Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure – Details
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-10-30
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft structure
Details
C049S141000, C049S466000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308918
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention is relative to a window frame, in particular for a helicopter window, intended to fix the window on a support.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a major incident takes place during the operating of a helicopter, it is necessary to proceed with the emergency evacuation of the aircraft.
If the helicopter doors are jammed and impossible to open, the passengers must exit the aircraft through the windows after having proceeded to release them.
Now, each window is connected to the aircraft structure by means of a frame. Typically, and as described in the document DE-A-673 951, this frame is made up:
of a joint comprising a central layer from which extends an external edge and an internal edge, the external edge being intended to be fixed onto the support and the lower edge being intended to immobilise the window; and
of means for cutting out the frame which are carried by the central layer and which are driven by pulling on at least a part of the window perimeter in order to divide into two at least a section of the frame and thus disconnect the window from the support.
In this document, the means of cutting out consist of a metal wire buried in the joint and extending over the whole perimeter of the window. A free end of the wire is fixed to a handle which can be grabbed by a passenger.
In order to release such a window, the passenger must pull on the handle along the window perimeter so that the metal wire can cut out the joint and thus disconnect the window from the structure.
However, the cutting out of the joint is not very easy insofar as the passenger must exert a force of great intensity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has the object of remedying the inconveniences mentioned above by supplying a window frame easy to release by the passenger, light and having an appearance shaped in relation to the aircraft structure and this, by simple, effective and cheap means.
To that end, the invention has as its object a window frame of the previously mentioned type, in particular a helicopter window, intended to fix the window on a support, mainly characterised by the fact that the central layer comprises a longitudinal passage and the cutting out means include at least a blade and a wire, the blade being buried at least partly in the joint and the wire being housed in the longitudinal passage in order to drive the blade on a part at least of the window perimeter.
The frame in accordance with the invention can possibly include in addition, one or more of the following characteristics:
the means of cutting out comprise a double blade consisting of a central part passed through by a first end of the wire, the height of the double blade being at least equal to the thickness of the joint central layer;
the two blades are inclined rearward relative to their driving movement and the central part comprises a protuberance which is situated in front of the blades and which gives a punching effect during movement of the double blade;
the internal edge of the joint includes a window reception groove and the external efge of the joint is thinned down in order to be adhered to the support, such that the window, the joint and the support form an approximately continuous and flat surface; and
the wire comprises a second end passed into a means of reverse movement and fixed to a pulling handle, the means of return movement being fixed to the support, approximately vertically from the joint central layer.
The invention also has the object of a window frame of the previously mentioned type, in particular for a helicopter window, intended to fix the window onto a support, mainly characterised by the fact that the central layer is made in an elastomeric material harder than that of the internal and external edges.
This frame can possibly include in addition a metallic cable which is buried in the central layer and which is connected to a handle projecting into the helicopter interior, the central layer comprising two lateral walls along which it is connected to the internal and external edges, the frame being divided into two by the shearing effect between the central layer and the internal and external edges, along the central layer lateral walls.
Furthermore, the invention also has the object of a window frame of the previously mentioned type, in particular a window for a helicopter, intended to fix the window onto a support, mainly characterised by the fact that a gutter is carried by an external face of the central layer and comprises branches with sharp ends.
The frame can possibly be such that the gutter is connected to a driving handle projecting into the helicopter interior, the frame being cut out by pulling on the handle which drives the gutter, the branches of which cut the central layer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4283885 (1981-08-01), Remick et al.
patent: 4541595 (1985-09-01), Fiala et al.
patent: 5826824 (1998-10-01), Martin et al.
patent: 673 951 A (1939-03-01), None
patent: 758 023 C (1954-07-01), None
patent: 17 15 159 U (1956-01-01), None
patent: 1 146 364 A (1957-11-01), None
patent: 2 341 726 A (1977-09-01), None
Eldred J. Woodrow
Eurocopter
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe
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