PASSENGER AIRCRAFT

• US 20080179457A1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Guering, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US11/775,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20080179457A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/0683 Nose cones
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The invention has as its purpose an aircraft for transport of passengers having a fuselage (1) comprising a pressurized level (2) in which there are laid out the passenger cabin (20) and a lower level forming a hold (3).

According to the invention, the cockpit (40) is positioned in an additional pressurized space (4) laid out below the main deck (10), at the level of the hold (3) and separated from the latter by a structure (41) withstanding possible impacts.

Claims

1. Aircraft for transport of passengers comprising a cockpit (40) and a cabin (20) for passengers inside a fuselage (1) divided into two levels by a floor (10) forming a main deck, respectively an upper pressurized level (2) and a lower level forming a hold (3) for the loads transported,

characterized by the fact that the cockpit (40) is positioned in a pressurized space (4) laid out in front of the hold (3) and at the same level as the latter, below the floor (10) of the passenger cabin that extends over the entire length of the fuselage (1), the said front pressurized space (4) being closed toward the rear by a structure (41) withstanding the possible impacts coming from the hold (3).

2. Aircraft according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that, the hold (3) being laid out on a lower floor (11), the front portion of the latter forms the floor (45) of the cockpit (40).

3. Aircraft according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the front end of the lower floor (11) is slightly raised so as to impart a sufficient width to the cockpit, taking into account the pointed shape of the fuselage (1).

4. Aircraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the upper floor (10) on which the passenger cabin (20) is laid out is slightly elevated at its front end, so as to impart a sufficient height to the cockpit (40).

5. Aircraft according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the upper floor (10) bearing the passenger cabin (20) terminates, at the front tip, with an upward-sloping portion.

6. Aircraft according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the sloping portion, at the front tip of the upper floor (10), is provided with a hatchway forming an emergency exit (47).

7. Aircraft according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the elevated front portion (42) of the floor (45) of the cockpit (40) defines a storage compartment (50) for the front landing gear (5), in withdrawn position.

8. Aircraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the front pressurized space (4) of the lower level (3) comprises, between the resistant structure (41) separating the hold (3) and the cockpit (40), at least one area (7) forming a personal space for the crew.

9. Aircraft according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the front pressurized space (4) of the lower level (3) comprises, between the personal space (7) for the crew and the separating resistant structure (41), a technical area (70) for electronic cabinets and various pieces of control equipment.

10. Aircraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the front pressurized space (4) of the lower level (3) communicates with the outside through at least one main access door (45) positioned at the level of the lower floor (11) and opening either directly into the cockpit (40) or into a personal space (7) laid out behind the latter.

11. Aircraft according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the area forming the personal space (7) comprises a central aisle (71) for access to the technical area (70), running between two modules (72) forming rest areas for the crew, at the level of which the fuselage is provided with windows (63).

12. Aircraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the passenger cabin (20) comprises, at the front of the fuselage (1), a pointed portion extending above the cockpit (40) and at the level of which the fuselage (1) is provided with a row of windows (61) forming a panoramic window wall.

13. Aircraft according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the pointed portion of the passenger cabin (20) is equipped, at its front end, with two armchairs (22) in front of which there is positioned a piece of equipment suggesting the configuration of a cockpit, provided with screens for the display of aircraft flight information.

14. Aircraft according to preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the cockpit (20) is equipped, on each side, with video cameras trained toward the rear in order to increase the field of vision of the pilots.