Inflatable Emergency Vision Apparatus for Smoke Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency vision devices for pilots fail to effectively maintain visual contact with critical information sources, such as windshields and instrument panels, during smoke or particulate invasions in aircraft cockpits, as they are not conveniently deployable from underneath the instrument panel and lack efficient smoke filtration.
Innovation Solution
An emergency vision apparatus with a housing attached underneath the instrument panel, featuring a pivotable front and bottom cover, a blower, and an inflatable enclosure with clear members, allowing quick deployment to bridge the gap between the pilot and the windshield/instrument panel, and a tubular air passageway for smoke filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If emergency vision devices are placed on top of control panels with detachable covers, then they are accessible during emergencies, but they cannot be quickly deployed from underneath the instrument panel to bridge the gap between pilot and windshield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements including a pivotable front cover that rotates downward to access the enclosure, and an inflatable enclosure that transitions from deflated to expanded state. These dynamic components enable quick deployment from underneath the instrument panel while maintaining a compact stored configuration, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and compact storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflated enclosure is stored within the housing structure, nested in a space created by the housing's internal cavity. This nesting arrangement allows the emergency vision device to be housed underneath the instrument panel without protruding excessively, enabling quick deployment while maintaining a compact form factor that does not interfere with cockpit space.
2Reliability
If existing emergency vision devices are used, then they provide some vision capability, but they fail to effectively maintain visual contact with critical information sources during smoke invasions
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable enclosure acts as an intermediary barrier between the smoke-filled cockpit environment and the pilot's viewing area. When inflated, it creates a physical separation that blocks smoke and particulate matter from reaching the pilot's line of sight to the windshield and instrument panel, effectively maintaining visual contact during smoke emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible inflatable enclosure made of thin film material that can be rapidly deployed and inflated. This flexible shell creates a smoke barrier that conforms to the space between the instrument panel and windshield, effectively blocking harmful smoke and particulate matter while maintaining the pilot's view of critical information sources.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a blower system is integrated into the housing, then smoke filtration capability is improved, but device complexity and installation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blower system is merged with the housing structure, with the blower positioned within the housing to draw air through the inflatable enclosure. This integration combines the smoke filtration function with the existing housing, improving smoke filtration efficiency while minimizing additional complexity by utilizing the housing's internal space and structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables pilots to maintain a clear view of vital information during smoke emergencies, facilitating safe aircraft landing by providing a smoke-free visual path through the inflatable enclosure, which is easily deployable and retractable.
Implementation Method 1
a blower within the housing; a tubular air passageway connecting the blower and the enclosure
Data Source
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AI summary
An emergency vision apparatus includes a housing for attachment underneath an instrument panel in a cockpit, the housing including a front opening, a front cover for the front opening, a bottom portion of the front cover being pivotably attached to the housing to allow the front cover to open and rotate downwardly; an inflatable enclosure made of airtight material and having an expanded form when deployed and a deflated form when not in use, the enclosure when in the deflated form is stored within the housing; first and second clear members disposed at respective first and second ends of the enclosure to enable a user to see through the enclosure when expanded and observe a source of visual information at a distal end of the enclosure while smoke or other particulate matter is in the environment; a first switch operably associated with the blower to activate the blower and thereby inflate the enclosure to the expanded form when the enclosure is to be deployed; and a tubular air passageway connecting the blower and the enclosure.