Emergency operating system for piloting an aircraft in a smoke filled cockpit

• US 6,297,749 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1998
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith, Eric S.
• Original Assignee: Smith, Eric S.
• Inventors: Smith, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/187,356
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 340/980, 340/973, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9
• US Class Current: 340/980
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted

Abstract

A system for operating equipment, aircraft or other like vessels in a smoke filled environment. The system includes a face mask configured to surround a user'"'"'s eyes and form an airtight seal against the user'"'"'s face. The mask includes a screen viewable by the user for displaying critical operating system information that permits continued operation of the equipment or aircraft. A signal path means provides the display screen with appropriate signals from instrument display sources of the equipment or aircraft. One embodiment of the system includes a hand-operated communication device that enables non-verbal communication with others. Another embodiment of the system includes independently powered backup instruments covering minimum critical equipment or aircraft operating conditions. The backup instruments would be coupled to the mask by the signal path means in the event that the equipment or aircraft'"'"'s instruments should become inoperable due to fire and/or electrical power interruption. Still another embodiment of the system includes a respirator which is integral with the mask and provides oxygen to the user.

Claims

1. A system for piloting an aircraft in a smoke filled cockpit of the aircraft, the system comprising a face mask configured to surround a pilot'"'"'s eyes and form an airtight seal against the pilot'"'"'s face, the face mask including a screen viewable by the pilot for displaying minimum aircraft operating system information and external aircraft image scenes, the display screen including signal path means for providing the display screen with signals from instrument display sources and external environmental sensing systems of the aircraft, the display screen includes a first section for displaying equipment instrument information from instrument display sources of the equipment, a second section for normal viewing through the face mask, and a third section for displaying external image information from external environmental sensing systems of the equipment, and a hand-operated communication device that enables non-verbal communication with an air traffic controller, the communication device includes recording playback means for storing and playing pre-recorded messages which can be transmitted by the aircraft'"'"'s radio transmission system to the air traffic controller, wherein the communication device being operable during an emergency situation when said smoke fills said cockpit and vision of said pilot is obscured.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device includes finger-operated buttons for selectively playing the pre-recorded messages.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a respirator integral with the mask that provides oxygen to the user.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the respirator includes a microphone for maintaining verbal communication with an air traffic controller.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising independently powered backup instruments covering minimum critical aircraft operating conditions, coupled to the mask by the signal path means.