Movable instrument panel within a cockpit of an aircraft

• US 6,419,188 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chapman W. Cullen Jr
• Original Assignee: Chapman W. Cullen Jr
• Inventors: Chapman, W. Cullen Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US09/621,317
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/118.C, 244/122, 244/129.1, 244/122.AG, 244/122.A, 244/121, 297/216.1, 297/487-488, 297/465-466, 297/173, 297/188, 350/254, 350/248, 350/229, 280/748-749
• US Class Current: 244/118.6
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C

Abstract

The present invention includes an instrument panel that is adapted to stand over the lap of a pilot within a cockpit of an aircraft to make more efficient use of the limited space within the cockpit. The panel houses at least a portion of the instruments that are installed in the cockpit to fly the aircraft. More efficiently use of the space within the cockpit reduces the size and weight of the cockpit. Moreover, reducing the weight of the cockpit allows the cockpit with the canopy to be ejected from the aircraft rather than just the pilot seat. The cockpit enclosed by the canopy ejects the pilot faster and protects the pilot during and after the ejection. The ejection is faster because there is no need to remove the canopy before ejecting the seat. The pilot is further protected because the canopy protects the pilot from wind impact and harsh atmospheric conditions at high altitude.

Claims

1. A movable panel within a cockpit, comprising:

a panel having an edge, the edge of the panel pivotally coupled to a cockpit, wherein the panel pivots between a first position and a second position, wherein the panel houses at least a portion of the cockpit instruments, wherein;

in the first position, the panel is in substantially an upright position; and

in the second position, at least a portion of the panel extends across a thigh support of a seat.

2. A movable panel according to claim 1, wherein in the first position, a pilot is able to sit and get out of the seat.

3. A movable panel according to claim 1, wherein the seat has a side wall, the panel pivotally coupled to the side wall.

4. A movable cockpit panel, comprising:

a panel having an edge;

wherein the edge of the panel is adapted to movably couple within a cockpit between a first position and a second position, wherein;

the panel in the first position, a pilot is able to ingress and egress from a pilot seat within the cockpit; and

the panel in the second position, at least a portion of the panel housing at least a portion of the cockpit instruments extends across a thigh support of the pilot seat within the cockpit.

5. A movable panel according to claim 4, wherein the seat has a side wall, wherein the edge of the panel is pivotally coupled to the side wall of the seat.

6. A movable panel according to claim 4, wherein the panel has a facing surface, wherein the facing surface of the panel displays at least a portion of the cockpit instruments.

7. A movable panel according to claim 6, wherein the cockpit instrument is a control instrument.

8. A movable panel according to claim 4, wherein the cockpit is a cockpit for a fighter aircraft.

9. A movable panel according to claim 4, wherein in the first position the panel is disengaged from the cockpit.

10. A movable panel according to claim 4, wherein in the first position the panel is in a substantially upright position coupled to the cockpit.

11. A movable panel according to claim 4, wherein in the second position, the panel is substantially parallel to the thigh support.

12. A movable panel according to claim 4, wherein the panel has a substantially rectangular configuration.

13. A movable panel according to claim 4, wherein the panel is pivotally coupled within the cockpit.

14. A system to allow a seat in a cockpit of a fighter aircraft to further recline, and allow a pilot sitting in the seat to maintain at least a predetermined angle view below the horizontal plane over a front console of the cockpit, comprising:

a front console within a cockpit having a base, the front console having a height above the base of the cockpit and a surface area to house a predetermined number of cockpit instruments;

a seat within the cockpit, the seat having a seat back adapted to recline at least beyond 40°

from the vertical plane and a thigh support to support a pilot;

a panel adapted to be movable between a first position and a second position within the cockpit, wherein in the first position the thigh support is substantially exposed, and in the second position the panel is coupled within the cockpit and substantially covering the thigh support, the panel housing at least one cockpit instrument;

wherein the at least one cockpit instrument housed in the panel reduces the predetermined number of cockpit instruments that needs to be housed in the front console to reduce the surface area needed in the front console to house the predetermined number of cockpit instruments,

wherein the reduced surface area of the front console lowers the height of the front console and allows the pilot to further recline the seat back and still maintain the predetermined angle view below the horizontal plane over the front console.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined angle view below the horizontal plane over the front console of the cockpit is at least 18°

.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein in the first position the panel is disconnected with the cockpit.

17. A cockpit capsule to safely eject a pilot from an aircraft, comprising:

a first cockpit;

a first seat within the first cockpit; and

a first canopy adapted to enclose the first cockpit, the first cockpit adapted to eject from an aircraft with a pilot entering through the top of the first canopy and sitting on the first seat enclosed by the first canopy, whereby the enclosed first cockpit protects the pilot inside from the environment during the ejection.

18. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, further including:

a second cockpit adjacent to the first cockpit;

a second seat within the second cockpit;

a second canopy adapted to enclose the second cockpit, the second cockpit adapted to eject from the aircraft with a co-pilot sitting on the second seat enclosed by the second canopy, whereby the enclosed second cockpit protects the co-pilot inside from the environment during the ejection.

19. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, further including:

a second seat within the first cockpit for a co-pilot.

20. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, further including:

a predetermined number of cockpit instruments within the first cockpit to fly a fighter aircraft;

a panel adapted to couple within the first cockpit, the panel being movable between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the pilot is able to sit in the first seat, in the second position at least a portion of the panel covers a thigh support of the first seat;

wherein at least a portion of the predetermined number of cockpit instruments are housed in the panel to make more efficient use of the space in the first cockpit capsule to make the first cockpit capsule smaller and lighter; and

at least one ejection rocket coupled to the first cockpit to eject the first cockpit capsule from the aircraft.

21. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein:

the first canopy has a lip;

the first cockpit has an outer edge; and

the lip of the first canopy adapted to mate with the outer edge of the first cockpit.

22. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein the panel is electrically coupled to the first cockpit.

23. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein one of the predetermined cockpit instruments is a sensor adapted to detect a plurality of emergency conditions, wherein upon a detection of any one of the plurality of emergency conditions, the sensor sets off the at least one rocket to eject the first cockpit capsule from the fighter aircraft.

24. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein the panel is pivotally coupled to the first cockpit, wherein the panel pivots between the first and second positions.

25. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein the first seat has a first seat back, wherein the first seat back is adjustable to recline at least beyond 40°

from the vertical plane, wherein reclining the first seat back beyond 40°

from the vertical plane further lowers the profile of the first cockpit capsule to reduce the weight and drag of the first cockpit capsule.

26. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein the first seat has a thigh support and a first seat back, the thigh support is adjustable up and down, and the first seat back is adjustable back and forth.

27. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, including a foot peddle moveably coupled to the first cockpit, wherein the foot peddle is adjustable substantially along the axis of the pilot'"'"'s tibia.

28. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein the first canopy has a leading edge and the first cockpit has a leading edge, wherein the leading edge of the first canopy is pivotally coupled to the leading edge of the first cockpit.

29. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, including a back frame to enclose the aft side of the first canopy and the first cockpit.

30. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein the first seat has a cushion filled with a gel material.

31. A cockpit capsule according to claim 17, wherein the first cockpit capsule is adapted to protect the pilot from the outside environment.

32. A method of safely ejecting a pilot in a cockpit, comprising the steps of:

providing a cockpit capsule adapted to separate from an airplane, the cockpit capsule adapted to protect a pilot within the cockpit capsule from the environment, wherein the pilot enters from the top of the cockpit capsule, wherein the cockpit capsule includes a seat for the pilot; and

separating the cockpit capsule from the airplane.

33. A method according to claim 32, further including steps of:

coupling within the cockpit capsule a panel movable between a first position and a second position;

wherein in the second position at least a portion of the panel covers the lap of the pilot sitting in the seat; and

housing at least a portion of cockpit instruments within the first cockpit capsule on the panel.

34. A method according to claim 32, including at least one rocket coupled to the first cockpit capsule to separate the cockpit capsule from the airplane.

35. A method according to claim 32, including the steps of:

securing the pilot to the seat, wherein the pilot is in a reclined position at least beyond 40°

from the vertical plane.

36. A method according to claim 32, wherein the cockpit capsule includes a cockpit and a canopy adapted to enclose the cockpit.

37. A method for providing a pilot seat in a cockpit of an aircraft having a limited space that is adjustable, comprising the steps of:

providing a movable panel adapted to couple to a pilot seat in an aircraft cockpit, the movable panel adapted to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the second position at least a portion of the movable panel covers the lap of a pilot sitting in the pilot seat;

incorporating at least a portion of the cockpit instruments to the movable panel, thereby saving space within the aircraft cockpit; and

reclining the pilot seat beyond at least 30°

due to the movable panel saving space within the aircraft cockpit.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the cockpit is separable from the aircraft.

39. A method according to claim 37, wherein the pilot seat has a thigh support, wherein the thigh support is elevated to have an angle that is at least 8°

from the horizontal plane.

40. A movable panel within a cockpit, comprising:

a panel having an edge, wherein the edge of the panel is adapted to movably couple within a cockpit between a first position and a second position,

wherein in the first position, the panel is in substantially an upright position; and

wherein in the second position, at least a portion of the panel extends across a thigh support of a seat; and

a facing surface housing at least one control instrument.

41. A movable panel within a cockpit, comprising:

a panel having an edge, the edge of the panel pivotally coupled to a cockpit, wherein the panel pivots between a first position and a second position, wherein the panel houses one display instrument, wherein;

in the first position, the panel is in substantially an upright position; and

in the second position, at least a portion of the panel extends across a thigh support of a seat.