Emergency mechanical and communication systems and methods for aircraft

• US 9,452,844 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2016
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comac America Corporation
• Original Assignee: Comac America Corporation
• Inventors: Ye, Wei, Sun, Jianhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOMER, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US15/060,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20160257415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 208 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/14 Absorbing landing shocks
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/00 Parachutes non canopied parachutes B64D19/00
• 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: B64D 3/00 Aircraft adaptations to facilitate towing or being towed B64D39/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A system for quickly locating and retrieving flight data of an aircraft after an aircraft mid-air mishap comprises: a flight data recorder; a tracking device comprising at least one camera; a rapid ejection system for ejecting the flight data recorder and tracking device; a soft landing system; and a tow system, wherein the tow system is configured to continue to transmit flight information from the aircraft to the tracking device via the data communication link for a period of time after the ejection of the tracking device; and wherein the tracking device transmits to the flight data recorder the flight information received from the aircraft after ejection and the images captured by the tracking device immediately following the mid-air mishap, and wherein the flight data recorder is configured to in turn transmit said flight information and images to the remote device.

Claims

1. A system for quickly locating and retrieving flight data of an aircraft after an aircraft mid-air mishap, the system comprising:

a flight data recorder, said flight data recorder comprising wireless communication hardware configured to communicate flight information to a remote device;

a tracking device comprising at least one camera and a data communication system;

a rapid ejection system, wherein the rapid ejection system forms an opening in the aircraft in the event of an aircraft emergency and ejects the flight data recorder and the tracking device through the opening of the aircraft;

a soft landing system, said soft landing system being attached to the flight data recorder and configured to reduce force of impact upon landing and increase buoyancy of the flight data recorder;

a tow system, said tow system comprising a tether and data communication link, wherein the tether physically connects the tracking device to the aircraft after the mid-air mishap in a manner such that the tracking device follows the aircraft at a distance to capture images of the aircraft and the surrounding environment after the mid-air mishap;

wherein the tow system is configured to continue to transmit flight information from the aircraft to the tracking device via the data communication link for a period of time after the ejection of the tracking device;

wherein the tracking device transmits to the flight data recorder the flight information received from the aircraft after ejection of the tracking device and the images captured by the tracking device following the mid-air mishap, and wherein the flight data recorder is configured to in turn transmit said flight information and images to the remote device; and

wherein the flight data recorder is connected to the tracking device via the tow system for a period of time after ejection of the tracking device and flight data recorder from the aircraft.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication system of the flight data recorder is configured to transmit flight data and videos of the aircraft to the remote device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote device comprises at least one of a satellite, a second aircraft, and a base station.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the rapid ejection system comprises a pressurized gas system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the rapid ejection system comprises an extraction parachute coupled to the flight data recorder.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the rapid ejection system comprises:

a panel that covers the opening prior to ejection;

a spring that biases the panel toward an open position; and

a locking mechanism configured to retain the panel in a position covering the opening and selectively release the panel to enable the panel to move toward the open position.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tow system comprises at least one detachable connector, said detachable connector can be actuated to disconnect the tracking device from the aircraft in the event the rapid ejection system is triggered accidentally.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the opening in the aircraft can be closed in the event the rapid ejection system is triggered accidentally.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the soft landing system comprises a plurality of inflatable airbags.