Combined rescue beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft and aircraft provided with such a device

• US 9,187,183 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Group SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Group SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Argillier, Fabien, Bermudez, Michel, Smaoui, Hichem, Joubert, Emmanuel, Pelegrin, Thierry
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/128,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20140142803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33.4, 701/3, 701/11, 701/14, 701/18, 340/948, 340/961, 340/963, 340/981
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

A combined rescue beacon and flight recorder device for an airplane is ejectable, buoyant and/or provided with flotation devices. The combined rescue beacon and flight recorder device comprises a frame provided with at least one outer side surface having a solar panel. The combined rescue beacon and flight recorder device is configured to be placed in a housing created in an airfoil element of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, comprising a combined emergency beacon and flight recorder;

and a frame having at least one outer side face fitted with a solar panel and configured to fit into a housing created in an airfoil element of the aircraft; and

wherein the combined device is ejectable and at least one of the following;

buoyant or fitted with a flotation device.

2. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a battery, for supplying the emergency beacon and the flight recorder with power, said battery being connected to the solar panel, the device thus comprising a stand-alone power supply whether the device is in position in the aircraft or has been ejected from the aircraft.

3. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stiffening structure having stiffness to serve as a structural element of the airfoil and make the device resistant to impacts.

4. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1 having a ratio of weight to lifting area configured to provide the combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device with lift such that, once ejected, its descent is slowed.

5. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a aerodynamic braking module deployable after ejection of the combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device from the aircraft.

6. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, having a mass-to-volume ratio to provide buoyancy.

7. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connecting module without electrical contact for connecting the combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device to systems of the aircraft by at least one of optical or radio connection.

8. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a disconnectable electrical connection module for connecting the combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device electrically to systems of the aircraft.

9. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a boxed sandwich structure incorporating the emergency beacon and the flight recorder and forming all or part of said flotation device.

10. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a device for measuring at least one of acceleration or impact or rate of descent and a jettisoning device configured to activate when at least one of acceleration or rate of descent exceeds a threshold value.

11. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a complementary power supply source powered by at least one of following renewable energy:

wind or wave energy.

12. An aircraft comprising a combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device is formed as a structural element of said airfoil element of said aircraft.

13. The aircraft as claimed in claim 12 wherein the combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device comprises solar panels on at least one of the following:

both its side faces or is formed as an aerodynamic panel element on both faces of said airfoil element.

14. The aircraft as claimed in claim 12, wherein said airfoil element is a vertical stabilizer of the aircraft.

15. The aircraft as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a module for receiving the frame of the combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device in the form of a construction forming a structural element of the airfoil element.

16. The aircraft as claimed in claim 15, wherein the construction is U-shaped and wherein the combined emergency and flight recorder device is housed inside the U-shaped construction as a removable drawer module.

17. An aircraft comprising a combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device is formed as an aerodynamic panel element on at least one face of said airfoil element.

18. The combined emergency beacon and flight recorder device for an aircraft, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stiffening structure is a honeycomb type stiffening structure.