Window unit for aircraft cabins

Details Window unit for aircraft cabins Window unit for aircraft cabins

1998-07-27

2001-05-08

Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Aircraft structure

Details

C049S501000, C049S502000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06227491

ABSTRACT:

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A WINDOW UNIT FOR AIRCRAFT CABINS.
Known window units for aircraft cabins are connected in a fixed manner to the rearside of a side-wall panel. Since the inside window panes are generally made of acrylic and are susceptible to scratching, it is necessary to exchange them relatively frequently. In the case of conventional window units, the side-wall panel has to be removed for this purpose, and to do this it is furthermore often necessary in a costly manner to remove the seat rows. To avoid an outlay of this type, exchangeable windows have been installed in recesses in the side-wall panels. With constructions of this type, it turned out either to be relatively complex to install the window or that there was an insecure connection of the window in the side-wall panel. A further consequence was that there were also difficulties with using the sun-visors or roller blinds for covering the window panes to protect against the sun's rays.
The object of the invention is the provision of measures by means of which the installation and removal of a window unit can be carried out rapidly and simply, thereby making it possible for the window unit to be rapidly exchanged and for there to be easy access to the structural window panes arranged in the aircraft fuselage without it being necessary to remove the side-wall fairing of the aircraft cabin. The intention moreover is for the components of the window unit to likewise be exchanged rapidly and simply so that possible maintenance work can be carried out rapidly and inexpensively. The invention is furthermore intended to ensure that the window unit is securely connected to the side-wall panel or the like and that loose components, which may constitute sources of danger or at least sources of noise, are avoided. The intention moreover is to reduce the risk of willful or unconscious destruction of components of the window unit and to avoid, or at least reduce, the disadvantages of known systems.
To achieve the object, the invention makes provision for the window unit to have a centering device and at least two snap fastenings to detachably connect it to the side-wall panel or the like, or to components connected thereto, the side-wall panel or the like, or components connected thereto, having any necessary mating parts for the centering device and for the snap fastenings. This ensures that the entire window unit is precisely, rapidly and securely connected to the sidewall panel. It is not necessary to remove the side-wall panels or seat rows, and the exchange of the window units can hence be carried out rapidly, and thus expensive immobilization times of the aircraft can be reduced. Mating parts for the centering device and for the snap fastenings may also be omitted with an appropriate design of the centering device and of the snap fastenings as well as of the side-wall panel, or components connected thereto, in the region of the opening for the window unit.
In order to ensure that the window unit can be installed and removed in a convenient manner, the centering device is advantageously arranged on the lower side of the window unit corresponding to a clock position of 6 o'clock, and two snap fastenings are advantageously arranged on the circumference of the window unit corresponding to a clock position of 10 and 2 o'clock. During installation, the window unit is thus placed by the centering device obliquely with respect to the side wall panel into the possibly necessary mating part on the side-wall panel, and then tilted towards the side-wall panel, whereupon the snap fastenings latch into the mating parts on the side-wall panel or the like, or on components connected thereto, or directly into or behind the side-wall panel.
A simple design variant of the invention makes provision for the centering device to be formed by at least one preferably semicircular centering lug or the like which is preferably arranged on the lower edge of the covering frame or of the inner window frame and which can be placed into a corresponding, complementary indentation on the side-wall panel or the like, or on components connected thereto. The semicircular design of the centering lug reduces the risk of it or of the possible mating part on the side-wall panel or the like being damaged.
In order to achieve a secure connection between the window unit and side-wall panel, provision is made for the window unit to have devices for locking the snap fastenings, the connection thereby being prevented from being undone by vibrations or by unauthorized persons. In order to avoid loose components which may constitute a source of danger or at least a source of noise, all of the parts of the centering device and of the snap fastenings and also of the possible devices for locking the snap fastenings are advantageously in each case connected to another part. This prevents small parts from falling behind the side-wall panels during installation or removal and these small parts having to be laboriously looked for and removed.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each snap fastening is formed by a spring element connected to the window unit and the device for locking the snap fastening is formed by a securing element (
24
) which is mounted rotatably on the spring element and with which the snap fastening can be locked and released. This constitutes an inexpensive and efficient way of bringing about a snap fastening with an integrated locking device. The spring element is preferably formed by a steel spring.
When a rigid sun-visor is used, a further inventive feature provides a sun-visor guide which is connected to the side-wall panel or the like preferably via screws or the like and which has mating parts for the snap fastenings. The sun-visor guide thus serves simultaneously as a guide for the sun-visor and as a mating part for the snap fastenings. The sun-visor guide is fitted onto the invisible rear side of the side-wall panels before they are installed in the aircraft cabin.
In order also to make it possible for the components of the window unit, in particular of the window pane, to be rapidly and simply exchanged, according to a further inventive feature the outer window frame and the inner window frame are connected detachably to one another via at least three snap fastenings. The two window frames can rapidly be separated by maintenance personnel using an appropriate tool and the window pane lying in between can be exchanged, for example.
The snap fastenings are advantageously formed by hooks which are arranged on the inner window frame and can be snapped into corresponding slots in the outer window frame. Snap fastenings designed in this manner can be produced very cheaply in particular with the aid of injection-molding processes which are customary for producing the components of window units of this type in aircraft engineering.
For the simple exchange or simple installation of further components of the window unit, in particular of the sun-visor, the roller blind or the like, the invention furthermore makes provision for the covering frame and the outer window frame to be connected detachably to one another via at least three fastenings. The covering frame can thus be rapidly separated from the unit comprising the inner and outer window frames and window pane lying in between them by maintenance personnel using an appropriate tool, and the component parts, in particular the sun-visor or the like, which is more susceptible to damage, can be exchanged.
According to an advantageous design variant, the covering frame and the outer window frame are connected detachably to one another via at least two bayonet-type fastenings and at least one snap fastening. This constitutes a secure variant of the connection which is simple to produce.
Further features are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of the window unit according to the invention and its fastening to the side-wall panel is illustrated.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2784926 (1957-03-01), Bonza et al.
patent: 369

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Window unit for aircraft cabins does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Window unit for aircraft cabins, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Window unit for aircraft cabins will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2537129