royal Ordnance Plc (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Royal Ordnance Plc (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US07/720,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 220/1.5, 109/49.5, 89/36.01, 206/3
• US Class Current: 220/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/046 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/024 Honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/24 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2439/00 Containers; Receptacles closures therefor B32B2435/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/12 characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0061 by protecting cabin or cargo hold from bombs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/14 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/325 due to explosion, e.g. inside the container safely destroying explosive ammunition or similar F42B39/14; in buildings E04B1/98
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/36 Weakened parts
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/20 Packages or ammunition having valves for pressure-equalising; Packages or ammunition having plugs for pressure release, e.g. meltable ; Blow-out panels; Venting arrangements ventilating arrangements on packages formed from foldable or erectable blanks B65D5/4295; packages with pressure-relief valves incorporated in a container wall B65D77/225

Abstract

A cargo or luggage container adapted for use on an aircraft which container has strengthened faces made from and/or reinforced by blast resistant material and at least one weakened Face made from a material relatively unresistant to blast, the strengthened faces forming in use at least the top and bottom faces of the container whereby blast From a detonating or exploding device within the container is directed out of the container preferentially by failure of the weakened face or faces. There may be one weakened face which in use is arranged to be the face nearest to an adjacent region of the aircraft hull. Alternatively, or in addition there may be two weakened faces on opposite sides of the container which in use are arranged to be the sides facing fore and aft with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

Claims

1. An aircraft cargo container for transporting cargo in an aircraft, said aircraft having an aircraft hull, said hull having a longitudinal axis, said container comprising:

a plurality of strengthened faces, said strengthened faces comprised of a blast resistance/absorbent material; and

at least two weakened faces, said strengthened and at least two weakened faces comprising a means for generally directing blast energy from a detonation within said container out of said container and to an adjacent region of the aircraft hull and in a direction along said longitudinal axis to an adjacent container in a longitudinal row.

2. An aircraft cargo container according to claim 1, wherein said container includes means for interlocking with said adjacent container in a longitudinal row.

3. An aircraft cargo container according to claim 2 wherein there are upper and lower extremities of spaces between the containers, further including blast resistant material blocking said upper and lower extremities of space and to prevent leakage of blast in an upward or downward direction.

4. An aircraft cargo container according to claim 2 wherein on at least one of said weakened faces of said container there is provided an edge in the form of a rim or hood which is adapted to fit over the adjacent weakened face of said adjacent container which permits interengagement and lagging with blast resistant material.