Emergency jettison window pane and associated ejection system

• US 8,397,431 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland Gmbh (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Krahl, Kornelius
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): DENION, SCOTT T
• Application Number:
  US12/899,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20120085033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 49/50, 49/57, 491/41, 492/76, 493/16, 494/771, 296/146.15, 296/187.06, 296/201, 244/129.3, 244/121, 244/122.AF, 244/129.1, 244/129.4, 244/129.5, 244/118.5, 244/905, 244/137.2
• US Class Current: 49/141
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1492 Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/04 Helicopters

Abstract

An ejection system for a window pane or panel which is affixed to a frame structure with at least one clamping seal. The system has means for ejecting the panel or window pane from the clamping seal and (a) a frame part with a housing which surrounds the inner face of the window pane or panel along a peripheral path, wherein the housing has an open end facing the window pane or panel; (b) an inflatable seal arranged in the housing; (c) a pressure source which is joined to the inflatable seal; and (d) an emergency actuation means to release pressure from the gas pressure source. The released air or gas expands the inflatable seal which pushes the window pane or panel out of the clamping seal.

Claims

1. An ejection system for a window pane or panel which is affixed to a frame with at least one clamping seal, comprising:

means for ejecting the panel or window pane from the clamping seal,

a recess in the at least one clamping seal,

a peripheral end of the window pane or panel being surrounded and engaged in the recess of the clamping seal,

a frame part with a seal housing which surrounds an inner face of the window pane or panel along a peripheral path, wherein the seal housing has an open end facing the window pane or panel,

an inflatable seal arranged in the seal housing,

a gas or air pressure source which is connected to the inflatable seal, and

emergency actuation means to release pressure from the pressure source, wherein released gas or air expands the inflatable seal which pushes the window pane or panel out of the clamping seal, wherein a support sheet is affixed in the seal housing and which fits at least partly with the seal housing, the inflatable seal being mounted in the support sheet, and wherein

at least one side wall of the support sheet has an end part projecting out of the seal housing and on which rests the inner face of the panel or window pane, the end part of the at least one side wall of the support sheet being inserted in the recess of the clamping seal.

2. An ejection system according to claim 1, wherein the emergency actuation means comprise at least one of a manual activation handle arranged in a cabin and automatic detection and activating means integrated in an automatic tablet.

3. An ejection system according to the claim 2, wherein a second manual activation handle is provided at the outside of the cabin.

4. An ejection system according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable seal is made of a material selected from the group consisting of elastomers and reinforcing materials.

5. An ejection system according to claim 1, wherein a combination of a shape of the inflatable seal and of a shape of the support sheet produces a pushing force F mostly in an orthogonal direction to the inner face of the panel or window pane.

6. An ejection system according to claim 5, wherein the panel or window pane has, on its inner face, a projecting zone, facing a movable part of the inflatable seal, to minimize a required stroke of the movable part to eject the window pane.

7. An ejection system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source is a gas cartridge.

8. An ejection system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source is an air source.

9. An ejection system according to claim 5, further including a locking device which deactivates the emergency actuation means.

10. An ejection system according to claim 1, further including an emergency jettison panel or window pane.

11. An ejection system according to claim 10, further including a door for an aircraft.

12. An aircraft comprising an emergency jettison window pane or jettison panel, associated with an ejection system according to claim 1.

13. An ejection system according to claim 7, wherein the gas cartridge contains CO₂.

14. An ejection system for a window panel, said system comprising:

a frame with a frame periphery;

a clamping seal affixed to the frame along the frame periphery, the clamping seal having clamping seal periphery and a recess extending along the clamping seal periphery from the clamping seal periphery towards the frame periphery;

a window panel having a window periphery, an inner face, and an outer face, the window periphery being disposed within the recess;

a frame part extending from the frame and having a seal housing which faces and surrounds the inner face of the window panel along a peripheral path, the seal housing having an open end facing the window panel;

a support sheet affixed in the seal housing and which fits at least partly with the seal housing, the support sheet having at least one side wall having an end part projecting out of the seal housing and on which rests the inner face of the window panel, the end part being disposed within the clamping seal recess adjacent the window periphery;

an inflatable seal arranged in the support sheet in the seal housing;

a pressurized gas source connected with the inflatable seal; and

an actuator to release gas from the pressurized gas source to expand the inflatable seal which pushes the window panel out of the clamping seal.

15. An ejection system according to claim 14, wherein a combination of a shape of the inflatable seal and of a shape of the support sheet produces a pushing force F mostly in an orthogonal direction to the inner face of the window panel.

16. An ejection system according to claim 14, wherein the end part of the support sheet engages the clamping seal and the window periphery within the recess.

17. An ejection system according to claim 14, wherein the end part of the at least one side wall of the support sheet is parallel with and abuts the window periphery.

18. An ejection system for a window panel affixed in a frame with a clamping seal, said seal comprising:

a clamping seal body affixed to the frame along a periphery of the frame, the clamping seal body having a clamping seal periphery and a recess, the window panel having a window periphery, an inner face, and an outer face, with the window periphery being disposed within the recess;

a frame part that connects with the frame and has a seal housing that faces and surrounds the inner face of the window panel, the seal housing having an open end facing the window panel;

a support sheet affixed in the seal housing, the support sheet having at least one side wall having an end part projecting out of the seal housing and on which rests the inner face of the window panel, the end part being disposed within the clamping seal recess adjacent the window periphery;

an inflatable seal arranged in the support sheet in the seal housing;

an actuatable pressurized gas source connected with the inflatable seal capable of releasing gas from the pressurized gas source to expand the inflatable seal to push the window panel away from the seal housing out of the clamping seal.

19. An ejection system according to claim 18, wherein a combination of a shape of the inflatable seal and of a shape of the support sheet produces a pushing force F directed primarily in an orthogonal direction to the inner face of the window panel.

20. An ejection system according to claim 18, wherein the end part of the support sheet engages the clamping seal and the window periphery within the recess.