Aircraft floor with a sealing tarpaulin and aircraft with this floor

Description

[0001] The present application relates to an aircraft floor comprising a sealing tarpaulin as well as to an aircraft comprising said floor.

[0002] Aircraft floors are known from documents EP2113456 A2 and WO2018 / 048946 A1.

[0003] According to one embodiment, an aircraft comprises a fuselage and a floor dividing the interior of the fuselage into an upper zone and a lower zone. According to one arrangement, the aircraft comprises an avionics bay located in the lower zone, in which electrical and electronic equipment is positioned, as well as a lavatory cabin comprising a toilet and a sink, located in the upper zone, above the avionics bay.

[0004] According to one configuration, the floor comprises a structure and juxtaposed panels, attached to the structure. The toilet cabin being a wet area, where water can be spilled on the floor, the set of juxtaposed panels forms a first waterproof barrier. To limit any risk of leakage onto electrical and electronic equipment, the aircraft includes a second waterproof barrier.

[0005] According to a first embodiment, the second barrier comprises several rigid plates, distant from the floor, covering the electrical and electronic equipment. This first embodiment is not optimal because it can hardly be implemented when the avionics bay is very cluttered and causes a significant increase in the on-board mass.

[0006] According to a second embodiment, the second barrier comprises several rigid protective plates, inserted between the floor panels and the structure. This second embodiment is not optimal because the protective plates significantly increase the on-board mass.

[0007] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an aircraft floor comprising a structure, a deck attached to the structure as well as first and second sealing barriers superimposed at least in line with a protection zone, the deck being configured to form the first sealing barrier at least in line with the protection zone, the structure of the floor comprising transverse beams oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, spaced apart from each other, as well as longitudinal reinforcements oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction, spaced apart from each other, attached to the transverse beams.

[0009] According to the invention, the second waterproofing barrier comprises a waterproofing sheet inserted between the decking and the structure, comprising several reinforcing strips fixed against a face of the waterproofing sheet facing the structure, at least certain reinforcing strips being inserted between the waterproofing sheet and the longitudinal reinforcements of the floor structure.

[0010] The use of a waterproofing sheet makes it possible to reduce the mass and costs of the second waterproofing barrier compared to the protective plates of the prior art.

[0011] According to other characteristics taken individually or in combination: the reinforcing strips are rigid or semi-rigid; the sealing sheet extends continuously over the entire protection zone; the sealing sheet comprises at least one woven ply coated with a plastic material.

[0012] According to another characteristic, at least one reinforcing strip comprises through holes.

[0013] The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising a floor according to one of the preceding characteristics.

[0014] According to another feature, the aircraft includes an avionics bay located under the floor, the protection zone being located above the avionics bay.

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description of the invention which follows, a description given by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings, among which: There figure 1 is a side view of an aircraft, The figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a nose cone of an aircraft, The figure 3 is a perspective view of a nose cone of an aircraft illustrating one embodiment of the invention, The figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a portion of an aircraft floor illustrating one embodiment of the invention, The figure 5 is a front view of a waterproofing tarpaulin for an aircraft floor illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] According to an embodiment visible on the figures 1 à 3 , an aircraft 10 comprises a fuselage 12 which extends between a front tip 12.1 and a rear tip 12.2 as well as a floor 14 delimiting in the fuselage 12 an upper zone 16.1 located above the floor 14 and a lower zone 16.2 located below the floor 14.

[0017] For the remainder of the description, a longitudinal direction X corresponds to a direction which passes approximately through the front point 12.1 and the rear point 12.2 and which is substantially horizontal when the aircraft is on the ground. A transverse plane is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0018] According to one arrangement, the upper zone 16.1 of the fuselage 12 comprises, from the front tip 12.1 towards the rear tip 12.2, a pilot's cabin 18, an intermediate zone 20 and a passenger cabin 22. The intermediate zone 20 comprises, among other things, a toilet cabin 20.1 in which a toilet and a sink are provided, for example.

[0019] The lower area 16.2 comprises, from the nose cone 12.1 towards the tail cone 12.2, a landing gear compartment 24, an avionics bay 26 and a baggage bay 28. The avionics bay 26 comprises, among other things, electrical and electronic equipment.

[0020] According to this arrangement, the intermediate zone 20 is located at least partially above the avionics bay 26.

[0021] Of course, the invention is not limited to this arrangement.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the floor 14 comprises a structure 30 and a decking 32 attached to the structure 30.

[0023] As illustrated in the figure 4 , the structure 30 comprises transverse beams 30.1 oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, spaced apart from each other, as well as longitudinal reinforcements 30.2 (also called rails) oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction X, spaced apart from each other, attached to the transverse beams 30.1 and connected to the latter.

[0024] Each transverse beam 30.1 has first and second ends connected to the fuselage structure 12.

[0025] For example, the transverse beams 30.1 each have a C-shaped section and the longitudinal reinforcements 30.2 each have an I-shaped section.

[0026] The structure 30 of the floor 14 is not further described because it may be identical to those of the prior art.

[0027] Decking 32 comprises a set of juxtaposed panels. Each panel of deck 32 is rigid and waterproof. It can be made of different materials.

[0028] Of course, the invention is not limited to this embodiment for the decking 32.

[0029] The floor 14 comprises first and second sealing barriers 34, 34' superimposed at least to the right of a protection zone ZP (visible on the figures 2 et 3 ). The floor 14 may comprise one or more protection zones ZP. One of them is located above the avionics bay 26. This protection zone ZP is delimited by a perimeter 36.

[0030] According to one arrangement, the periphery 36 comprises first and second longitudinal edges 36.1, 36.2, approximately parallel to each other and to the longitudinal direction X, as well as first and second transverse edges 36.3, 36.4, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0031] The first and second longitudinal edges 36.1, 36.2 may be attached to the fuselage 12 or be distant from the latter.

[0032] Of course, the invention is not limited to this geometry for the protection zone ZP. The decking 32 is configured to form the first substantially watertight sealing barrier 34, at least at the level of the protection zone ZP.

[0033] According to one configuration, the second sealing barrier 34' extends over the entire surface of the floor 14. According to another configuration, the second sealing barrier 34' extends only over the protection zone ZP. Whatever the configuration, the second sealing barrier 34' extends at least over the protection zone ZP.

[0034] According to a feature of the invention, the second sealing barrier 34' comprises a sealing tarpaulin 38, integrated into the floor 14 and positioned under the decking 32. According to one configuration, the sealing tarpaulin 38 is inserted between the decking 32 and the structure 30, as illustrated in the figure 4 . According to one embodiment, the sealing tarpaulin 38 extends continuously over the entire protection zone ZP.

[0035] The sealing tarpaulin 38 is flexible and waterproof. According to one embodiment, the sealing tarpaulin 38 comprises at least one woven ply coated with a plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyethylene or the like. The woven fabric may be made from polyester, glass, aramid or other fibers. By coating, it is meant that the plastic material is present on at least one side of the woven fabric.

[0036] For example, the sealing tarpaulin 38 is made of the same material as the protective tarpaulins used to protect and close the air inlets of aircraft nacelles.

[0037] To give an order of magnitude, the 38 waterproofing tarpaulin has a thickness of less than 3 mm.

[0038] For an equal surface area, the sealing tarpaulin 38 has a mass significantly lower than the rigid protective plates of the prior art.

[0039] This waterproofing tarpaulin 38 comprises a first face 38.1 oriented towards the structure 30 as well as a second face 38.2 oriented towards the decking 32.

[0040] As illustrated in the figure 5 , the second sealing barrier 34' comprises at least one reinforcing strip 40 attached against at least one face among the first and second faces 38.1, 38.2 of the sealing sheet 38 to reinforce it.

[0041] These reinforcing strips 40 may be rigid or semi-rigid. For information purposes, the reinforcing strips 40 are made of polycarbonate. They are glued against the sealing sheet 38. According to one configuration, the reinforcing strips 40 are fixed against the first face 38.1 of the sealing sheet 38.

[0042] For information, the reinforcing strips 40 have a width La of between 2 and 10 cm and are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction X.

[0043] Each reinforcing strip 40 has a thickness greater than that of the sealing sheet 38. For information purposes, each reinforcing strip 40 has a thickness of between 3 and 10 mm.

[0044] At least some reinforcing strips 40 are interposed between the sealing sheet 38 and the longitudinal reinforcements 30.2 of the structure 30 of the floor 14.

[0045] As illustrated in the figure 5 , at least one reinforcing strip 40 comprises through holes 42. At least some through holes 42 may be configured to accommodate fasteners connecting the decking 32 to the structure 30.

[0046] According to one operating mode, the waterproofing tarpaulin 38 is attached to the structure 30 before the decking 32 is put in place.

[0047] The use of a possibly reinforced sealing tarpaulin 38 as a second sealing barrier makes it possible to reduce the mass and costs of this second barrier by approximately 50% compared to the protective plates of the prior art. The sealing tarpaulin 38 facilitates the assembly of the second sealing barrier and makes it possible to reduce intervention times on the aircraft during its assembly.

Claims

1. Aircraft floor comprising a structure (30), a deck (32) attached to the structure (30), and first and second sealing barriers (34, 34') superposed at least in line with a protection zone (ZP), the deck (32) being configured to form the first sealing barrier (34) at least in line with the protection zone (ZP), the structure (30) of the floor having transverse beams (30.1) which are oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction (X) and spaced apart from one another, and longitudinal reinforcements (30.2) which are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction (X), are spaced apart from one another and are attached to the transverse beams (30.1), characterized in that the second sealing barrier (34') comprises a sealing tarpaulin (38) interposed between the deck (32) and the structure (30) and having several reinforcing strips (40) fixed against a face (38.1) of the sealing tarpaulin (38) oriented toward the structure (30), at least some of the reinforcing strips (40) being interposed between the sealing tarpaulin (38) and the longitudinal reinforcements (30.2) of the structure (30) of the floor.

2. Aircraft floor as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that the reinforcing strips (40) are rigid or semi-rigid.

3. Aircraft floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing tarpaulin (38) extends continuously over the entire protection zone (ZP).

4. Aircraft floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing tarpaulin (38) comprises at least one woven ply coated with a plastic material.

5. Aircraft floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one reinforcing strip (40) comprises through-holes (42).

6. Aircraft comprising a floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims.

7. Aircraft as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that the aircraft comprises an avionics bay (26) situated below the floor, the protection zone (ZP) being situated above the avionics bay (26).