Flight crash survivable storage unit with aquarium container for flight recorder memory
First Claim
1. A corrosion resistant apparatus for thermally protecting at least one heat sensitive item from high temperatures, shock and moisture utilizing a thermal mass containing a liquid, comprising:
- (a) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing at least one heat sensitive item;
(b) an aquarium located within said inner cavity including at least one protective compartment within which said at least one heat sensitive item is located;
(c) a thermal mass containing a liquid, located within said inner cavity and covering at least a portion of the exterior surface of said aquarium, wherein energy absorption from vaporization of said liquid is utilized to protect said at least one heat sensitive item;
(d) means for venting any moisture, that penetrates said aquarium and enters said at least one protective compartment included therein, to the ambient air outside said outer housing wherein said means for venting directly connects said at least one protective compartment to the ambient air; and
(e) means for venting steam from said inner cavity to the ambient air outside 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) an aquarium located within the inner cavity including at least one protective compartment within which the at least one heat sensitive item is located; (c) a thermal mass, located within the inner cavity and covering at least a portion of the exterior surface of the aquarium; and (d) a venting mechanism for venting any moisture, that penetrates the aquarium and enters the at least one protective compartment included therein, to the ambient air outside the outer housing. 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 an aquarium per se for use in a FCSSU of the type contemplated by the invention.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A corrosion resistant apparatus for thermally protecting at least one heat sensitive item from high temperatures, shock and moisture utilizing a thermal mass containing a liquid, comprising:
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(a) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing at least one heat sensitive item; (b) an aquarium located within said inner cavity including at least one protective compartment within which said at least one heat sensitive item is located; (c) a thermal mass containing a liquid, located within said inner cavity and covering at least a portion of the exterior surface of said aquarium, wherein energy absorption from vaporization of said liquid is utilized to protect said at least one heat sensitive item; (d) means for venting any moisture, that penetrates said aquarium and enters said at least one protective compartment included therein, to the ambient air outside said outer housing wherein said means for venting directly connects said at least one protective compartment to the ambient air; and (e) means for venting steam from said inner cavity to the ambient air outside 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, 26)
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27. A flight recorder apparatus including means for thermally protecting a solid state memory device from high temperatures, shock and moisture utilizing a thermal mass containing a liquid, comprising:
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(a) at least one heat sensitive item; (b) a corrosion resistant Flight Crash Survivable Storage Unit (FCSSU) that contains and protects said at least one memory device from shock, moisture and fire utilizing a thermal mass containing a liquid, wherein said FCSSU comprises; (b1) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing at least one heat sensitive item; (b2) an aquarium located within said inner cavity including at least one protective compartment within which said at least one heat sensitive item is located; (b3) a thermal mass containing a liquid, located within said inner cavity and covering at least a portion of the exterior surface of said aquarium, wherein energy absorption from vaporization of said liquid is utilized to protect said at least one heat sensitive item; (b4) means for venting any moisture, that penetrates said aquarium and enters said at least one protective compartment included therein, to the ambient air outside said outer housing wherein said means for venting directly connects said at least one protective compartment to the ambient air; and (b5) means for venting steam from said inner cavity to the ambient air outside said outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. 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 an aquarium that includes at least one heat sensitive item, to be protected from heat, moisture and shock, installed in at least one protective compartment; (b) installing said aquarium within an outer housing that includes a thermal mass containing a liquid covering at least a portion of the exterior surface of said aquarium; (c) fabricating means for venting moisture penetrating said aquarium and entering said at least one protective compartment included therein, to directly connect said at least one protective compartment to the ambient air outside said outer housing; (d) covering said outer housing to form a sealed enclosure for said thermal mass, said aquarium and the at least one heat sensitive item contained therein; and (e) fabricating a steam vent in said sealed enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. Apparatus for protecting a heat sensitive memory device, included in a Flight Recorder (FR), from heat, shock and moisture utilizing a thermal mass containing a liquid, comprising:
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(a) a moisture resistant enclosure, for containing the memory device to be protected, covered at least in part by the thermal mass containing a liquid; (b) an outer housing including an inner cavity for housing said moisture resistant enclosure and said thermal mass containing a liquid; (c) means for venting moisture from said enclosure wherein said means for venting directly connects said enclosure to the ambient air; and (d) means for venting steam from said inner cavity to the ambient air outside said outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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Specification