External airbag protection system for helicopters

• US 5,992,794 A
• Filed: 01/20/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.
• Original Assignee: State of Israel--Ministry of Defence Armament Development Authority Rafael
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Gideon, Rotman, Israel
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US09/009,409
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 244/17.17, 244/100 S, 244/138 R, 244/139, 244/121
• US Class Current: 244/17.17
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/325 specially adapted for helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/32 characterised by elements which contact the ground or similar surface arrester hooks B64C25/68
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/52 Skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/56 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/006 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C

Abstract

An airbag protection system for helicopters. Airbags are inflated either automatically or manually, or a combination of both, prior to the helicopter striking the ground, thus avoiding or ameliorating a crash. Proximity sensors detect a fast descent to trigger inflation of the airbags located beneath the helicopter fuselage so that they can cushion the impact with the ground. Venting of the gas from the airbags is also provided to release the gas from the airbags so as to prevent rebound of the helicopter from the ground.

Claims

1. An airbag safety system for a helicopter comprising:

at least three inflatable airbags having porous walls externally attached to the bottom of the helicopter'"'"'s fuselage initially being in its deflated stage;

means for inflating said porous airbags quickly with gas up to a predetermined pressure value when said helicopter is within close proximity to the ground;

means for actuating said inflating means;

wherein the gas from within said inflated airbags is quickly released through said porous walls upon impact with the ground.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said airbags comprises plural rows of three or more porous airbags attached to the helicopter'"'"'s fuselage bottom to thoroughly cover the bottom of said helicopter fuselage when said airbags are in their fully inflated stage.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said actuating device incorporates the use of a manual trigger and an automated proximity sensor trigger, whereby only after both said manual and said automated triggers have been actuated is said inflating means activated.

4. The system according to claim 3, further including breakable storage containers for storing said deflated airbags, said containers breaking upon inflation of said airbags.

5. The system according to claim 3, further including an additional airbag located beneath the tail of the helicopter.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said proximity sensor detects the helicopter'"'"'s vertical velocity and height above the ground to activate said actuating means at predetermined heights and velocity.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein said actuating means comprises a manually operated trigger.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein said airbag inflating means is inflated by a gas selected from azid gases, or compressed gases.

9. The system according to claim 3 wherein said predetermined pressure release rate from porous airbags is slow enough to enable the airbags to cushion and soften the helicopter impact on the ground yet fast enough to avoid internal pressure buildup that will exceed its holding capacity and cause its bursting or tearing.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined internal pressure value does not exceed 3 atmospheres.

11. The system according to claim 3 wherein said proximity sensor comprises extendable sensors normally stored within said helicopter and deployable approximately two meets downwardly into an extendable position, so that said sensors contact the ground to cause said actuating means to inflate said airbags.

12. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said inflated airbags are at least 0.25 meters in vertical diameter length.