Flight crash survivable storage unit with boiler for flight recorder memory
First Claim
1. An enclosure for protecting at least one heat sensitive item from high temperature, shock and moisture, said enclosure comprising:
- (a) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing at least one heat sensitive item;
(b) a cover for said outer housing;
(c) a thermal insulator located within said inner cavity defining at least a portion of a second interior cavity, with said at least one heat sensitive item being located within said second inner cavity;
(d) a boiler located within said second interior cavity including at least one containment compartment for containing a thermal mass, at least one protective compartment within which said at least one heat sensitive item is located and means for interconnecting said at least one containment compartment and said at least one protective compartment, wherein said means for interconnecting, when open, provides a passageway between said at least one containment compartment and said at least one protective compartment; and
(e) at least one vent tube which exits said at least one protective compartment via at least one passageway formed in said thermal insulator, said at least one passageway extending to and thru the cover for said outer housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An enclosure for protecting a heat sensitive item from high temperatures and shock which includes: (a) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing at least one heat sensitive item; (b) a thermal insulator located within the inner cavity defining at least a portion of a second interior cavity, with the at least one heat sensitive item being located within the second interior cavity; and (c) a boiler located within the second interior cavity including at least one containment compartment for containing a thermal mass and at least one protective compartment within which the at least one heat sensitive item is located. The invention finds particular utility in the Flight Recorder field where heat sensitive components, such as solid state memories, may be subject to fire and shock often resulting from an aircraft crash. The invention also features a corrosion protection capability which is effective when the item being protected is in close proximity to a source of moisture. Further aspects of the invention are directed to processes for fabricating enclosures of then type contemplated by the invention (a Flight Crash Survival Storage Unit (FCSSU) in the Flight Recorder context), and to a boiler per se for use in a FCSSU of the type contemplated by the invention.
38 Citations
55 Claims
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1. An enclosure for protecting at least one heat sensitive item from high temperature, shock and moisture, said enclosure comprising:
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(a) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing at least one heat sensitive item; (b) a cover for said outer housing; (c) a thermal insulator located within said inner cavity defining at least a portion of a second interior cavity, with said at least one heat sensitive item being located within said second inner cavity; (d) a boiler located within said second interior cavity including at least one containment compartment for containing a thermal mass, at least one protective compartment within which said at least one heat sensitive item is located and means for interconnecting said at least one containment compartment and said at least one protective compartment, wherein said means for interconnecting, when open, provides a passageway between said at least one containment compartment and said at least one protective compartment; and (e) at least one vent tube which exits said at least one protective compartment via at least one passageway formed in said thermal insulator, said at least one passageway extending to and thru the cover for said outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An enclosure for protecting at least one heat sensitive item from high temperature, shock and moisture, said enclosure comprising:
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(a) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing at least one heat sensitive item; (b) a cover for said outer housing; (c) a boiler located within said inner cavity including at least a first containment compartment for containing a thermal mass, at least one protective compartment within which said at least one heat sensitive item is located; (d) means for interconnecting said at least a first containment compartment and said at least one protective compartment, wherein said means for interconnecting, when open, provides a passageway between said first containment compartment and said at least one protective compartment and said at least one protective compartment; and (e) at least one vent tube which exits said at least one protective compartment via at least one passageway extending to and thru the cover for said outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A flight recorder, comprising:
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(a) at least one solid state memory device; (b) a corrosion resistant Flight Crash Survivable Storage Unit (FCSSU) that contains and protects said at least one solid state memory device from shock and fire, wherein said FCSSU includes; (b1) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing at least one solid state memory device; (b2) a cover for said outer housing; (b3) a thermal insulator located within said inner cavity defining at least a portion of a second interior cavity, with said at least one solid state memory device being located within said second inner cavity; (b4) a boiler located within said second interior cavity wherein said boiler further comprises a containment compartment for containing a thermal mass, a protective compartment within which said at least one solid state memory device is located, and means for interconnecting said containment compartment and said protective compartment, wherein said means for interconnecting, when open, provides a passageway between said containment compartment and said protective compartment; (c) means for sealing said passageway when said means for interconnecting is in a closed state; and (d) at least one vent tube which exits said protective compartment via at least one passageway formed in said thermal insulator, said at least one passageway extending to and thru the cover for said outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A process for fabricating a Flight Crash Survivable Storage Unit (FCSSU) for a Flight Recorder (FR) comprising the steps of:
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(a) fabricating a boiler that includes a containment compartment for storing a thermal mass and a separate protective compartment for housing an electronic memory device to be protected from heat, moisture and shock; (b) filling said containment compartment with a thermal mass; (c) placing said electronic memory device in said protective compartment; (d) housing said boiler in a covered outer housing that includes, within said covered outer housing, a thermal insulator defining a cavity within which to situate and protect said boiler; (e) providing a cable passageway formed in said thermal insulator, said cable passageway extending to and thru said covered outer housing; and (f) providing at least one vent tube which exits said protective compartment via at least one passageway formed in said thermal insulator, said at least one passageway extending to and thru said covered outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification