Method and device for aiding the localization of an aircraft wreck submerged in a sea

• US 8,727,263 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Fabre, Christian, Bignolais, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENEDIK, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US13/310,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20120138741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1.R
• US Class Current: 244/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 33/00 Devices for allowing seemingly-dead persons to escape or draw attention; Breathing apparatus for accidentally buried persons
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/20 Releasing of crash position indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

A device for aiding the localization of an aircraft wreck submerged in a sea is arranged inside the aircraft. The device includes at least one beacon that is able to emit remotely detectable signals. Upon immersion of the aircraft in water, an ejection device automatically ejects the beacon out of the aircraft. The ejection device includes a piston system that generates an opening in the aircraft and expels the beacon accordingly. Also after immersion of the aircraft in water, a trigger device automatically triggers the emission of signals from the beacon.

Claims

1. A device for aiding the localization of a wreck of an aircraft submerged in a sea water expanse, said device comprising:

at least one beacon arranged inside the aircraft that is able to emit signals that are remotely detectable;

an ejection device that automatically ejects said beacon out of the aircraft upon an immersion of the aircraft in water;

a trigger device that automatically triggers the emission of said signals after the immersion;

a link maintenance device that maintains at least one of the beacons, at least temporarily, linked to the aircraft after ejection of the beacon out of the aircraft; and

a link release device that acts on said link maintenance device so as to completely sever the link between the beacon and the aircraft, thereby enabling the beacon to track the potential draft of fragments following stream currents in the sea water expanse.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one beacon further comprises:

at least two beacons; and

wherein at least two of the beacons are implemented in different ways, such that one beacon remains attached to the aircraft by the link maintenance device and another beacon is severed from connection with the aircraft by the link release device.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said beacon comprises an auxiliary localization aid device that aids in the localization of the beacon when the beacon floats at the surface of said sea water expanse.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an immersion detection device that automatically detects an immersion; and

wherein said ejection device ejects the beacon out of the aircraft upon the detection of an immersion by said immersion detection device.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said immersion detection device automatically comprises a measuring device that measures the values of a least one parameter relative to the aircraft or to its environment and a comparing device that compares the measured values to a threshold value, an immersion being detected when the measured values exceed said threshold value.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection device comprises:

an ejection tube having a hollow piston comprising a casing;

wherein the beacon is housed within said casing; and

wherein said piston is operatively attached to said ejection tube such that when the piston reaches the end of a stroke the piston comes in abutment with the ejection tube and is prevented from being ejected from the structure of the aircraft and a stamping plug and the beacon are ejected from the aircraft, simultaneously and separately.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an autonomous source of energy connected to the device.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said beacon is mounted in an unpressurized area of the aircraft and located in an upper rear part of the aircraft.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said ejection device comprises a piston system that generates an opening in the aircraft and expels said beacon out of the aircraft through said opening.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the piston system comprises a piston having a plug that stamps a skin of the aircraft to create said opening.

11. A method for aiding the localization of a wreck of an aircraft submerged in a sea water expanse, the method comprising:

arranging at least one beacon inside the aircraft that is able to emit signals that are remotely detectable;

automatically ejecting, by an ejection device upon an immersion of the aircraft in water, the beacon out of the aircraft;

automatically triggering, by a triggering device after the immersion, the emission of the signals by a signal emission device located on the beacon;

maintaining, at least temporarily by a link maintenance device, the beacon linked to the aircraft after ejection of the beacon out of the aircraft; and

severing completely, by a link release device that acts on the link maintenance device, the link between the beacon and the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the ejection device comprises a piston system, and ejecting the beacon out of the aircraft further comprises:

generating an opening in the aircraft; and

expelling the beacon out of the aircraft through the opening.

13. An aircraft comprising a device for aiding the localization of a wreck of an aircraft submerged in a sea water expanse, said device comprising:

at least one beacon arranged inside the aircraft able to emit signals that are remotely detectable;

an ejection device that automatically ejects said beacon out of the aircraft upon an immersion of the aircraft in water;

a trigger device that automatically triggers the emission of said signals after the immersion;

a link maintenance device that maintains at least one of the beacons, at least temporarily, linked to the aircraft after ejection of the beacon out of the aircraft; and

a link release device that acts on said link maintenance device so as to completely sever the link between the beacon and the aircraft, thereby enabling the beacon to track the potential drift of fragments following stream currents in the sea water expanse.

14. The aircraft of claim 13, wherein said ejection device comprises a piston system that generates an opening in the aircraft and expels said beacon out of the aircraft through said opening.