Integrated aircraft windshields and associated methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKevin M. Retz, Nicholaas Voogt, Michael G. Friend, Christopher R. Holtorf, Mannon L. Wallace, Andrew Sones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aircraft having cab portions with integrated windshields are disclosed. The cab portion can include a rounded nose and a windshield positioned above and aft of a forward extremity of the rounded nose. A contour of the cab portion extending from the nose over the windshield aft of the nose can have a generally continuously smooth, unkinked shape. In particular embodiments, the portion of the contour corresponding to the windshield can be convex when viewed from a position external to the cab portion, and the shape of the windshield can form a portion of a conical surface.
Claims15
An aircraft, comprising:
- an aft-swept wing having a first portion on a first side of an aircraft centerline and a second portion on a second side of the centerline;
- a fuselage portion coupled to the wing, the fuselage portion being configured for sustained cruise flight at subsonic Mach numbers of at least 0.85, the fuselage portion including a cab portion, the cab portion including:
- an external flow surface having a generally rounded nose portion with a forward extremity, the external flow surface further having a windshield aperture positioned only above and aft of the forward extremity of the rounded nose portion;
- and
- a windshield disposed in the windshield aperture, wherein a contour of the external flow surface and the windshield extending from a position on the external flow surface beneath the windshield, aft over the windshield to a position on the external flow surface aft of and above the windshield has a generally continuously smooth unkinked shape;
- landing gear depending from at least one of the wing and the fuselage portion;
- and
- a propulsion system having a plurality of turbofan engines providing the sole propulsive force for sustained cruise flight at subsonic Mach numbers of at least 0.85.
A method for manufacturing an aircraft, comprising:
- fabricating a fuselage having an external flow surface with a generally rounded nose portion, the nose portion having a forward extremity and a windshield aperture positioned above and aft of the forward extremity of the rounded nose portion, the fuselage housing a passenger cabin, and being configured for sustained cruise flight at subsonic Mach numbers of at least 0.85;
- and
- positioning a windshield in the windshield aperture, with a contour of the external flow surface and the windshield extending from a position on the external flow surface beneath the windshield, aft over the windshield to a position on the external flow surface aft of and above the windshield having a generally continuously smooth and unkinked shape;
- coupling the fuselage to an aft-swept wing having a first portion on a first side of the fuselage portion and a second portion on a second side of the fuselage portion;
- coupling landing gear to at least one of the wing and the fuselage;
- and
- coupling a propulsion system to at least one of the wing and the fuselage, the propulsion system including a plurality of turbofan engines providing the sole propulsive force for sustained cruise flight at subsonic Mach numbers of at least 0.85.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.