Pressure-difference warning system

• US 8,149,140 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Hellwig, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, James
• Application Number:
  US11/795,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,266 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340540-541, 340945-983
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/14 Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipersfairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/04 Automatic control of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pressure-difference warning system comprising an acoustic signal device, comprising an energy supply device and comprising a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is designed for measuring a pressure difference between an interior region and an exterior region. The energy supply device is designed for providing energy for operating the warning system. The acoustic signal device is designed for outputting an acoustic signal if the measured pressure difference exceeds a specifiable threshold value.

Claims

1. A pressure-difference warning system for a movable door to warn of a pressure difference between an interior cabin region and an exterior cabin region, comprising:

an acoustic signal device;

an energy supply device;

a pressure sensor;

an evacuation-slide sensor;

a door opening sensor;

a control device;

wherein the pressure sensor is adapted to measure a pressure difference between the interior cabin region and the exterior cabin region, separated by the movable door;

wherein the energy supply device is adapted to provide energy for operating the warning system;

wherein the control device is coupled to the acoustic signal device, the pressure sensor, the evacuation-slide sensor and the door opening sensor and is adapted to drive the acoustic signal device for outputting an acoustic signal if the following conditions are all satisfied;

the pressure difference measured by the pressure sensor exceeding a specifiable threshold value, the evacuation slide-sensor signaling that an evacuation-slide lever is in a disarmed position, and the door opening sensor signaling that a door opening lever is moved.

2. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1, further comprising:

a visual signal device that is adapted such that in addition to the signal output by the acoustic signal device it outputs a visual signal if the measured pressure difference exceeds a specifiable threshold value.

3. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one additional sensor for acquiring at least one additional parameter;

wherein the acoustic signal device is adapted such that an acoustic signal is generated only if cumulatively each of the at least one additional sensor provides a sensor signal of a corresponding value.

4. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1;

wherein the warning system is designed as a self-sufficient system.

5. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1;

wherein the energy supply device is operable independently of a cabin energy supply device.

6. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1;

wherein the energy supply device is an electrochemical energy supply device.

7. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1;

wherein the energy supply device is a capacitor.

8. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1;

wherein the energy supply device is a regenerative energy supply device.

9. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1,

wherein the acoustic signal device is a piezosiren.

10. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 3,

wherein the control device is coupled to the additional sensor, of which there is at least one, and is designed such that it drives the acoustic signal device only in those cases, for generating an acoustic signal, when cumulatively each of the additional sensors, of which there is at least one, provides a sensor signal of a corresponding value.

11. The pressure-difference warning system of claim 1,

adapted as one of a group consisting of a cabin-pressure warning system, a freight-door pressure warning system and a service-flap pressure warning system.

12. A door comprising a pressure-difference warning system for a movable door to warn of a pressure difference between an interior cabin region and an exterior cabin region, the warning system comprising:

an acoustic signal device;

an energy supply device;

a pressure sensor;

an evacuation-slide sensor;

a door opening sensor;

a control device;

wherein the pressure sensor is adapted to measure a pressure difference between the interior cabin region and the exterior cabin region, separated by the movable door;

wherein the energy supply device is adapted to provide energy for operating the warning system;

wherein the control device is coupled to the acoustic signal device;

the pressure sensor, the evacuation-slide sensor and the door opening sensor and is adapted to drive the acoustic signal device for outputting an acoustic signal if the following conditions are all satisfied;

the pressure difference measured by the pressure sensor exceeding a specifiable threshold value, the evacuation slide-sensor signaling that an evacuation-slide lever is in a disarmed position, and the door opening sensor signaling that a door opening lever is moved.

13. An aircraft comprising a pressure-difference warning system for a movable door to warn of a pressure difference between an interior cabin region and an exterior cabin region, the warning system comprising:

an acoustic signal device;

an energy supply device;

a pressure sensor;

an evacuation-slide sensor;

a door opening sensor;

a control device;

wherein the pressure sensor is adapted to measure a pressure difference between the interior cabin region and the exterior cabin region, separated by the movable door;

wherein the energy supply device is adapted to provide energy for operating the warning system;

wherein the control device is coupled to the acoustic signal device, the pressure sensor, the evacuation-slide sensor and the door opening sensor and is adapted to drive the acoustic signal device for outputting an acoustic signal if the following conditions are all satisfied;

the pressure difference measured by the pressure sensor exceeding a specifiable threshold value, the evacuation slide-sensor signaling that an evacuation-slide lever is in a disarmed position, and the door opening sensor signaling that a door opening lever is moved.

14. A method for generating an acoustic signal as a pressure-difference warning signal, comprising:

coupling a control device to an acoustic signal device, a pressure sensor, an evacuated-slide sensor, and a door opening sensor;

providing energy for measuring a pressure difference between an interior cabin region and an exterior cabin region and for generating an acoustic signal;

measuring, with the pressure sensor, a pressure difference between the interior cabin region and the exterior cabin region separated by a movable door;

outputting an acoustic signal if the following conditions are all satisfied;

the measured pressure difference exceeds a specifiable threshold value, the evacuation slide-sensor signals that an evacuation-slide lever is in a disarmed position, and the door opening sensor signals that a door opening lever is moved.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

outputting a visual signal if the measured pressure difference exceeds a specifiable threshold value.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

measuring at least one additional sensor signal;

outputting an acoustic signal only if cumulatively each of the at least one additional sensor signals has a corresponding value.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in which a program for generating an acoustic signal as a pressure-difference warning signal is stored, which when executed by a computer, controls the computer to:

couple a control device to an acoustic device, a pressure sensor, an evacuation-slide sensor, and a door opening sensor;

provide energy for measuring a pressure difference between an interior cabin region and an exterior cabin region and generate an acoustic signal;

measure, with the pressure sensor, a pressure difference between the interior cabin region and the exterior cabin region separated by a movable door;

output an acoustic signal if the following conditions are all satisfied;

the measured pressure difference exceeds a specifiable threshold value, the evacuation slide-sensor signals that an evacuation-slide lever is in a disarmed position, and the door opening sensor signals that a door opening lever is moved.

18. A pressure-difference warning system for a movable aircraft door to warn of a pressure difference between a first cabin region and a second cabin region separated by the door, comprising:

an acoustic signal device for outputting an acoustic signal;

a single pressure sensor adapted to take a single reading of a pressure difference between the first cabin region and the second cabin region; and

an evacuation-slide sensor;

a door opening sensor; and

a control device coupled to the acoustic signal device, the pressure sensor, the evacuation-slide sensor, and the door opening sensor, the control device adapted to obtain the single reading of the pressure difference and to provide a signal to the acoustic signal device if the following conditions are all satisfied;

the pressure difference measured by the single pressure sensor exceeding a specifiable threshold value, the evacuation slide-sensor signaling that an evacuation-slide lever is in a disarmed position, and the door opening sensor signaling that a door opening lever is moved;

wherein the first cabin region is an internal region of a cabin and the second cabin region is an exterior region of the cabin.