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Emergency mechanical and communication systems and methods for aircraft

  • US 9,771,160 B2
  • Filed: 08/02/2016
  • Issued: 09/26/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An aircraft flight data recorder ejection and landing system comprising:

  • a flight data recorder comprising electronic storage for storing therein of at least data representative of a flight state of an aircraft;

    an ejection system for rapid ejection of the flight data recorder from the aircraft, the ejection system comprising;

    a housing comprising an internal cavity, the flight data recorder being positioned at least partially within the internal cavity;

    an ejection system pressurized fluid source;

    a fluid path fluidly coupled to the internal cavity of the housing and the ejection system pressurized fluid source; and

    a valve operatively coupled to the fluid path to selectively allow pressurized fluid to flow from the ejection system pressurized fluid source to the internal cavity of the housing to cause ejection of the flight data recorder from the housing; and

    a landing system for reducing landing impact forces and increasing buoyancy, the landing system coupled to the flight data recorder, the landing system comprising;

    one or more landing system pressurized fluid sources;

    a plurality of inflatable airbags configured to be disposed at least partially about an exterior surface of the flight data recorder when inflated, each of the plurality of inflatable airbags being selectively fluidly coupled to one or more of the one or more landing system pressurized fluid sources; and

    a trigger mechanism configured to trigger one or more landing system valves to cause inflation of the plurality of inflatable airbags by the one or more landing system pressurized fluid sources upon occurrence of a condition,wherein the condition is based on at least one of the following;

    a passage of time since ejection of the flight data recorder from the aircraft, detecting that the flight data recorder has passed below a predetermined altitude, and detecting a loss of communication with the aircraft.

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