Bird impact resistant protection system
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsCheng-Ho Tho, Michael Reaugh Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An in-flight impact protection system for aircraft. An aircraft having a panel, with a sensor disposed on the aircraft and adapted to transmit a signal and receive a reflection of the signal. A controller coupled to the sensor and adapted to receive the reflection from the sensor to determine whether an object is near the aircraft's panel. An inflation device, which includes a tube member, is coupled to the controller and positioned inside the aircraft, proximate the panel. After determining that the object is near the panel, the controller can activate the inflation device so that the tube member inflates, thereby buttressing at least a portion of the panel. The panel can be a windshield, fuselage member, or other suitable component.
Claims20
An impact protection system, comprising:
- an aircraft having a panel;
- a sensor disposed on the aircraft and adapted to transmit a signal and receive a reflection of the signal;
- a controller coupled to the sensor and adapted to receive the reflection from the sensor and determine whether an object is proximate the panel;
- and
- an inflation device, having a tube member, coupled to the controller and disposed within the aircraft, proximate an internal portion of the panel,
- wherein, after determining that the object is proximate the panel, the controller activates the inflation device such that the tube member inflates within the aircraft, internally buttressing at least an internal portion of the panel against an external impact to the panel.
A method for buttressing a windshield of an aircraft during impact, comprising:
- transmitting a signal and receiving a reflection of the signal;
- determining whether an object is proximate the windshield based on the reflection;
- and,
- buttressing an internal portion of the windshield when an object is proximate the windshield by deploying an inflation device, such that the windshield is internally buttressed against an external impact of the object on the windshield.
An aircraft impact protection system, comprising:
- an aircraft having a windshield;
- a sensor disposed on the aircraft and adapted to transmit a signal and receive a reflection of the signal;
- a controller coupled to the sensor and adapted to receive the reflection from the sensor and determine whether an object is proximate the windshield;
- a rod securably coupled to the aircraft, proximate the windshield;
- an inflation device, disposed along a portion of the rod and coupled to the controller, the inflation device adapted to inflate within the aircraft and exert a force against an internal portion of the windshield when inflated to internally buttress at least a portion of the windshield against an external impact of the object on the windshield.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.